Patient Care Assistant I - Specialty General Surgery

CHRISTUS Health System; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health in Santa Fe, NM seeks a Medical Assistant trainee to provide front office and clinical support within a busy clinic. You will greet patients, register and schedule, and facilitate communication between patients and providers, while assisting with patient care under supervision.

Responsibilities include documenting in the EMR, relaying test results, and coordinating follow-up services, with competency validation and a 5‑day, 8‑hour work schedule.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required, or two years of relevant work experience.
• Enrollment in or recent completion of a healthcare-related program.

Responsibilities

• Greets patients in person and via telephone in a professional, courteous, service-oriented manner.
• Registers patients accurately by collecting and verifying demographic, insurance, and financial information.
• Schedules appointments, follow-up visits, diagnostic tests, and referrals in accordance with clinic protocols.
• Coordinates and communicates patient messages between patients and providers, ensuring timely follow-up.
• Documents patient interactions, test results, and care activities accurately in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Assists patients, nurses, providers, and care team members in delivering patient care within the clinic setting.
• Obtains and records vital signs in accordance with established clinical guidelines and procedures.
• Collects and documents patient history related to the chief complaint to support provider evaluation.
• Performs point-of-care testing under supervision and in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintains proper quality control, documentation, and compliance for all point-of-care testing performed.

Skills

Customer service experience

Clinical workflow knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Healthcare-related program enrollment

Job description

Summary:

Participates in structured education and training programs, including clinical skills labs, instructor‑led and self‑paced learning, and required online modules. Provides front office and clinical support by greeting patients, managing registration and scheduling, and facilitating communication between patients and providers. Assists with patient care activities, including documenting in the electronic medical record (EMR), relaying test results, and coordinating follow‑up services. Upon successful completion of competencies and under supervision, performs vital signs, collects patient history, and conducts point‑of‑care testing while maintaining quality control standards.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Participates in required education, training programs, and competency validation activities to support clinical and operational readiness.
• Greets patients in person and via telephone in a professional, courteous, and service‑oriented manner.
• Registers patients accurately by collecting and verifying demographic, insurance, and financial information.
• Schedules appointments, follow‑up visits, diagnostic tests, and referrals in accordance with clinic protocols.
• Coordinates and communicates patient messages between patients and providers, ensuring timely follow‑up.
• Documents patient interactions, test results, and care activities accurately in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Assists patients, nurses, providers, and care team members in delivering patient care within the clinic setting.
• Obtains and records vital signs in accordance with established clinical guidelines and procedures.
• Collects and documents patient history related to the chief complaint to support provider evaluation.
• Performs point‑of‑care testing under supervision and in accordance with established protocols.
• Ensures proper quality control, documentation, and compliance for all point‑of‑care testing performed.
• Maintains a clean, organized, and safe clinical and administrative environment in accordance with regulatory standards.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills

• High School Diploma or GED required, or
• In lieu of a High School Diploma or GED, two (2) years of relevant work experience above the minimum qualification
• Enrollment in or recent completion of a healthcare‑related program (e.g., Medical Assistant, Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician)

Experience

• Prior customer service or healthcare experience preferred
• Basic knowledge of clinical workflows and patient care environments preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association required
• Must obtain certification as a Medical Assistant within one (1) year of hire

In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.

Work Schedule:

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type:

Full Time