Medical Assistant/Certified Medical Assistant - Full-Time

Seward Community Health Center • Seward, AK

12h • $20 - $27 • Onsite

About The Position

Seward Community Health Center (SCHC) is seeking a full-time Medical Assistant or Certified Medical Assistant (MA/CMA) for its small community health center located in Seward, Alaska. SCHC is a federally-qualified health center providing integrated, patient-centered primary care for families. The organization is looking for dedicated staff to enhance its ability to serve the community and improve the quality of life at SCHC. This role supports patient care delivery by assisting healthcare providers, managing medical history, and coordinating patient care.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Current certification as a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) preferred but not required.
• Previous family practice experience preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to work as a member of a team.
• Possess current CPR/BLS certification or obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Possess critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Willingness to learn and be part of a group committed to providing excellent care.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong computer skills, and ability to trouble shoot and work independently with a computer, especially electronic healthcare records.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and equipment.
• Ability to interact positively with patients, visitors and other staff members.
• Provide for absolute confidentiality in all Seward Community Health Center matters.
• Ability to work independently and use good judgment in work prioritization.
• Ability to complete difficult/complex tasks.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

Nice To Haves

• Current certification as a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
• Previous family practice experience

Responsibilities

• Review patient charts for upcoming appointments, identify patient care gaps (e.g., advance lab work, immunizations, referrals) using EHR and Azara DRVS prior to appointment. Communicate with patient, provider, clinical team, and Clinic Manager as needed.
• Ensure provider has chart notes from outside providers or labs done on demand are available and updated in Epic if needed for review at visit.
• Review patient vaccines in VacTrAk (State of Alaska vaccine database); reconcile with vaccine records in EHR.
• Review weekly provider schedule daily; facilitate pre-charting and capture of relevant data for Health Maintenance and UDS measures.
• Prepare all exam rooms and lab/med room each morning: turn on computers, access EHR, ensures all stations are up and running.
• Record temperatures of vaccine fridges & freezers as assigned/instructed.
• Room patients for provider (both in-person or virtual appointments); perform all duties according to most current established workflows (e.g., Patient Rooming Workflow, Completion of Patient Appointment Workflow).
• Prior to patient arrival ensure room is prepared with necessary instruments, supplies and equipment to include gowns and drapes for patient that may be needed.
• Prepare patients for the health care visit by accompanying them to the exam room.
• Order labs, referrals, POC tests, vaccines, and DME if needed.
• Assist health care providers during examinations and procedures as needed.
• Perform procedures with supervision within scope of practice (e.g., \, cleaning wounds, dressing wounds).
• Administer and assist others with vaccinations according to the Vaccine Workflow.
• Collect various specimens for POC lab/PSMC lab, facilitate patient completion of consent form, deliver specimens to lab.
• Perform POCT labs (e.g., pregnancy test, influenza, strep A, UA, A1C, Hb, glucose).
• Escort patient to lab/waiting room for outpatient imaging/labs, have patient sign consent form and deliver to PSMC check-in desk.
• Have the patient complete any necessary paperwork (e.g., Release of Information (ROI), procedure consent); submit ROI to the front desk.
• Assist patients with scheduling follow up appointments and labs.
• Obtain prior authorizations for advanced imaging services.
• Process and send specialist referrals.
• Coordinate specialist visits with patients, obtain records from outside specialty visits, and update medical record accordingly.
• Assist with home visits if scheduled.
• Provide exceptional customer service to patients and stakeholders while following SCHC’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model.
• Assist with Nursing Visits within scope of practice.
• Maintain necessary supplies in lab.
• Ensure cabinets in exam rooms above sink are equipped with procedure, PAP supplies.
• Organize/restock med room and supply room as needed.
• Notify administrative staff when printing room supplies are needed (e.g., toner cartridges, collection kits, paper).
• Screen initial calls from patients and front desk, consult or message provider or nursing for advice when needed.
• Address medication refills, questions, and concerns from patients within scope of practice.
• Notify patients of normal lab and imaging results per provider notes.
• Process chart notes received from outside providers and update EHR accordingly.
• Send reminders to patients (e.g., scheduling upcoming appointment needs, labs, referrals). Document in EHR that reminder was sent/call was made.
• Complete patient follow-up calls.
• Answer or forward patient messages to provider or nursing staff.
• Address EHR chat messages from co-workers, return calls to patients as needed or notify provider.
• Keep accurate patient medical records and ensure all external related reports, information and lab results are filed, scanned, and organized within EHR patient records.
• Maintain well-supplied exam rooms; perform preventive maintenance; calling for repairs, perform necessary cleaning procedures; alert EVS of heavily soiled areas (terminal cleaning).
• Maintain a safe, secure, and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures and complying with legal regulations.
• Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by keeping patient care information confidential by following HIPAA regulations.
• Advance job knowledge by completing annual continuing medical education (CME) according to Policy HR 301.
• Enhance the reputation of SCHC by accepting ownership of job duties, demonstrating personal accountability, and suggesting and implementing quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain hot pack (hydrocollator) supplies and check equipment monthly for proper working order.
• Sterilize and process instruments when needed, order replacement instrumentation as needed.
• Maintain autoclave on weekly basis.
• Participate as an active member of a working committee (e.g., Staff QA/QI Team, Outreach Team).
• Assist in the training of new Medical Assistants as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Assume responsibility for the training of new Medical Assistants with supervision (Levels 2 & 3).
• Perform unsupervised procedures within scope of practice (e.g., cleaning wounds, dressing wounds) (Levels 2 & 3).
• Oversee ordering and stocking of supplies, including DME. Maintain contact with vendor representatives for timely delivery of ordered supplies and PPE (Level 2).
• Notify patients of abnormal lab and imaging results per provider notes (Level 2).
• Obtain prior authorizations for services, such as lab, medication, and specialty service referrals (Level 2).
• Independently complete Nursing Visits within scope of practice (Level 3).
• Monitor and address additional support staff pools in EHR as assigned (Level 3).
• Screen more complex calls from patients and front desk, including patient concerns, and consult or message provider for advice when needed or as required per established workflows (Level 3).

Benefits

• Health insurance with medical, dental, and vision benefits for both staff and dependents
• Short- and long-term disability insurance paid by employer
• Term life insurance paid by employer
• 3% employer contribution to a 401(k) retirement plan
• 100 hours of paid holidays annually
• Paid leave accrued biweekly

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED