MEDICAL ASSISTANT I/ II(Full Time)

Seneca Healthcare District; Chester (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

403(b) plan with match

Paid Time Off & ESL

Job summary

Seneca Healthcare District in Chester, CA is seeking a Medical Office Assistant to handle patient check-in, scheduling, chart management and front-desk duties in a busy clinic environment.

Responsibilities include greeting patients, collecting insurance and consent information, performing triage, answering calls, and coordinating referrals, labs and imaging while maintaining confidentiality and HIPAA standards. BLS/medical office experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Current BLS certification (AHA) with hands-on skills testing required.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists with checking patients in and completing intake forms.
• Answers calls, triages, and refers patients for care as needed.
• Manages charts, labs, x-rays, and reports; schedules appointments.
• Performs receptionist duties when needed and ensures data accuracy.
• Works with translators to accommodate non-English patients when required.

Skills

Patient intake

Telephone triage

Medical terminology

Clerical duties

HIPAA compliance

BLS certification

Education

Medical Assistant certification

Tools

EMR systems

Chart management

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Chester, CA 96020

Education Level: None

Salary Range: $19.32 - $29.73 Hourly

Job Shift: Day Shift

Position encompasses care of patients from intake through check out. Assisting physician or mid-level provider, typing, telephone triage, chart organization and filing, care of equipment, care of the environment in the clinic, insurance authorizations, referrals, and computer data entry.

Essential Functions

Office/admitting duties

• Assists with checking patients in as needed. Helps with patient admission forms and other chart related paperwork.
• Answers telephone calls. Triages calls and uses expertise to answer patient questions and make appropriate referrals for care or treatment as needed.
• Assists in setting up charts; filing labs, x-rays, reports, etc. as needed. Pulls charts for scheduled appointments if needed.
• Performs receptionist functions when clinic receptionist is not available.
• Keeps recalls up-to-date by calling patients for needed labs, tests, or visits per recall file list. These include but are not limited to pap smears, mammograms, follow up labs, and immunizations.
• Schedules patients for clinic. Sets up new charts and obtains medical record numbers. Makes return appointments. Assists clinic staff and physicians as needed
• Keeps schedule up-to-date. Calls no-shows and reschedules.
• Calls to confirm patient appointments for next day's schedule.
• Obtains pertinent information about the patient when the appointment is scheduled with regard to the need for a translator if the patient does not speak English. Helps to arrange for a translator for patients when necessary.
• Ensures that the parent or guardian is with minors under 18 years of age when they come in for care or that the young person has the appropriate consent signed for care with them when they come in to be seen.
• Greets patients and determines their needs. Obtains and verifies all information required for medical chart and billing purposes. Ensures collection of Medi-Cal cards, private insurance information, and low income verification. Clarifies patient responsibility for payment.
• Assists patients that are unable to read to fill out needed intake forms.
• Obtains TARS, referrals, and authorizations required by insurance companies.

Equipment

• Keeps tables and work spaces clean and orderly by maintaining ongoing medical asepsis.
• Orders needed equipment and replacements to assure that stock is adequate for patient care.
• Makes sure that equipment is in working order. Alerts Lake Almanor Clinic Office Manager if equipment needs repair.
• Understands the principles of aseptic technique and maintains all instruments in a clean condition after use and takes instruments to Central Processing for sterilization.
• Sets up and maintains sterile field for procedures.
• Monitors all supplies and equipment and drug out-dates, so the new supplies or equipment will be ordered in a timely manner and out of date drugs will not be used.
• Orders drugs as needed from the Drug Room Supervisor. Coordinates orders with Purchasing.
• Keeps refrigerator temperature logs and maintains cleanliness of refrigerator and defrosts when needed.

Patient flow

• Assists as needed with checking patients in, organizing paper work, and putting patients in rooms.
• Does vital signs, height, weight, short history of patient's reason for visit or complaint, and records them correctly.
• Escorts patients out and cleans rooms as needed.

Patient care

• May do Snellen eye chart exam, Audiometry, and other specialized clinic testing as required.
• Understands local health care programs, including C.H.D.P. and B.C.E.D.P.
• Prepares patients for various examinations and procedures and sets up appropriate equipment and trays as needed.
• Graphs heights and weights accurately for each pediatric visit.
• Maintains patient comfort and privacy at all times.
• Instruct patients in preps for various x-ray procedures.
• Schedules labs, x-rays, tests, and revisits as needed.
• Maintains follow up log for patient recall for pap smears, mammograms, immunizations, and C.H.D.P. examinations.
• Collects and labels specimens as needed. Takes specimens to laboratory using bio-hazard bags and proper glove technique.
• Prepares all forms for specimen transport as needed by getting accurate and current patient information.
• Assists with patient referrals to other community agencies or specialists as needed.
• Does all other requested direct patient care as needed within scope of practice.

Other responsibilities

• Assists physician or mid-level provider in call backs to patients and contributes to Quality Improvement (Q.I.) by attending clinic Q.I. meetings and generally assists through suggestions and activities in the ongoing improvement of patient care.
• Responsible for maintaining a high level of personal job knowledge by attending in-service programs, keeping professional reading current as it relates to patient care, and specifying personal and professional goals to improve job performance.
• Personally and professionally responsible to report any suspicion of patient abuse and acts as an ombudsperson to patients to assist them in obtaining the best care possible.
• Asks questions and clarifies orders as needed (does not assume).
• Maintains CONFIDENTIALITY of all patient care information to assure patients' rights are protected.

