Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health (Temporary)

Neighborhood Healthcare•Escondido, CA

10d•$25 - $35

About The Position

ABOUT US: Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision: a community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together. As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 414,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 95,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance. Since 1969, our employees have been making this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond. If this sounds like an organization you would like to be a part of, we would love to meet you. ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE: The Medical Assistant will schedule and coordinate patient and follow-up care for patients in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telepsychiatry, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) programs. This role will obtain required authorization and eligibility information for patients referring to behavioral health programs. Please note, this is a temporary full-time position with an anticipated end date in September 2026.

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
Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology
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
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
Ability to lift/carry 15 lbs/weight
Ability to stand for long periods of time

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with electronic health records system experience preferred
Exemplify compassion to patients and team members
Bilingual English/Spanish, English/Farsi, or English/Arabic preferred

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