The Indispensable Medical Assistant (MA) is an integral part of the Patient Care Team. Medical Assistants provide vital support to the care team and are a key component of Medical Homes and Team-Based Care.

The evolving role of Medical Assistants means that they do so much more than just take vitals and room patients; they participate in operational improvements for the Patient Care Team by utilizing best practices to reduce the No-Show rate, perform Visit Preparation prior to the appointment, and actively manage the schedule in order to optimize access for all patients and help keep the Care Team coordinated. They provide support to the entire care team as they conduct a robust intake, the Midway Knock, and participate actively in the Patient Care Team huddle. MAs are focused on customer service as a result of the Patient-Centric culture that they promote. They work to enhance continuity of care and help make real-time decisions about visit agenda-setting; they also Red-Carpet the patients. The MA has a relationship with both the patients and the Patient Care Team that is exciting, engaging, and relevant to the care of every patient.

The Coleman Associates Medical Assistant (MA) Training Workshop Series teaches Medical Assistants the tactics tested and proven to enhance the patient experience and the MA/Provider partnership. The training offers a variety of training methods for adult learners, such as interactive role-playing and practice sessions in smaller breakout groups. This hands-on training is tailored to suit the needs of the health center and its existing infrastructure.

Coleman Associates partners with you to provide EHR-specific instructions for visit preparation and active schedule management. Coleman Associates will work with you to gather this information in the form of screenshots from your electronic health record and specific tools you may already be using. This practical and specific content will send the MAs immediately back to the health center, ready to deploy the tactics and tools they just learned.

This training is geared towards MAs (or other clinical support staff such as LVNs) who are working in a team-based care setting. This training is ideal for clients who have gone through the DPI™ Collaborative and are ready to ensure that there is formalized and consistent MA training to support the clinician optimally and to provide efficient quality visits for their patients.

Participants in the MA training will learn the following techniques over the course of two five-hour training days in order to communicate more effectively with the provider, teeing up their patients for their clinician and provide a truly patient-centered medical home visit:

• Visit Preparation: How to effectively prepare the office (and sometimes the patient) for their visit by reviewing the chart and gaps in knowledge or care.
• Robust Confirmation Calls: How to conduct helpful and robust calls in advance of the appointment to facilitate a meaningful preparation for the patient visit
• Patient Care Team Huddle: How to conduct and lead an effective huddle
• Red Carpeting: how to provide patients with the warmest welcome and introduction to their patient visit
• Robust Intake and Agenda-Setting: How to gather sufficient information from the patient to better inform the 30-second report and help the provider prepare to meet the patient’s needs most effectively.
• The 30-Second Report: How to deliver an effective and succinct 30-second download to a provider about the patient who is behind the exam room door
• The Midway Knock: How to provide a structured check-in for the clinician midway through the visit
• Active Schedule Management: How to respond to late patients, and early patients and manage the schedule in order to guide the provider and reduce the chance of missed opportunities (any appointment slots where a chance to see a patient is missed)

Coleman is a certified IACET CEU provider. Talk to us about making CEUs available for your staff attendees.

The cost of the MA Training starts at $17,800, and it is tailored to your organizational goals and requirements. Timing and pricing vary depending on the number of participants, days of training, and the amount of follow-up coaching and support needed.