Care Coordinator 2

Oregon Health & Science University; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunities for advancement

Join a diverse workforce

Work from home options

Job summary

A prominent educational health institution in Portland, Oregon is seeking a Specialty Medical Assistant to provide crucial clinical support. This role involves managing patient care processes, coordinating communication between services, and performing essential administrative tasks. Ideal candidates should have experience in a healthcare setting, a high school diploma, and relevant medical certifications. The position requires strong interpersonal skills and proficiency with electronic medical records. A hybrid work schedule allows for flexibility with both in-clinic and remote work options.

Qualifications

• Three years' experience in a hospital or clinic setting is required.
• BLS certification from AHA required for in-person patient care.
• Must possess MA Certification from a recognized certifying body.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage aspects of the patient’s clinical care process.
• Provide information and education to patients and family members.
• Document patient progress and ensure proper data management.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to work independently

Analytic skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Knowledge of patient flow

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Completion of a medical assistant training program

Tools

EPIC

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Specialty MA role provides a wide range of clinical support duties and is an integral part of the medical care team. The Specialty MA independently performs clinical administrative and technical functions that are critical within the department of Gastroenterology. This position will ensure that the patient care is seamless and that the continuity of care is achieved for every patient. The main tasks are to systematically bridge gaps between numerous services necessary for patient care such as laboratory and imaging, specialty care, primary care, and social work, and to communicate the plan to the patient and patient’s representative. This position also supports providers daily by performing clinical administrative duties within their scope such as order entry, managing lab results, scheduling appointments and coordinating. It also supports the clinical team by reviewing scheduled appointments and coordinating the needs prior, during and after the visit. The role works under the clinical direction of the physicians and directly reports to the Clinical Support Supervisor.

Function/Duties of Position

• Patient Care Management – Responsible for coordinating and managing aspects of the patient’s clinical care process. Works with the providers by providing support with medication refills and patient support to the family. Places lab, diagnostic and scheduling orders as directed by the physicians and coordinates with facilities and patients. Monitors the Epic in‑basket messages and ensures timely response is received by patient, providers and answers messages within their scope. Monitors refill requests received in Epic and from RightFax and manages this efficiently to avoid disruption in patient care. Manages Prior Authorization and processes appeals appropriately. Ensures all needed testing is resulted and in the patient’s EMR prior to appointments/procedures.
• Care coordination – Ensures patients follow through with outside referrals to other specialties, labs and diagnostic imaging. Requests and inputs the results of the outside testing into the EMR and forwards to the provider/RN for review. Works with provider and RN to ensure patients are completing needed testing according to their surveillance schedule.
• Communication – Provides information and education to patients, family members, and referring physician office staff. Acts as a communication link with physicians, nurses, referring physician offices, ancillary services, and patients. Provides accurate patient information. Responds to voicemails and email messages based on priority of patient process and as triaged by the RNs. Attends MD/department team meetings as appropriate. Responds to patient questions in MyChart, phone calls, emails, and faxes regarding scheduling or care issues within scope.
• Documentation/Data Management – Documents legibly, concisely and completely to ensure that others can accurately assess the status of patients’ progress by reviewing that documentation. Participates as assigned with database input. Initiates and implements processes to facilitate new protocol implementation and tracking tools as indicated.
• Patient Care/Rooming – Accompanies patient from waiting room and verifies patient identity with two identifiers, takes and records vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, weight, height and temperature; enters patient medications and allergies into EHR; refers patient to medical staff for immediate examination or treatment; transports patient to examination or treatment room with use of wheelchair or gurney or assists patient to walk; observes and reports changes in patient’s conditions or fall risk; works with front desk staff to communicate delays to patients; monitors in‑room wait times and works to facilitate efficient clinic flow; assists physician in emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Chaperones for sensitive examinations regardless of patient’s gender.

Required Qualifications

• Three years’ experience in a hospital or hospital‑based clinic setting.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Positions with in‑person patient care: BLS from AHA required. New hires will be enrolled and required to complete during orientation.
• One of the following four:
• Completion of a nationally recognized accredited medical assistant training program, including a practicum (externship) of at least 160 hours, OR
• Successful completion of a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces, OR
• Current Oregon EMT (basic or advance) license and national EMT registration with the NREMT, OR
• Current Oregon Practical Nurse license.
• For dental school hires only: Completion of a Dental Assistant training program and successful completion of the DANB exam.
• MA Certification from a nationally recognized and accredited certifying body, received upon hire or upon completion of the probationary period or internal job‑change evaluation period, as appropriate. Available certifications include:
  • The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) – Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).
  • The American Medical Technologists (AMT) – Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).
  • The National Center for Competency Testing – National Certified MA (NCMA).
  • The National Health Career Association – Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
• Any applicable certifications or licensures must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of the team, including leadership.
• Knowledge of patient flow and back‑office functions.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently perform chart scrubbing and panel outreach activities.
• Strong analytic skills, including displaying and interpreting data.
• Proficiency with EPIC, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to manage time‑sensitive competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology.
• Strong relationship‑building, excellent communication, exceptional customer‑service, and highly sensitive to patient needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge and attention to the needs of special‑needs patients and their caregivers and families.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years of experience as a certified medical assistant in an ambulatory clinic specifically in Gastroenterology performing duties equivalent to a care coordinator.
• Bilingual.
• Computer skills, including EHR.
• Well‑versed in Epic and Care Everywhere.

Additional Details

• This position works in an extremely fast‑paced and hectic environment with many interruptions, multiple demands, and conflicting priorities. It requires interacting with numerous internal OHSU departments and external customers (referring physician offices). The office setting is small relative to the number of staff using it. The role must be able to deal with phone noise, many simultaneous conversations, and frequent interruptions. After training is complete, hybrid work from home 3 days per week, in clinic 2 days per week. Work schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5 pm.
• Physical demands include pushing, pulling, stooping and lifting up to 50 lbs. Must be able to support the full weight of a patient up to 200 lbs if necessary. Equipment usage includes heavy use of phone, computers, and OHSU’s electronic medical record systems. If working remotely, must have the ability to set up a workstation at home. Requires communication in a respectful, caring and non‑judgmental manner.

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon’s only public academic health center.

In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland’s largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

All are welcome.

OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti‑racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact [e-mail].