Certified Medical Assistant (Relapse Prevention Team)

AltaPointe Health•Mobile, AL

About The Position

The Certified Medical Assistant supports the Relapse Prevention Team by providing integrated medical support and care coordination to patients receiving behavioral health services. The role includes obtaining and documenting vital signs and other health indicators, performing authorized CLIA-waived testing and specimen collection, monitoring laboratory studies, preparing patients for appointments, and reporting abnormal findings to licensed staff. Under licensed clinical supervision, the assistant also supports medication reconciliation, medication list maintenance, adherence monitoring, and coordination of refill requests. The position coordinates care across behavioral health, primary care, specialty care, hospitals, pharmacies, and community providers. It supports appointment scheduling, referrals, post-hospital follow-up, preventive care, and population health monitoring for medically vulnerable patients. The role also provides health education consistent with provider recommendations and participates in interdisciplinary care planning, quality improvement, CCBHC initiatives, and compliance activities. The assistant must complete timely, accurate, confidential documentation in accordance with Alabama Medicaid Administrative Code Chapter 105, CCBHC Certification Criteria, Joint Commission standards, and organizational policies. Work may take place in outpatient clinics, community settings, hospitals, shelters, and patients’ homes when assigned. The role requires frequent community travel and the ability to respond appropriately during behavioral health crises.

Requirements

Current Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification from an accredited certifying body.
Valid Alabama driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Ability to travel throughout the service area.
Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team and communicate effectively with patients and providers.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and maintain accurate documentation.
Ability to demonstrate compassion, professionalism, and recovery-oriented practices.
Ability to meet the physical requirements, including frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, and keyboard use; frequent community travel; lifting up to 30 pounds; performing venipuncture and other clinical procedures; responding appropriately during behavioral health crises; and operating standard clinical equipment.
Within six months of employment, demonstrate competency in Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorders (SUD), co-occurring disorders, integrated behavioral health, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented care, motivational interviewing, infection prevention, medical terminology, psychotropic medications, medication side effect recognition, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, cultural and linguistic competency, HIPAA, Alabama Medicaid Chapter 105 requirements, and CCBHC Certification Criteria.
Maintain CMA certification and complete required continuing education.

Nice To Haves

Current CPR certification is preferred; otherwise, it is to be obtained within one month.
One year of medical office, primary care, behavioral health, or integrated healthcare experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Obtain and accurately document vital signs, height, weight, BMI, and other physical health indicators.
Assist in identifying unmet physical healthcare needs.
Perform authorized CLIA-waived testing and specimen collection, including venipuncture and laboratory collection consistent with certification and organizational policy.
Monitor completion of ordered laboratory studies and promptly report abnormal findings to licensed nursing staff or medical providers.
Prepare patients for psychiatric and medical appointments and maintain clinical equipment.
Coordinate physical healthcare services among behavioral health, primary care, specialty care, hospitals, emergency departments, pharmacies, and community providers.
Assist patients with scheduling appointments, obtaining hospital discharge information, coordinating post-hospital follow-up, and accessing specialty referrals.
Monitor preventive healthcare services and assist patients in reducing barriers to healthcare access.
Participate in care transitions following hospitalization, crisis stabilization, detoxification, residential treatment, or incarceration.
Document all care coordination activities in the electronic health record.
Under licensed clinical supervision, complete medication reconciliation at admission, annual update, and transition of care; maintain current medication lists; monitor adherence; observe and report potential side effects; reinforce provider-provided medication education; and coordinate refill requests according to organizational procedures.
Assist with monitoring high-utilizer and medically vulnerable patients, including preventive screenings, metabolic screening for patients prescribed antipsychotic medications, diabetes care indicators, hypertension, obesity and BMI, tobacco cessation interventions, and immunization status.
Assist with outreach to patients overdue for appointments and support CCBHC quality measures and clinical outcomes.
Provide education consistent with provider recommendations on medication adherence, diabetes and hypertension management, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco cessation, sleep hygiene, preventive healthcare, wellness recovery planning, and chronic disease self-management.
Complete documentation within 24 hours that accurately reflects services, supports medical necessity and billing, demonstrates care coordination, reflects person-centered care, and maintains confidentiality.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and collaborate with psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, case managers, peers, primary care providers, and community partners.
Assist with integrated treatment planning, communicate significant physical or behavioral health changes, and participate in high-risk patient case reviews.
Participate in Performance Improvement activities, CCBHC quality initiatives, quality indicator data collection, population health reporting, audit readiness, and compliance monitoring.
Maintain CMA and CPR certifications, complete required continuing education, attend required staff meetings and trainings, maintain competency in trauma-informed care and cultural responsiveness, follow organizational policies, and demonstrate ethical and professional conduct.
Perform other duties as assigned.