Medical Assistant

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a compassionate team dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations in Seattle. As a Medical Assistant, you will play a crucial role in providing outreach and medical services to individuals facing homelessness and mental health challenges. This position offers the opportunity to work in various settings, from clinics to the streets, ensuring that clients receive the care and support they need. With a focus on advocacy and community resources, you will help clients navigate their healthcare needs and connect them to essential services. If you are passionate about social justice and making a difference, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Long-term Disability Insurance

Medical Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (34 days per year)

Retirement Plan

Employee Assistance Program

ORCA card subsidy

Qualifications

• Licensed Medical Assistant with clinic experience in adult medicine and addiction.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of behavior.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management services to homeless adults and advocate for their needs.
• Administer medications and perform client assessments as needed.

Skills

Case Management

Advocacy

Communication Skills

Phlebotomy

Medication Management

Crisis Intervention

Client Assessment

Education

Medical Assistant License

Job description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Day (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION:

Homeless Outreach Stabilization and Transition (HOST) is a multi-disciplinary team serving homeless adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. HOST prioritizes services to those who are highly vulnerable, lack service connections or other support, and are unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models. The HOST team works throughout Seattle and parts of King County to provide critical survival services and engagement with the ultimate goal of addressing acute mental and physical health needs, increasing stability, obtaining housing, and transitioning to long-term services.

The HOST Medical Assistant (MA) coordinates and evaluates client medical needs under the supervision of the RN Supervisor. This position functions as part of the larger HOST team to serve clients struggling to meet their basic needs, navigate the healthcare system, and engage in traditional healthcare settings. Services will be provided in clinic, on the streets, in shelters, and other service centers as assigned. Interested individuals should possess a high degree of coordination and collaboration skills, interest in social justice, advocacy, and health integration.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Case Management & Social Support:

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing some components of ongoing case management services to homeless and formerly homeless adults.
• Advocate for clients’ access to community resources and services, especially primary health care services, ensuring that clients’ needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Assist clients that are Medicaid eligible to get connected to benefits, connect to community services, and/or re-engage clients who are Medicaid benefit eligible but have not maintained active status.
• Participate in the planning, organizing and facilitating of psycho-educational treatment services for consumers served by the mental health program, under the direction of the mental health professional (MHP).
• Provide outreach and engagement on the streets, shelters, encampments, and other community areas.
• Provide individualized medication management services and instructions as needed, and ongoing documentation of treatment plan, impacts, and side effects.
• Assess client needs and care coordination when clients are hospitalized, incarcerated, and/or moving into or out of housing facilities.

Medication, Medical Services, and Clinical Skills:

• Perform initial history and physical of client; documenting any client identified concerns, vital signs, and mental health status exams/AIMs assessments.
• Reconcile medication and medical record with hospitals, other outpatient mental health clinics, and primary care facilities, including collecting appropriate Release of Information requests (ROIs). Ensure that client spaces and clinical spaces are clean, stocked, and appropriate medical equipment is in working order.
• Perform client assessments on a walk-in and as needed basis utilizing pre-established guidelines and guidance of nursing supervisor.
• Administer pre-dosed oral medication, injections (both anti-psychotic injections and insulin), and wound care within scope of practice and plan of care.
• Coordinate communication between care team, outpatient case management, outpatient nursing care team, and providers regarding client medical needs and condition.
• Schedule appointments for clients, assist clients in getting to medical and/or psych appointments, attend appointments with client, organize follow-up care for clients.
• Perform medication refill requests, medication organization, and medication follow-up needs as directed by provider and/or registered nurse.
• Complete assessment and plan of care documentation as appropriate.

Other duties & responsibilities:

• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain timely and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Medical Assistant licensed in the State of Washington, ideally 1-year clinic experience in adult medicine, addiction medicine, wound care, internal medicine, and/or infectious disease.
• Experience with phlebotomy.
• Interest or experience in working with homeless, mentally ill and/or substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of psychiatric medications, side effects and methods of administration, or willingness to learn. Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in community health, behavioral health, case management, and/or resource referral.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to stand for long periods, climb stairs, sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.