Official 2025 APDerm Gap Year Medical Assistant Application

Have you considered a Gap Year Internship as a Medical Assistant before going to Medical or PA School?

This is the official application for placements in Spring or Summer of 2025.

We have Gap year positions available at many of our practice locations! The APDerm Network of Practices consists of multiple brands that share a dedication to delivering exceptional outcomes by making comprehensive dermatology services available and accessible to all patients within their local communities.

As a Gap Year Medical Assistant, you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about general, surgical and cosmetic dermatology
• Obtain valuable patient care that is transferrable to any specialty
• Receive mentorship from practicing Dermatologists
• Maximize your changes of getting into medical school
• Receive medical school interview training
• Collaborate with other Gap Interns

As a Gap Year Medical Assistant, you can expect to:

• Assist physicians with office procedures for biopsies, surgeries and treatments for various skin conditions
• Document/scribe for physicians in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Provide patient education and post-operative care instructions
• Work as part of a team within the practice

APDerm offers competitive pay, paid time off (PTO), sick time, paid holidays, health, dental, and other voluntary benefits, effective on your date of hire.

Under the general supervision of the clinician and reporting directly to the Practice Manager, the Gap Intern shall provide direct and indirect care to a specified group of patients in our dermatology healthcare setting.  Gap Interns work in collaboration with the clinician and other ambulatory support staff with the office location and with other disciplines to deliver quality patient care.  Gap Interns are employed under the premise that they will be employed by the organization for 1-3 years, then transition to a medical school or physician assistant program.

THIS POSITION MAY REQUIRE WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS / EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO WORK/COMMUTE TO ALL SITES. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities including but are not limited to:

• Scribes and documents office visit on computer for clinician.
• Cross coverage when needed.
• May assist clinical trainer in training new MAs and Gap Interns and retraining current MAs and Gap Interns.
• Ensures that all necessary information and materials are present for clinician prior to the patient visit.
• Receives and communicates information through various processes, including (but not limited to) use of computers, Intranet, e-mail, fax, and documentation in patient’s medical record. Follow HIPAA rules and regulations.
• Ensures that all appropriate equipment is in good working order at the beginning of the day and that adequate supplies are available for patient procedure/visit.
• Ensure appropriate levels of supplies and inventory for office needs by utilizing the appropriate request system while understanding the importance of cost containment.
• Obtains and electronically records an accurate history of present illness; updates patient problem list, allergies, pharmacy, medication list and history of skin cancer as indicated.
• Instructs and teaches patients after care for surgical and cosmetic procedures. Ensure patients show understanding and document this in the patient’s chart.
• Assists with OSHA daily and monthly checks. Must have the ability to correctly maintain the OSHA log.
• Completes suture inventory and check rooms for expiring inventory.
• Musts be willing and able to travel to brand or region practice locations to provide clinical coverage when needed. This includes providing coverage when clinicians are on vacation as well as sick calls and PTO coverage.
• Supports APDerm’s mission and culture of high-quality standards by carrying out applicable policies, procedures and established industry standards, laws and regulations. Examples include adhering to privacy and data protection practices, ensuring a safe workplace, and reporting observed or suspected behavior and actions that do not meet APDerm standards.
• Completes all assigned required training by the deadline including, but not limited the Code of Conduct, Privacy & Data Security, and OSHA.

Clinical Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Escorts patients to the appropriate room, accurately obtains and records history and chief complaint to practice standards.
• Prepares patient for the appointment based upon the diagnosis, procedure and or practice protocols. Includes proper dress (gowns), proper set ups for the procedure to be performed, etc.
• Performs proper pre-visit procedure under the direction of the clinician prior to the patient’s visit (suture removal, dressing removal).
• Must be willing to learn and perform ancillary services per practice needs, to include phototherapy, xtrac, PDT, etc.
• Assists clinician in educating patients on biologic injection protocols.
• Sterilizes and packages instruments.
• Observes and reports any abnormal symptoms or behaviour to appropriate clinician.
• Organizes and prioritizes daily work tasks to ensure the clinicians schedule runs smoothly, and all patient needs are met.
• Utilizes standard precautions in room preparation and while assisting with procedures/exams.
• Performs appropriate specimen collection (including labelling, ensuring the specimen is in the bottle and practice protocol).
• Records and maintains pathology logbook to ensure that all pathology reports have been properly documented.
• Provides and reviews appropriate instructions to patients regarding procedures or testing.
• Maintains confidentiality and acknowledges patients’ rights in interactions with the patient/family and other health care workers.
• Performs suture removals or other procedures as directed by the clinician.
• Performs proper dosing and mixing of medications: Buffered Lidocaine, Kenalog, Sclerotherapy preparations, Botox- Cosmetic & Hyperhidrosis, etc.
• Performs injections of subcutaneous and intramuscular medications upon demonstrating competency and with a supervisory agreement in place.
• Seeks advice from a clinician when needed for treatment adjustment or complications.
• Utilizes team leader or manager as a resource.

Ancillary Service Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Prepares patient for the treatment based upon the referring clinicians order, sets up for the proper procedure to be performed including:
  • needed consent(s)
  • calibrating machine
  • preparing treatment area per clinician protocol
  • performing treatment per clinician protocol
  • provide patient with appropriate pre and post care instructions
• Escorts patient to the appropriate treatment room and inquires about response to previous treatments per practice standards
• Demonstrates knowledge and safety practices of ancillary services as established per protocol
• Seeks advice from clinician when needed, for treatment adjustment or complications
• Responsible for accuracy of EMR documentation and for accuracy in billing for services provided
• Routes clinical documentation to the referring clinician for final review and signature

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree for an accredited college or university.

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills required to communicate with patients, family members, clinicians, as well as other colleagues in a positive, professional manner.
• Knowledge of laser safety and protocols.
• Ability to assist clinician with preparation of cosmetic procedures.
• Must possess strong problem-solving abilities and analytical skills to ensure patient’s needs are met.
• Must possess excellent computer skills to input and retrieve clinical information.
• Utilize critical thinking and good judgment in performance of tasks.
• Must possess organizational skills and can multitask.
• Must be able to prioritize daily assignment to ensure smooth workflow.

Physical Requirements

• Stand for extended periods of time; push, pull and reach; occasionally bend, sit, stoop and stretch.
• Have the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity needed to operate medical equipment (e.g., Xtrac Laser).
• Have a normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports; specific vision requirements: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds.