Medical Assistant - Custody Health Services - Extra Help

County-of-Santa-Clara; California; On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Santa Clara, Custody Health Services seeks Medical Assistants for care in four detention facilities. Under supervision, you perform complex and routine medical assistant tasks in ambulatory care settings to support physicians and nurses.

Selected candidates must pass a background check for security clearance. Responsibilities include preparing patients, maintaining rooms, patient education, charging and charting, assisting with procedures, drawing blood, and coordinating tests and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Certification as a Medical Assistant or California-approved training may substitute for experience.
• Experience in outpatient medical assisting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for examination and take vital signs.
• Maintain examination rooms and ensure supplies are stocked.
• Instruct patients on procedures and dispense educational materials.
• Process orders and manage medical records and scheduling.
• Assist with procedures and specimen handling under physician instruction.
• Draw blood and perform tests as directed by staff.
• Ensure laboratory and x-ray reports are obtained and relayed.

Skills

Nursing basics

Medical terminology

Asepsis

English communication

Record keeping

Lab/radiology prep

Patient education

Phlebotomy

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or accredited program completion

Job description

Under clinical supervision of a Registered Nurse or a licensed Physician/Podiatrist, performs specialized and complex and routine medical assistant tasks related to the care and treatment of patients in an ambulatory care setting.

Custody Health Services is currently recruiting for sixteen (16) Medical Assistant - Extra Help positions.

Custody Health Services (CHS) provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in custody at the four County detention facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood, Juvenile Hall, and James Ranch. On-site routine and urgent/emergent medical services are provided at both Main Jail and Elmwood adult jail facilities in Santa Clara County. Health care of incarcerated patients includes care of acute and chronic illness as well as preventative and specialty care. CHS also operates a 40-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at the Main Jail facility for incarcerated adults who require acute inpatient services for stabilization. Juvenile Custody Health Services provides integrated medical services including comprehensive pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care to justice-involved youth housed in Juvenile Hall and James Ranch.

Selected candidate(s) must be able to work in a correctional facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance.

• Prepares patients for examination by having them properly draped, obtaining vital signs, verifying referral information, and taking detailed history when indicated;
• Maintains examination rooms and nurses station including ordering supplies, transporting specimens, washing and packaging instruments, and changing solutions; keeps Emergency Tray updated and supplies stocked in proper locations;
• Instructs patients in simple procedures/tests, hygiene, exercise, diet, and other basic instructions given by the physician; dispenses appropriate educational materials so that patient has better understanding of the procedure/diagnosis;
• Completes charge sheets and insures that they are given to the appropriate clerk for processing; maintains medical record control and insures that record is reviewed and returned to medical records department;
• Assists with office procedures including monitoring of patient flow, telephone screening, maintaining sample drug list, and ordering supplies;
• Assists medical care providers as needed with routine and specialized procedures, administration of medication, and performance of tests;
• Performs simple procedures/treatments/tests per physician instructions;
• Processes physician orders, including laboratory, x-ray, EKG, and schedules all same day tests and appointments; prepares all forms and requisitions as needed by physician or other medical provider;
• Follows through to make sure laboratory and x-ray reports are received; receives and relays those reports to patients after being instructed to do so by reviewing physicians;
• Attends educational seminars or other professional activities as described by AAMA to maintain professional standards;
• Draws blood samples (with Phlebotomy Certification);
• Performs other related work and comparable duties as required.

Certification as a Medical Assistant or training and experience required by California law to qualify as a Medical Assistant and sufficient training, education or experience to show practical application of, and success in the following knowledge and abilities.

Experience Note:

The successful applicant would normally have a high school diploma or the equivalent and a minimum of one year of experience in an outpatient medical assisting position which has provided training and experience in performing most typical tasks of this position. Completion of an accredited training program (i.e. Regional Occupational Center/Community College) and possession of a Certificate as a Medical Assistant may be substituted for the one year of experience.

Knowledge of:

• Basic nursing practices and medical assisting skills and the various types of materials and equipment related to outpatient care and their application;
• Relevant medical terminology;
• Principles of asepsis;
• Verbal and written English communication;
• Basic patient observation skills and record keeping practices;
• Methods of performing skin tests, tonometry, booth audio metrics, hand-held audio metrics, visual acuities, visual field screening, typanometrics, and other basis tests which may be performed in the outpatient setting by Medical Assistants;
• Methods of conducting or assisting patients (per medical care provider's instructions) with basic tests and treatments performed at an ambulatory care clinic;
• Methods and materials for teaching patients (per medical care provider's instructions) laboratory and radiology preparation, exercise, hygiene, use of medication and dietary information, and other topics as needed;
• Content of laboratory and x-ray reports sufficient to relay information after they are reviewed by the physician;
• Operation of laboratory and x-ray reports sufficient to relay information after they are reviewed by the physician;
• Operation, maintenance and simple calibration of specialized equipment related to the performance of tests and procedures in the ambulatory care setting.

Ability to:

• Perform a variety of routine and complex direct patient care services and assist medical service providers in both simple and more difficult treatments;
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions from physicians, nurses, and other team members;
• Communicate effectively with others verbally and in writing in English;
• Instruct and assist patients effectively;
• Maintain complex and accurate records/charts;
• Process physician's orders, prepare forms and requisitions as needed;
• Perform routine clerical support work;
• Perform routine housekeeping/stocking duties in relation to exam rooms, doctor's offices, and other patient care areas;
• Measure for crutches and teach use of crutches;
• Work quickly and accurately following instructions with minimal direct supervision; give clear, concise instructions when necessary;
• Maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, patients, and others;
• Screen patients and collect data by observing patient and reporting to appropriate medical personnel;
• Stand and walk for long periods and exercise a moderate amount of physical exertion (including stooping and lifting) and manual dexterity in the handling of patients and equipment;
• Operate and maintain ambulatory care related equipment;
• Learn new procedures and information within reasonable period of time;
• Orient other employees effectively in clinic layout, and basic practices and procedures;
• Organize and prioritize workload assignments; follow-through with assignments;
• Maintain a patient, understanding, tolerant attitude under stressful conditions including illness, death and other unpleasant aspects of working in a medical setting.