Qualifications

Medical Assistant I

• Current BLS certification (AHA) with hands-on skills testing required
• Knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare experience preferred

Certified Medical Assistant II

• Current certification for Medical Assistant required
• Current BLS certification (AHA) with hands-on skills testing required
• Knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare experience preferred

Physical Requirements

Physical strength to lift at least 45 pounds and safely assist with positioning patients on a 4-foot-high table. Good visual and auditory skills for observation and vital signs. Must be able to bend, stretch, walk, and spend long hours standing and sitting. Ability to reach overhead with arms held high and with good balance.

Skills

Pleasant and clear telephone voice with good knowledge of the English language. Clear, correct written work. Good spelling skills. Computer skills preferred. Office procedures knowledge preferred. Must be compatible with clinic physicians and other practitioners.

The ideal applicant is someone who enjoys working with people of all ages and has an accepting, non-judgmental approach to care of patients from diverse cultures and lifestyles. Prefer applicant with ambulatory care or medical office experience or a well-motivated self-starter who is willing to learn.

SAFETY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in fire, disaster, hazardous chemicals, and other drills as outlined in the hospital-wide and clinic policy manuals.
• Responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by all policies and procedures of the Safety/Security Program, Infection Control, and Hazardous Materials Management Communication Program as they apply to the department and hospital-wide and can demonstrate adequate knowledge of these programs through interview or written tests.
• Knows and follows all safety, health, and security policies and procedures. Knows and utilizes all safe work practices
• Attends mandatory meetings as scheduled regarding infection control, hazardous materials, fire, disaster, safety, and security.
• Responsible for maintaining excellent body mechanics in dealing with patients and teaches patients good body mechanics through example.
• Maintains infection control through cleanliness and ongoing medical asepsis.
• Knows what personal protective equipment is available in the clinic for exposure control against infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and other potential hazards. Knows how to use the equipment, where it is located in the clinic, and when which items are to be used.
• Knows the hospital-wide and clinic policies and procedures regarding infection control, disaster preparedness, hazardous materials, fire drills, electrical safety, and body mechanics.
• Able to lift and position elderly patients and children using proper techniques. Knows limitations of personal strength and does not exceed those limitations i.e., asks for help when needed. Does not endanger patients or self by attempting to lift unsafely.
• Understands the hazard of infections spreading to patients and does not report to work ill.
• Follows hospital-wide and clinic policies regarding personal health and wellness. Reports incidents in regards to self or patients promptly to immediate supervisor.
• Any needed ongoing cleaning will be discussed with immediate supervisor or housekeeping to assure that patient care areas are kept clean and sanitized. Trash will be disposed of properly. Universal body fluid precautions will be maintained at all times.
• Takes personal responsibility for keeping up with changes in policies and procedures in regard to safety, fire, disaster, hazardous substances or electrical hazards through a communication binder. Attends meetings and Quality Improvement programs.
• Completes annual health requirements timely.
• Keeps all required licenses and certifications current.
• Other duties as assigned.

Compliance

• Assumes personal responsibility to comply with all Federal, State and local laws governing business conduct, conducts business in an ethical and trustworthy manner, and displays the qualities and characteristics of a professional at all times when dealing with patients, visitors, physicians, volunteers, and fellow employees.
• Exemplifies the Seneca Core Values in all aspects of work responsibilities and demonstrates these values to fellow employees and supervisors.

Quality of Work

• Assumes responsibility for professional customer service when working with the public, physicians, and other departments.
• Strives for excellence in following policies and procedures.
• Utilizes positive communication skills when interacting with people who work for, are serviced by, or associated with the hospital, to ensure that persons receive the highest degree of attention and courtesy.
• Maintains confidentiality of information received in the department and throughout the hospital by complying with strict confidentiality regulations per HIPAA requirements.
• Promotes professional growth of self and co-workers by participating in on-the-job training, continuing education and assisting with training of new employees.

Why Seneca Healthcare District?

Seneca employees are united in our quest to improve the health and well-being of our patients, and we empower each of our team members to fulfill this mission and reach their full potential regardless of job title or experience level.

To this end, we offer:

• Leading benefits package for full-time and part-time employees, inclusive of health, prescription drug, dental, vision and life insurance coverage.
• Sponsored 403(b) plan, with up to 3% matching contribution, and eligibility to participate in the District-funded pension program following one year of service.
• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Sick Leave (ESL).
• A "One Team" culture of deep respect and admiration across all teams and functions, regardless of role or background.

Qualifications Physical Requirements

Physical strength to lift at least 45 pounds and safely assist with positioning patients on a 4-foot-high table. Good visual and auditory skills for observation and vital signs. Must be able to bend, stretch, walk, and spend long hours standing and sitting. Ability to reach overhead with arms held high and with good balance.

Education/Licensure

Current certification for Medical Assistant, current CPR card. CPR shall not lapse. Employee will alert the department supervisor if he/she has need of any specific training related to job performance and patient safety. Responsible for attending all hospital-wide mandatory nursing meetings and in-service educational programs. May be asked to assist in orientation of new employees.