Here We Grow Again - The Role of the Medical Assistant in Primary Care - Donna J. Burks

Oct 3, 2026

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Presentation outlining objectives and program elements focused on the role, recruitment, onboarding, and career development of medical assistants in primary care. Defines medical assistants’ responsibilities in outpatient/ambulatory settings, discusses certification and the non-licensed nature of Indiana scope of practice, and highlights variability across states. Covers current staffing and recruitment approach, onboarding workflow (orientation, preceptors, follow-up), and the Eskenazi Model of Excellence (EME) components including quality, access, and SDOH screening. Includes career ladder origins and associated organization and employee benefits.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Objectives

Role of the Medical Assistant

Scope of Practice

Recruitment

Onboarding

Eskenazi Model Of Excellence (EME)

Medical Assistant Career Ladder

Organization Benefits

Employee Benefits

Here We Grow Again The Role of the Medical Assistant in Primary Care Donna J. Burks RN, MSN, BSN Chief Nursing Officer Eskenazi Health Primary Care Objectives • Recruitment and onboarding process • Eskenazi Model of Excellence (EME) • Medical assistant career ladder • The Sunshine Award Role of the Medical Assistant • A Medical Assistant (MA), according to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), is a medical professional who is responsible for working alongside physicians in outpatient and ambulatory care facilities such as medical offices and clinics . • A Medical Assistant is also known as "clinical assistant" or healthcare assistant. • Medical Assistants can become certified through an accredited program . • According to Indiana's State law, Medical Assistants are, by definition, non-licensed individuals who are permitted to perform specific duties within a defined framework (Retrieved from: [www. medassistant.org](www. medassistant.org) ) Role of the Medical Assistant Cont’d • It is important to note that Medical Assistants’ scope of practice is not universally defined. • This is because MAs do not obtain a license after they graduate from MA school. • They therefore do not have a defined scope of practice . • While some states have statutes addressing the scope of practice for MA’s, most states, including Indiana do not have such statutes or regulations . ( [https://www. medassistantedu.org/indiana/](https://www. medassistantedu.org/indiana/) ) Recruitment Current state • 177 Medical Assistant Positions-14 locations • Partnership with Human Resource Department • Recruitment within the community • 2020 9%-2024 17.43% • Very Important Referral (VIR) Onboarding • Staff Development Coordinator • Orientation • Preceptors • 30/90 Day Follow Up Scope of Practice Eskenazi Model Of Excellence (EME) • Coleman & Associates • EME Coach • Patient throughput • Schedule utilization • Previsit planning • Quality • SDOH screening • Pros • Access • Patient Satisfaction • Staff Satisfaction • Work Life Balance • Cons • Difficulty executing with vacancies Medical Assistant Career Ladder • Origin • IPHCA Conference • Development • Human Resource/Ambulatory Care Collaboration • Ladder Progression • Human Resource/Health Care Leadership Collaboration Medical Assistant Career Ladder Cont’d Organization Benefits o Strategy for recruitment and retention of medical assistants . o Encourages staff development and growth. Employee Benefits o More engaged medical assistants . o Increased medical assistants job satisfaction . o Increased provider satisfaction . o Well-qualified and trained professional medical assistants applying for positions . Categories o Medical Assistant I o Medical Assistant II o Medical Assistant III o Floor Captain MA

FAQs

What are the main objectives covered in the presentation?

The presentation’s objectives include the recruitment and onboarding process, the Eskenazi Model of Excellence (EME), the medical assistant career ladder, and the Sunshine Award.

How does the presentation describe the role and certification of medical assistants?

A medical assistant is described as a healthcare professional working alongside physicians in outpatient and ambulatory settings, and medical assistants can become certified through an accredited program.

What does the presentation say about scope of practice for medical assistants in Indiana?

The presentation notes that medical assistants are non-licensed individuals permitted to perform specific duties within a defined framework in Indiana, and it emphasizes that scope of practice is not universally defined.

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by Asher