Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

Neighborhood Healthcare•Poway, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Neighborhood Healthcare is a private, non-profit 501(C)(3) community health organization dedicated to improving the health and happiness of the communities it serves by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance. Since 1969, the organization has served over 500,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 96,000 people annually. The team values compassion, integrity, professionalism, collaboration, and consistently going above and beyond. The Medical Assistant- Behavioral Health will be responsible for scheduling and coordinating patient and follow-up care for individuals participating in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telepsychiatry, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) programs. This role involves supporting various providers, advanced providers, and registered nurses to deliver excellent patient-centered care within a dynamic team setting. Key duties include obtaining necessary authorization and eligibility information for patients referred to behavioral health programs. Additionally, the position requires providing cross-coverage in other departments at the assigned site and performing general Medical Assistant duties as needed to support clinic operations and patient care demands.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
Valid Medical Assistant Certificate from an accredited program required
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines- may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards
Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology
Proficiency with electronic health records system experience
Intermediate computer and data entry skills
Must use sound judgment to anticipate needs of patients and providers
Flexibility with changing priorities and time sensitive deadlines
Use emotional and cultural intelligence to provide appropriate communication and patient care
Exemplify compassion to patients and team members
Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish, English/Farsi, or English/Arabic preferred - must be able to pass Language Proficiency Test if bilingual skills are needed

Responsibilities

Secures and communications patients referrals and authorizations to providers
Schedules and communicates appointment information to patients and/or families
Follows up with patients and providers to ensure appointments were kept
Obtains and documents the consultation and progress reports from providers, radiologists, and other medical professionals in patient medical records
Provides MAT pre-intake assessments to determine appropriate fit for the program
Documents MAT group attendance, random urinary drug screens, and film/pill counts
Completes SDoH assessments, referrals, and linkages and track information/outcomes in patient medical records
Follows Telepsychiatry for primary care site policy/procedures and coordinate on-site patient care with telepsychiatry providers at other sites
Documents all actions taken in patient medical records in accordance with current clinic, DHS, and health plan regulations/guidelines
Discuss all aspects of the referral process as prescribed by providers with patients, including counseling the patient regarding the cost of a referral, as needed
Communicates with patients in person, by telephone, and/or by mail
Acts as liaison between patients, clinic/providers, specialty care providers, health plans/funding sources, and community resources
Attends staff and other required meetings and training courses
Verifies insurance eligibilities, submits treatment authorizations, and provides coverage for front office staff, as needed
Participates in quality improvement activities
Documents all care coordination, services, and/or patient education in medical records
Initiates and processes incident reports according to documentation guidelines
Prioritizes activities according to intensity, need, and required follow-up
Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor and site staff, as needed
Responds promptly and with caring actions to patients and employees
Maintains professional working relationships with all levels of staff, clients, and the public
Cooperate in accomplishing department goals and objectives