Patient Care Associate I (Float) - Ophthalmology

Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 23,419 - 31,684; Full time

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis is seeking a medical office assistant to perform administrative and basic clinical duties under supervision. Responsibilities include scheduling, filing, taking patient histories, and preparing examination rooms.

The role involves collecting specimens, recording vital signs, greeting patients, and supporting physicians. Training is provided; high school diploma required with BLS certification within one month.

Qualifications

• Basic Life Support certification must be obtained within one month of hire date.
• Basic Life Support certification (Online BLS certifications, those without a skills assessment component, are not sufficient to meet the BLS requirements).
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Medical assistant school training or some college preferred.
• Vocational Diploma – Medical Assistant.

Responsibilities

• Provides clerical and administrative support, including answering phones, setting schedules and meetings, typing documents, filing and back-up support for others.
• Prepares treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean; cleans and sterilizes equipment, instruments, rooms, and appropriately disposes of contaminated supplies.
• Interviews patients via phone or in person to obtain medical information or schedule various activities; creates, updates and coordinates various medical records and files.
• Interacts with patients providing various routine information such as explaining treatment procedures, medications, diets or various pre-established instructions to patients.
• Collects blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, logs the specimens and prepares them for testing; may measure patient vital signs, weight and height.
• May perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
• May show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Vocational Diploma – Medical Assistant

Job description

Position Summary

Performs select administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a licensed healthcare professional; administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, patient billing, and coding medical information for insurance purposes; clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and providing medical attention as directed by physician or nursing staff. Training will be provided.

Scheduled Hours

40

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides clerical and administrative support, including answering phones, setting schedules and meetings, typing documents, filing and back‑up support for others.
• Prepares treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean; cleans and sterilizes equipment, instruments, rooms, and appropriately disposes of contaminated supplies.
• Interviews patients via phone or in person to obtain medical information or schedule various activities; creates, updates and coordinates various medical records and files.
• Interacts with patients providing various routine information such as explaining treatment procedures, medications, diets or various pre‑established instructions to patients.
• Collects blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, logs the specimens and prepares them for testing; may measure patient vital signs, weight and height.
• May perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
• May show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.
• Exposure to blood‑borne pathogens.
• Requires protective devices.
• Patient care setting.
• Direct patient care setting.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table.
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.
• Occasional lifting (25 lbs or less).

Equipment

• Office equipment.
• Clinical/diagnostic instruments.
• Simple hand tools.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent high school certification or combination of education and/or experience.

Certifications / Professional Licenses

• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – American Heart Association
• Basic Life Support – American Heart Association
• Basic Life Support – American Red Cross

Work Experience

No specific work experience is required for this position.

Skills

Not Applicable

Driver's License

A driver's license is not required for this position.

Required Qualifications

• Basic Life Support certification must be obtained within one month of hire date
• Basic Life Support certification (Online BLS certifications, those without a skills assessment component, are not sufficient to meet the BLS requirements).

Preferred Qualifications

• Medical assistant school training or some college.
• Vocational Diploma – specific trade or career – Medical Assistant.

Grade

C04-H

Salary Range

$16.75 – $22.70 / Hourly

Benefits Statement

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U‑Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan with employee and university contributions starting at 7%.

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program, financial resources, access to dietitians.

• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with new child and family care resources.
• WashU covers cost of tuition for you and your family up to 100% for undergraduate and 40% elsewhere after seven years.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.