Medical Assistant

ADP, Inc.; Porterville (CA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tule River Indian Health Center, Inc. is seeking a Medical Assistant to support licensed medical staff in a clinical setting. You will collect vitals, assist with examinations, administer medications as ordered, and help maintain patient records with a patient-centered approach.

The role requires effective communication, familiarity with EHR, and a commitment to serving Native American communities. Training and teamwork are emphasized in a respectful, community-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of medical terminology and routine patient care procedures.
• Good communication with diverse populations.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to enter data accurately into healthcare databases (EHR).

Responsibilities

• Assist clinical staff with daily patient flow.
• Take vitals and collect patient information prior to provider visit.
• Administer injections and medications as ordered.
• Prepare patients and rooms for examinations and tests.
• Assist with wound care and specimen collection.
• Schedule appointments and handle phone duties.

Skills

Medical terminology

Communication skills

Independent work

Data entry

Education

High school diploma / GED

MA Certification

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

Under the direction of the Licensed Vocational Nurse, the Medical Assistant assists licensed medical staff in performing a wide variety of paraprofessional nursing care duties of moderate difficulty in a clinical setting provides medical records assistance in compliance with policies and procedures; carries out the routine delivery of direct patient care services; and/or reception duties as assigned. The Medical Assistant must be able to communicate well and be able to establish rapport with patient and their families. He/she must be sensitive to the needs of the Native American community; its cultures, traditions, and values. The Medical Assistant must be familiar with the goals and objectives of the Health Center, also maintains genuine enthusiasm for the success of TRIHCI’s health programs and consequently exercises a strong sense of stewardship in developing and maintaining community relations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1. Assists the clinical staff with daily patient flow;
• 2. At each patient visit, obtains the following information prior to the provider seeing the patient: height, weight, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, chief complaint, head circumference on children three (3) and under, and plots information on pediatric growth chart or patient chart as appropriate;
• 3. Administers intramuscular, intradermal, and subcutaneous injections, as ordered by provider;
• 4. Administers medication orally, sublingually, topically, vaginally or rectally, or by providing a single dose to a patient for immediate self-administration, or by inhalation to adults and children;
• 5. Performs skin tests;
• 6. Collects and prepare urine specimens, and label specimens
• 7. Performs skin puncture for the purpose of collecting samples of blood;
• 9. Performs ear lavage to remove impacted cerumen;
• 10. Applies and removes bandages and dressings;
• 11. Assist the Provider and or the Licensed Vocational Nurse with removal of casts, splints and other external devices;
• 12. Assist the Provider and or the Licensed Vocational Nurse with the selection and adjustment of crutches to patient and instruct patient in proper use of crutches;
• 13. Ensures pertinent lab/x-ray, consultations, or hospital reports are in the medical record/EHR prior to provider visit;
• 14. Assists provider with patient examination as needed;
• 15. Insures that exam rooms are cleaned in between patients;
• 16. Stocks exam rooms as appropriate;
• 17. Assists in the sterilization and autoclaving of medical instruments and is able to perform biological spore testing;
• 18. Answers phones, greets patients, and schedules appointments;
• 19. Phones in prescription refills throughout the day as the providers approve them;
• 20. Calls patients to let them know medications are ready to be picked up;
• 21. Checks the medical refrigerator/ freezer temperature daily and records in log;
• 22. Follows all Universal Precaution Protocols;
• 23. Reports any unsafe equipment or findings to supervisor or appropriate person;
• 24. Assists in ordering supplies;
• 25. Participate in all required staff meetings including any necessary trainings;
• 26. Participate in annual training through EZIZ re: VFC (Vaccines for Children);
• 27. Perform general office duties or other responsibilities as needed and assigned;
• 28. Perform daily patient chart scrubbing;
• 29. Assist with wound care;
• 30. Complete Tasks sent from providers;
• 31. Perform hearing and vision screenings;
• 32. Prepare patients for Department of Transportation (DOT) Physicals, Well Women’s Physicals, Well Child Preventative, and Diabetic guideline patient care;
• 33. Ability to recognize when and appropriately use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when assisting patients;
• 34. All other duties assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• 1. Knowledge of: medical terminology; medical processes, and medical procedures sufficient to perform routine patient care.
• 2. Must have good communication skills, be able to effectively communicate with diverse populations, and be willing to convey responsibilities to patients.
• 3. Demonstrate the ability to work independently in carrying out assignments while remaining reliable and dependable.
• 4. Demonstrate professional competency in office and healthcare abilities, including the maintenance of client confidentiality.
• 5. Ability to demonstrate basic levels of computer literacy, with a functional understanding of Microsoft Windows Operating Systems in an office setting, and demonstrate a working knowledge of routine office hardware and equipment (e.g. printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.).
• 6. Must be familiar with entering data into a healthcare database program (EHR).
• 7. Must demonstrate the ability to maintain accurate records and preparing clear and accurate reports for informational, auditing, and operational use, including capacities for attention to detail and for reviewing and verifying accuracy of data.
• 8. Possess the ability to organize and follow one’s own work schedule (i.e. setting priorities, being available during work hours, and meeting critical deadlines).
• 9. Possess the ability to perform well in group problem-solving situations and use reason even when dealing with highly emotional topics.
• 10. Possess the ability to become knowledgeable of health needs and services provided to the Indian community both on and near the reservation.
• 11. Demonstrate the competency and integrity to maintain the confidentiality of organizational, employee, and client records.
• 12. Possess the ability to deliver effective training and presentations on technical subjects to large and/or small groups of various educational and cultural backgrounds.
• 13. Possess knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing public health, principles of mental health. Laws and regulations relating to the practice of medicine and nursing.
• 14. Knowledge of causes, means of transmission and methods of control of communicable disease, principles and practices of diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems, child growth, and development.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• 1. A high school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• 2. Medical Assistant (MA) Certification

