Medical Assistant Lead -Switchboard Operator

New England Cancer Specialists; Westbrook (ME); On-site; USD 46,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) seeks a full-time Medical Assistant Lead - Switchboard Operator (First Responder) in Westbrook, ME. This role blends patient-facing communication with clinical workflow support and managing a multi-line phone system.

The First Responder MA Lead answers and triages calls, greets callers, logs messages in the EMR, and routes information to the correct staff while upholding confidentiality and HIPAA guidelines. Travel within 50 miles of NECS clinics is required.

Qualifications

• Must have a degree or certificate in Medical Assisting.
• 2-year Associates degree strongly preferred.
• Credentials: CMA / RMA / CCMA / NCMA / NRCMA or eligible within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Answer incoming calls and triage based on guidelines.
• Log messages and route calls to appropriate staff.
• Assist in directing First Responders with urgent triage.
• Maintain confidentiality per HIPAA.

Skills

Medical Assistant

Nursing Assistant

Phlebotomy

Phone/Switchboard

EMR

Education

High School Diploma

Associate Degree in Medical Assisting

CMA

RMA

CCMA

NCMA

NRCMA

Tools

EMR

Multi-line Phone System

Job description

Medical Assistant Lead -Switchboard Operator

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• Job Tracking ID : 512708-914879
• Job Location : Westbrook, ME
• Job Level : Mid Career (2+ years)
• Level of Education : High School/GED
• Job Type : Full-Time/Regular
• Date Updated : 09/02/2026
• Years of Experience : 2 - 5 Years
• Starting Date : Invalid Date
• Salary : $0

Job Description

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) is currently seeking a full-time Monday-Friday 8 hr./5-day Medical AssistantPhone/Switchboard Operator (known internally as a First Responder).

The First Responder position is the first point of contact for every patient, family member or outside caller of New England Cancer Specialists. The First Responder MA Lead is responsible for operating multiple communications systems of the practice by answering and triaging incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or logging messages on an electronic dashboard following pre-defined pathways. Will provide excellent customer service to every caller while answering multi-line phone system, timely transferring or logging all of phone calls to route to the appropriate personnel. As a Medical Assistant, will collaborate with departments to facilitate patient flow regarding clinical workflows. And perform essential job functions as listed below.

NECS is a private medical practice composed of 18 oncologists and hematologists serving the region from five separate locations in Maine and New Hampshire. Our mission is to make life better for people with cancer and blood disorders. Kindness, compassion, and respect are part of everything that we do - from our phone operators to our physicians, every person on our team is important, and everyone makes a difference every day. We are proud to be the first Dana Farber Affiliate practice in the country, striving to provide the highest quality care and unmatched, holistic support for every patient, every day.

Job Duties

• Answering all incoming phone calls to practice in a small call center environment using a multi-line phone system. Answer phones for approximately 32 hours per week. 8 hours designated to workflows, guiding First Responders in the daily operations and meeting
• Determines how to handle the call according to triage guidelines, caller need and patient status. Utilizes Electronic Medical Record [EMR] to confirm patient status for call pathway determination.
• Route emergency calls appropriately.
• Assists in directing First Responders with urgent triage situations.
• Communicating with answering service daily, taking practice on and off answering service. Designates answering service messages to appropriate staff; entering clinical messages onto dashboard and faxing administrative messages to appropriate NECS site.
• Logs real time information while speaking with caller (physician’s office, patient, nurse, etc.). Information logged in to dashboard pathways form.
• Transfers calls according to guidelines; utilizes electronic staff schedule to ensure calls are routed to correct staff member.
• Conducts all interactions with patients, external and internal personnel in a courteous, respectful manner while maintaining confidentiality.
• Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
• Has access to and works with protected health information daily. Maintains strictest confidentiality: adheres to all HIPAA guidelines/regulations.
• Keep work area neat and organized.
• Conducts all job responsibilities consistent with office policies and procedures and in compliance with all applicable laws or mandates relating to patient care and business activities.

Monday-Friday work week, no nights, or weekends

Travel: Must be within 50 miles from NECS clinics

Experience and Skills

Requirements :

• Must have a degree or certificate in Medical Assisting from an accredited school of Medical Assistance. 2-year Associates degree in a Credentialed Medical Assistant program strongly preferred.
• You must have (1) of the following credentials or be eligible to obtain (1) of the following credentials, based upon the credentialing organization's eligibility requirements within 90 days of hire:
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)- from AAMA, American Association of Medical Assistants
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from AMT, American Medical Technologists
• Certified Clinical medical Assistant (CCMA) from NHA, National Healthcareer Association
• National Certified medical Assistant (NCMA) from NCCT, National Center for Competency Testing
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from ARMA, American Registry of Medical Assistants
• National Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) from the NAHP, National Association for Health Professional.
• Phlebotomy experience preferred.
• Experience as a Medical Assistant or Nursing Assistant in a hospital or outpatient clinic desired.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Please note: New England Cancer Specialists engages in employer surveillance and electronic monitoring of employees through company-provided systems and devices (such as computers and phones) as permitted by Maine law. Per state law, applicants will be notified of these practices during the interview process.

• Male
• Female
• I Decline To Answer
• Hispanic or Latino (Persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central America, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race)
• White or Caucasian (Not Hispanic or Latino) - Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.
• Black or African American (Not Hispanic or Latino) - Persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• (Not Hispanic or Latino) - Persons having origins in any of the original people of North and South America and maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
• Asian (Not Hispanic or Latino) - Persons having origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent including Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (Not Hispanic or Latino) - Persons having origins in Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.
• Two or More Races (Not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above five race categories.
• I Decline

Protected Veterans

Protected veterans may have additional rights under USERRA - the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In particular, if you were absent from employment in order to perform service in the uniformed service, you may be entitled to be reemployed by your employer in the position you would have obtained with reasonable certainty if not for the absence due to service. For more information, call the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), toll- free, at 1-866-4-USA-DOL.

As a government contractor subject to VEVRAA, we request information to measure outreach. Please indicate if you belong to any of the categories of protected Veterans listed above:

• Identify as one or more of the classifications of protected Veteran listed above
• I am not a protected Veteran

Disability Information

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Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or hard of hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
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• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, legbrace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Yes, I Have A Disability, Or Have A History/Record Of Having A Disability
• No, I Don't Have A Disability, Or A History/Record Of Having A Disability
• I don't wish to answer

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

Yearly Salary: $45,760-$57,200