Doctors Assistant

Position:  Doctors Assistant (DA) ECC and Specialty Positions 

Location: MASH, 6565 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90038 

Responsibilities of all Employees and Positions: 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with both co-workers and clients. 

• Ability to work well with others as a team. 

• Ability to multitask and prioritize. 

• Flexibility and the ability to adjust to a changing environment. 

• Attention to detail and willingness to question when unsure. 

• Self-motivated, hard worker. 

• Strong ability to delegate team members for optimal efficiency within the ER. 

• Willing to adapt to medicine at the rate that it changes. 

• Able to receive criticism and accept responsibility for one’s actions. 

• Be dependable, reliable, and professional. l 

• Supportive/appreciative of team members of all levels and knowledge. 

• Is able to maintain a professional and positive demeanor during stressful situations. 

• Strong time management skills.  

Summary  

It is the responsibility of the Doctor's Assistant (DA) to maintain the communication lines between the doctor and client, provide daily financial and medical updates on all in-hospital patients, and handle client phone calls and questions.  A DA must also manage the doctor’s appointments, schedule the doctor’s procedures, and oversee patient treatments.  The DA must be friendly, professional and courteous, and capable of handling many tasks at once with many interruptions. This position requires a very organized and dependable individual, who can manage difficult situations with a great deal of positive energy.  Client communication skills are paramount.  This person must be willing to go the extra mile for the clients, and have a “Can Do” attitude.   

Job Relationships: 

• Reports to and works closely with the department supervisors and manager.  

• Works closely with Leadership Teams in any admitting departments and with all Department Supervisors.  

• Any and all MASH employees. 

Essential Functions:  

• Provide daily Health updates on in-hospital patients  

• Give the Doctor’s immediate orders to a Technician to be completed  

• Get permission from clients for diagnostics or procedures when requested 

• Ensure all RDVM records/rads are ready for an appointment  

• Greet the client and patient.  Determine the nature of the visit, and walk the client and patient into the exam room. 

• Provide the doctor with pertinent medical history.   

• Explain associated financial estimates in person and over the phone and payment procedures.  Properly prepare all clients for diagnostics or procedures by filling out proper paperwork and estimates for procedures.   

• Provide a written summary of the appointment to the client.    

• Schedule follow-up appointments or procedures 

• Present estimates and discuss deposits, and follow-up costs not associated with the procedure 

• Admissions to hospital 

• Releases from Hospital: 

• Responsible for discharge instructions or ensuring they have been completed prior to client arrival.  

• DA is responsible for visually preparing the pet to go home.    

• Invoicing for all admitted patients and day patients  

• Finances:  Invoice all patient services.   

• Audit invoices 

• Clean exam rooms (wiping down tables, mopping, etc.) between patients, end of day 

• Upon request of owner, financial updates to in-hospital clients, and discuss the need to collect an additional deposit.  Provide daily Financial updates on in-hospital patients 

• Assist ICU/recovery staff with owner visits 

• Phone Calls:   

• Return Client Calls   

• Relay messages to Doctors, return client calls with Doctor’s response and call pharmacies with prescriptions if needed.  

• Provide proper documentation in the medical record in accordance with set protocols. Screen phone calls for doctors and returns phone calls and emails with recommendations and answers to clients’ questions 

• Deceased Patients:   

• Discuss Body Care with owner.  

• Fill out the appropriate paperwork for Body Care and follow set protocols.   

• Prepare body for visit or pick up. 

• Serve as a liaison between doctors and clients - client/patient advocate 

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client services. This includes evaluating client needs, meeting quality standards, providing an exceptional client experience, and evaluation of client satisfaction. 

• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures, including word processing, designing forms, maintaining files, dictation and transcription, communicating via email, and the use of computer programs to manage and maintain client and patient information. 

• Knowledge of basic drug usages, generic and brand names, possible side effects/reactions for the more common drugs, and controlled substances protocol. 

• Using social perceptiveness to be aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.  Ability to modify approach as appropriate.   

• Ability to write routine correspondence.   

• Ability to speak effectively to clients, doctors, and coworkers while delivering medically oriented information.  

• Ability to handle misdirected negative emotion and behavior.  

• Supportive and encouraging attitude towards clients, patients, and coworkers.  

• Expresses thoughts and ideas effectively while recognizing the need to be “the support network to our clients and patients” 

• Knowledge of clinic procedures in support of streamlining clients’ experiences with us. 

• The DA must use initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions while always keeping client service/patient care as their number one priority. Any deviations, problems and unfamiliar situations must be communicated to the administrator. 

Job Duties/Requirement/Responsibilities: The listing of job duties/requirements contained in this job description are not all-inclusive. Duties/requirements/responsibilities may be added or subtracted at any time due to the needs of the Hospital. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed herein are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Job Duties/Requirements/Responsibilities:  

• Job allows employees to vary physical position or activity for comfort.  

• Must be able to:  

• Stand 100% or longer of a 10-hour workday.  

• Walk up to 100% of a 10-hour workday.  

• Sit 4% of a 10-hour workday.  

• Requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds continuously.  

• Requires the employee to bend, squat, kneel and reach above shoulder level frequently. Climb and twist occasionally.  

• Requires repetitive use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulation  

• Requires all sensory skills (speech, vision, smell, touch, and hearing) corrected to the near-normal range.  

• Environment:  

• Greater than 90% of time spent indoors.  

• Temperature and humidity fluctuate indoors.  

• Exposure to cleaning agents.  

• Exposure to high-stress levels.  

• Exposure to electrical currents. 

Preferred Requirements: 

• High School diploma is required, Associate's degree (A. A.) or Bachelors is preferred; or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education / experience. 

• Adapts positively to the ever-changing healthcare environment by supporting technology and process changes.  

• Ability to empathize with others and demonstrate a values-based work style is required.  

• Must possess excellent listening, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving methods.  

• Demonstrates the core values and Mission Statement of Metropolitan Animal Specialists (MASH) in their day-to-day activity.