Lead Medical Assistant

Chestnut Health Systems•Belleville, IL

About The Position

Chestnut Health Systems is seeking a Lead Medical Assistant to support clinical operations across its Southern Region Community Family Health Centers. The position provides day-to-day leadership and staff training support while performing hands-on medical assistant duties. The Lead Medical Assistant helps coordinate scheduling and staff coverage, supports employee development, and assists with patient care in clinic and mobile medical unit settings. The role requires local travel, flexibility to work at different office locations, and willingness to drive and operate a mobile medical unit. The position combines office, clinic, community, and mobile medical unit work. The schedule is generally during normal business hours, with occasional flexibility based on program needs. Employees interact frequently with patients, families, healthcare providers, and community partners from diverse backgrounds and may encounter individuals experiencing substance use, delusions, hallucinations, or challenging verbal behavior. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases is possible; appropriate personal protective equipment is provided and must be used according to agency policies and OSHA standards. Chestnut Health Systems provides integrated behavioral health and community-based primary care services, as well as research and training. It has more than 800 employees and serves patients in Illinois and Missouri. Chestnut welcomes applications from qualified individuals with recovery experience and encourages applicants who may not meet every listed requirement to apply. The anticipated starting pay for new hires is $19.25–$22.00 per hour; base pay considers job-related qualifications, skills, education, experience, local market conditions, and internal equity.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Successful completion of a Medical Assistant or Emergency Medical training program.
Current certification as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMOA), or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
At least one year of experience as a Medical Assistant, in a similar role, or in leadership/project management.
Valid driver’s license and ability to be insured.
Willingness and ability to drive and operate a mobile medical unit.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word, email, videoconferencing, and electronic medical record (EMR) systems.
Ability to provide staff guidance, support training activities, and help assess employee readiness.
Ability to perform clinical duties accurately and safely, including vital signs, point-of-care testing, phlebotomy, and assisting with medical examinations.
Ability to travel locally and work at different office, clinic, community, and mobile locations as needed.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and perform repetitive hand movements throughout the workday.
Ability to operate standard office and clinical equipment and safely travel between locations.
Ability to lift or move supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently.
Comfort entering, exiting, preparing, and operating a mobile medical unit.
Ability to work in varying environmental conditions and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to use required personal protective equipment in accordance with agency policies and OSHA standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a similar role or in leadership/project management may satisfy the experience requirement in place of Medical Assistant experience.
Recovery experience; Chestnut welcomes applications from qualified individuals with recovery experience.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership and direction related to scheduling, staff coverage, and patient care at assigned locations.
Respond to staff, patient, and program inquiries and help identify solutions to operational needs.
Lead training at assigned locations by supporting employee learning, updating training materials, evaluating staff readiness, and maintaining training documentation in Relias.
Assess staff competency and readiness to independently perform assigned job responsibilities.
Complete required documentation and data entry, including screenings, assessments, progress notes, opening requirements, and funder-related paperwork.
Promote Chestnut’s recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approach, supporting hope, respect, empowerment, health and wellness, and connectedness.
Maintain positive working relationships with patients, families, healthcare providers, community organizations, and coworkers.
Attend meetings and staffings, participate in program development, complete required training, and provide backup support to team members.
Maintain required CPR and applicable CMA, CMOA, or EMT certifications.
Review patient charts before appointments, identify care gaps, obtain outside records, and prepare necessary paperwork.
Room patients, complete appropriate screenings and performance measures, and assist with releases of information and other required forms.
Obtain and accurately document vital signs, recognizing normal and abnormal ranges.
Gather patient health histories, hospital histories, and current medication information, and enter documentation into the electronic medical record.
Perform and document point-of-care testing in accordance with established procedures, manufacturer instructions, and required oversight.
Provide health education materials and basic patient instruction within the scope of the role and applicable supervision requirements.
Perform and document venipuncture and capillary blood collection while following established safety procedures.
Prepare patients and exam rooms for medical examinations while maintaining a safe and sanitary environment.
Apply and document sterile dressings according to provider direction and established procedures.
Assist with inventory management and stocking of examination rooms and laboratory supplies.
Promote Chestnut’s customer service standards in interactions with patients, coworkers, and community partners.
Maintain the confidentiality and security of patient, financial, and organizational information.
Perform other duties as assigned.