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• 1. Possess a valid California Driver’s License, and be insurable with the Tule River Indian Health Center, Inc. insurance agency throughout employment.
• 2. First Aid/CPR at BCLS level.
• 3. Current certification to administer injections.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CONTINGENCIES

• 1. PALS certification preferred.
• 2. One or more years paid work experience as a Medical Assistant.
• 3. TRIHCI maintains a drug- and alcohol-free workplace, and all offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a criminal background check, a post-offer drug test and physical and TB test, and verification of each candidate’s right to work in the United States.

Hiring preference is given to qualified American Indians in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (title 25, U.S. code § 472 & 473). Applicants claiming Native American/ Indian Preference must submit Indian verification, certified by Tribe of affiliation or other acceptable documentation of Native American/ Indian heritage.

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT

The description provided here is representative of those conditions in which the Medical Assistant will be required to perform the essential functions of this position. As stated earlier, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• 1. Possess the mobility to work in a standard office setting (i.e. walk, stand, or sit for extended periods of time);
• 2. Possess the ability to use standard office equipment to write, type, copy, fax, or perform other duties;
• 3. Possess the strength to lift and carry supplies weighing up to 15 lbs. repeatedly and up to 45 lbs. intermittently;
• 4. Possess the visual acuity to read printed materials and a computer screen; and
• 5. Demonstrate hearing and speech capabilities that allow him/her to communicate in person and over the telephone as required,
• 6. Possess the ability to push, bend and/or lift to help patients to/from vehicle, wheelchairs, stretchers, etc., and moving equipment and medical supplies.

While performing the duties of this position, the Medical Assistant is situated in a standard office environment within the health center, where there is little or no exposure to variations in the weather or other similar elements. The Medical Assistant will move throughout the health center to meet with supervisors and co-workers, but maintains direct patient/client contact. Consequently, the Medical Assistant must:

DISCLAIMER

This position description lists the major duties and requirements for the Medical Assistant position as established by subject-matter experts and the Human Resources Department at the time of this document’s creation. This position may require additional performance of duties and responsibilities beyond those outlined in this document, and thus may require additional sets of knowledge, skills, and abilities not fully articulated herein.