On-Call Health Assistant

Central City Concern•Portland, OR

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health Assistant works as a member of a multidisciplinary primary care team providing integrated primary care services to homeless and low-income patients at Old Town Clinic. The Care Team proactively manages patients’ behavioral and medical health needs, and the Health Assistant supports Care Team Managers and providers. The position is based at the clinic side of the Blackburn Center, a federally qualified health center emphasizing substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, and primary care. The center combines supportive housing with an on-site health care clinic, pharmacy, and employment services. The Health Assistant handles patient calls, prepares prescription refills under provider orders, files clinical information in the electronic medical record, assists the care team with paperwork and service provision, and follows up with patients. The role also includes outreach and education, coordination with care-team members and clients’ support networks, recordkeeping, and participation in training. The position works within the employee’s training and experience, seeks consultation when appropriate, and follows applicable privacy, security, confidentiality, and agency policies. The schedule varies between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The work location is Blackburn Center, 12121 E. Burnside St., Portland, Oregon. Compensation is listed as $25.03–$33.22 per hour; final compensation depends on relevant experience, education, credentials or licensure, and internal equity. For external candidates, the offer maximum is $29.05 per hour under the union contract.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Experience working with homeless, low-income, or other vulnerable populations in a supportive role or clinical setting.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to understand health care terminology.
Ability to provide outreach, engagement, and supportive services.
Current CPR certification before the start date.
Pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check, including clearance by the DHS background check unit.
Ability, with reasonable or no accommodation, to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull, lift heavy objects, and climb stairs.
Adherence to the agency’s drug-free workplace policy and nondiscrimination policies.
Ability to interact effectively and respectfully with coworkers and clients from diverse backgrounds and treat individuals with respect and dignity.
Ability to work effectively with peers, individual clients, and groups; work as a team member; and establish priorities.
Ability to apply learned principles to new situations and learn new skills.
Ability to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude.
Knowledge of community and social service agencies.
Basic knowledge of healthy behaviors and the health care system.
Sufficient manual dexterity and physical ability to perform assigned tasks.
Ability to work in an environment where people may be hostile or abusive.
Ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with the public, clients, medical personnel, corrections personnel, police, and coworkers.
Ability to maintain accurate paper and electronic records and complete and route paperwork appropriately.
Knowledge of de-escalation methods or ability to be trained in them.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a health- or social-service-related field.
Spanish language fluency.

Responsibilities

Receive, document, and direct patient telephone calls completely and promptly according to clinic protocols.
Prepare prescription refills under provider orders.
Electronically file and index clinical information in patients’ electronic medical records.
Obtain, process, and document information and paperwork needed to assist Care Team Managers and providers in delivering health services to Old Town Clinic patients.
Follow up in person or by phone with patients identified by care-team members to support and manage health-related issues.
Conduct non-coercive outreach to engage patients, including those due for preventive services, needing chronic disease management follow-up, or who have missed appointments.
Provide patients with educational information and materials about available community services and how to access them appropriately.
Coordinate services with care-team members and clients’ support networks.
Maintain client records according to program standards and funding requirements.
Participate in training to advance knowledge and skills in primary care, addictions, and mental health.
Work within the scope of training and experience and seek consultation when appropriate.
Attend required Central City Concern trainings on time.
Follow applicable state and federal privacy and security regulations and agency confidentiality, privacy, and security policies; promptly report breaches involving protected health or personal identification information to the Compliance Department and supervisor or designee.
Perform other duties assigned or delegated by the Care Team Manager.