Changes in Medical Assistant Tasks Implemented during PCMH Demonstration Project
| Before PCMH Project (Facilitation of patient flow through office) | After PCMH Project Implementation (Patient care/population management) |
|---|---|
| Call and escort patients to examination room | Obtain family and social histories, reconcile medications and chronic problems lists, document cancer screenings |
| Take and record vital signs and chief complaint | |
| Give injections, draw blood, perform EKGs or other procedures per physician order during patient visit | Pre-visit planning (chart reviews, huddles) |
| Carry out standing orders and protocols (give immunizations, provide mammogram orders/lab forms, refill routine medications) | |
| Give out patient education handouts per physician request during patient visit | Proactively hand out patient education materials (eg, smoking cessation) |
| Conduct patient education using motivational interviewing (eg, weight, diabetes) | |
| Organize/conduct patient awareness campaigns to address preventive care, eg, through telephone calls, wearing buttons on shirts, mailings | |
| Call for results as per physician request during patient visit | Gather documentation of preventive services, other metrics, consultations, and hospitalization reports prior to patient visit |
| Give reports that come into office to physicians | Track, manage and enter data into electronic medical record/other data management tools |
| File charts | Assist with risk stratification of patients |
EKG, electrocardiography; PCMH, patient-centered medical home.