Medical Assistant/Ward Clerk (San Luis Obispo)

Bakersfield Family Medical Group; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 38,641 - 45,460; Full time

Job summary

Bakersfield Family Medical Group is looking for a Medical Assistant Ward Clerk in San Luis Obispo, California. This role involves providing patient care, managing appointments, and performing clinical tasks in a collaborative environment.

Qualified candidates should have graduated from an accredited Medical Assistant program, hold current BLS and venipuncture certifications, and possess strong communication skills. The pay range is between $28.05 and $33.00 based on experience.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or certificate required.
• Graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program.
• Current BLS certification is mandatory.
• Current venipuncture certification is necessary.
• One year of experience in a physician’s office or clinic preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients courteously and maintain professional communication.
• Schedule appointments according to physician/department guidelines.
• Assist with administration of medications and vaccines.
• Perform clinical procedures like vital signs and ECG.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area following infection control practices.

Skills

Patient care

Electronic medical records

Insurance knowledge

Administrative tasks

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or certificate

Medical Assistant program graduate

BLS certification

Venipuncture certification

Tools

NextGen

CAIR

Job description

Overview

Under the direction of the Clinic Supervisor, this position is responsible for patient care in the clinic or ambulatory care setting, along with scheduling of appointments (if appropriate), managing tasks for providers, submission of referrals, and back-up reception, as needed. The Medical Assistant Ward Clerk performs administrative and clinical tasks to keep clinic operations running smoothly, including access to, understanding, and processing tasks in the electronic medical records system. The role requires adherence to Company policies and regulations and collaboration with multiple departments to support patient care and service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients courteously and maintain professional communication with eye contact, smile, and proper telephone etiquette.
• Receive and process incoming calls; handle multi-line telephones; schedule appointments according to physician/department guidelines.
• Update patient information in NextGen; manage NextMD message retrieval and responses.
• Understand insurance contracts and coverage, including acceptable and unacceptable insurances and benefits; submit referrals and arrange referral appointments as appropriate.
• Assist with administration of medications and vaccines as ordered; perform or support sterile technique and maintain sterile fields when required.
• Perform or assist with clinical procedures offered in Company Clinics, including but not limited to:
• Vital signs (including orthostatic)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Specimen collection (blood draw, urinalysis, culture swabs, etc.)
• Vital signs and diagnostic testing as listed below
• Basic wound care and dressing changes
• Ear lavage; eye irrigation
• TB skin testing; visual acuity testing
• Waived tests (e.g., rapid strep, urinalysis)
• Application of Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
• Pulmonary function test; audiogram
• Overnight pulse oximeter monitoring
• Perform nursing and back-office support tasks, including rooming patients, intake notes, and completing NextGen MA workflow.
• Handle patient communications and documentation: create and send tasks through the EHR; take messages and respond promptly; manage referrals and appointments; ensure hospital notes are retrieved prior to provider review where applicable.
• Assist in processing and submitting referrals, utilizing online processes when applicable; obtain approved prescriptions and coordinate with pharmacists/providers to ensure accuracy.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area; follow Standard/Universal Precautions and infection control practices.
• Assist with patient flow and clerical needs for back-office and follow-up instructions; manage tasks and inbox daily; back-up reception as needed.
• Maintain patient health maintenance updates in the system and ensure all required documentation is available for provider review.
• Handle patient forms (e.g., DMV, physical, handicap placard, disability) as needed.
• Act as provider liaison to obtain answers for patient questions and coordinate care with providers and external entities.
• Initiate/participate in emergency codes (Code White, Code Blue, Code Red) within scope of practice as needed.
• Process all incoming correspondence ensuring required information is documented (e.g., chart number, last visit, next visit date, refill requests, reports, results) prior to provider review.
• Assist with vaccination data entry in CAIR and other relevant systems; administer medications within scope of practice.
• Participate in other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

1. High school diploma or certificate required.
2. Graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program.
3. Current BLS certification.
4. Current venipuncture certification.
5. Knowledge of computers; working knowledge of appointment scheduling preferred.
6. One year of experience in a physician’s office or clinic preferred.
7. Valid driver’s license and current vehicle insurance.

Benefits and Other Details

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $28.05 and $33.00, with base pay varying by location, knowledge, skills, and experience. Employment is at-will, and the Company reserves the right to modify compensation and benefits. Equal Opportunity Employer: Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled.