Clinical Support Assistant

Oregon Health & Science University•Portland, OR

About The Position

The Clinical Support Assistant performs a range of clerical, clinical support, and technical duties as directed by clinic leadership. The role supports clinic and office operations, may involve direct patient interaction, and works closely with clinic staff in a confidential, fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent demands. The position requires strong organization, problem-solving, written and verbal communication, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Duties include maintaining clinic flow through clerical tasks such as processing faxes, scanning, managing InBasket items and patient paperwork, handling mail, and providing general project support. Clinical support is limited to activities such as recording patient information and vital signs, basic rooming, assisting with patient movement and provider procedures, and coordinating daily patient and provider flow. Medication-related activities and independent clinical functions are not permitted. The role also provides technical and inventory support, maintains safe and orderly spaces, and helps address patient needs and delays. The assistant attends relevant education and staff meetings, completes required training and competency assessments, maintains core competencies, and participates in ongoing process improvement. The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and qualifying public-contact or medical-office experience. For positions involving in-person patient care, a BLS certificate is required within 30 days of hire or before independent practice, whichever comes first.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of experience with high-volume public contact, or six months of medical-office experience with high-volume patient contact.
Fluency in written and spoken English and effective verbal and written communication.
Excellent telephone communication skills.
For positions with in-person patient care, a BLS certificate within 30 days of hire or before independent practice, whichever comes first.
Extensive computer skills, including MS Office and Windows.
Excellent customer service, multitasking, detail-orientation, organizational, and grammar skills.
Demonstrated reliable attendance, punctuality, and successful performance at past and present employers.
Ability to work both with a team and independently.
Ability to work amid interruptions, multiple demands, noise, and frequent interactions; communicate clearly and patiently; and manage competing priorities.
Ability to sit for at least two hours at a time, walk significant cumulative distances, stand for long periods, bend, and occasionally lift and carry at least 25 pounds.
Ability to use personal computers, copiers, multi-line phones, and fax machines.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a healthcare setting.
Experience working with an electronic medical record system.

Responsibilities

Perform clerical duties that support clinic flow and operations, including processing incoming and outgoing faxes, scanning, managing InBasket items, patient paperwork, mail, and general project support.
Use Microsoft Office, including Outlook, and document legibly, concisely, and accurately.
Assist with patient admission by recording identifying and other personal information.
Record vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, and temperature, and perform basic rooming limited to vitals, social history, and pain information.
Make appointments or refer patients to medical staff for immediate examination or treatment.
Transport patients to examination or treatment rooms using a wheelchair or gurney, or assist them to walk and undress.
Assist providers during procedures by passing instruments and positioning patients; do not perform independent clinical functions or medication-related activities.
Coordinate daily workflow between front and back offices, monitor provider schedules, identify patient-flow barriers, and communicate about patient and provider flow.
Participate in scheduling, room turnover, inventory management, and other clinical tasks needed to maintain patient and provider flow.
Accept patient samples for point-of-care or lab processing, apply a patient label, and hand them off to an MA for the Epic workflow.
Provide technical support for MyChart, Epic, and office equipment.
Attend staff meetings and huddles; manage inventory and notify appropriate personnel when equipment needs cleaning or repair.
Coordinate instrument-processing pickup and drop-off; check expiration dates for medications and supplies; turn over, clean, and stock rooms.
Maintain knowledge of life safety, patient safety, fire and electrical safety, and disaster plans.
Monitor patient flow, update patients about delays, provide customer service, address immediate patient needs as directed, and maintain a clean, safe, orderly environment.
Attend job-related education, communicate professionally with team members, provide flexible coverage for internal service needs, and apply process-improvement methods.
Complete initial training and core competency assessments, maintain competencies, and complete required modules and updates.