Certified Medical Assistant/Front Desk

COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE•Vancouver, WA

1d•$27 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Medical Assistant & Front Desk serves as a compassionate, supportive presence for patients undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder. The role combines front-line administrative support with patient care responsibilities, helping patients access essential services and contributing to a respectful, team-based clinical environment focused on empathy, respect, and patient-centered values. The position adheres to HIPAA and confidentiality requirements and represents the mission, vision, and values of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and its Health and Human Services department. The position is in the Opioid Treatment Program in Vancouver, Washington, reports to the Clinic Director, and is hourly and full-time. Duties include front-desk and clinic administration, patient registration and scheduling, coordination with community providers and agencies, outreach, and collection and testing of patient specimens. The listed duties are illustrative and not all-inclusive.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Active Certified Medical Assistant (MA-C) credential in Washington State.
Ability to provide health and TB clearance.
Valid driver's license when driving vehicles for work-related purposes.
Current BLS/CPR certification.
Successfully pass the required background screening and investigation, including pre-employment drug screening; reference checks; education and employment verification; and federal, state, and/or tribal criminal-history and sanction checks, including fingerprint verification.
Meet the stated criminal-history eligibility requirements concerning specified felony or misdemeanor offenses.
Knowledge of traditional tribal government, customs, and traditions.
Knowledge of HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, insurance-program policies and procedures, and office functions, procedures, and policies.
Skill operating word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software in a Windows environment, including electronic healthcare systems.
Accurate data-entry skills.
Ability to respond to frequent changes in duties and workload and to maintain quality, safety, and infection-control standards.
Ability to demonstrate a customer-first attitude, listen empathetically, and maintain a passion for assisting patients.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; and establish professional relationships with people from varied social and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, act ethically, analyze and evaluate situations, and choose effective courses of action.
Ability to follow Cowlitz OTP personnel policies and the Tribe's safety policies regarding vaccine requirements and personal protective equipment.
Ability to remain calm, focused, professional, and kind in stressful situations; be reliable, flexible, and versatile; maintain humility; and receive constructive feedback and share opinions.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, bending, crouching, manipulating objects, typing, reaching, and repetitive tasks; occasionally lift up to 25 pounds; and communicate effectively by speech and hearing.

Nice To Haves

One year of clinical medical assistant experience.
Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
Knowledge of patient registration and healthcare front-office operations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the clinic receptionist and first point of contact for patients and visitors; answer and direct calls, take messages, manage call forwarding, and check messages each morning.
Perform clerical, receptionist, communication, and other administrative functions for the clinic.
Register patients, enter referral, income-verification, and insurance information, and keep patient data up to date.
Schedule new and returning patients with appropriate staff, maintain the schedule book, and record attendance, no-shows, and cancellations.
Participate in staff meetings and collaborate with administrative staff and other team members.
Maintain professional and congenial relationships with coworkers, patients, agencies, and community members.
Use available technology, including customer-service, communication, data-gathering, word-processing, spreadsheet, database, and electronic healthcare systems, to perform job functions.
Manage office-supply inventory, alert the Clinic Director to needs, and order supplies with authorization.
Assist patients with Medi-Cal enrollment.
Coordinate with agencies and service providers to facilitate information sharing and provide support services as applicable.
Provide transportation support, housing referrals, and primary-care and specialty-care coordination.
Serve as an Emergency Room liaison and coordinate with jail and probation officials.
Participate in health fairs, community events, and other events where the target population gathers.
Maintain a calendar of outreach activities, including community events, workshops, appearances, and other communication opportunities.
Establish and maintain positive relationships with current and potential referral sources.
Maintain knowledge of community resources, help patients access them, and develop and maintain a resource file of social-service agencies and assistance providers.
Collect body-fluid samples for patients being admitted to treatment.
Administer TB, pregnancy, and breath-alcohol tests to appropriate patients; label urine-test bottles and prepare specimens for mailing or courier pickup.
Reorder specimen-related supplies when shipments are depleted.
Uphold respectful patient- and family-centered care, patient confidentiality, and safety, and advocate for patients and families.
Communicate and collaborate effectively with physicians, team members, patients, and families; work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and promote mutual respect and trust.
Follow ethical principles and HIPAA requirements for confidentiality and requests or releases of information.
Adapt to changes in safety protocols and procedures, contribute to team efforts, and perform other duties as assigned.