Medical Assistant

Open Door Community Health Centers•Fortuna, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC) is committed to serving the community in the heart of the Redwoods, focusing on removing barriers to healthcare access. The Fortuna Community Health Center assists in the examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a primary care provider and/or registered nurse. This role advocates for patients and assists in the furtherance of their care as directed within the California MA Scope of Practice. ODCHC was founded in 1971 and is dedicated to providing healthcare and education to residents of Humboldt County, Del Norte County, and surrounding rural areas. They offer a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including Primary Medical Care, Pediatric Services, Chronic Illness Management, Dental Care, Pregnancy, and Prenatal Services. ODCHC proactively identifies areas with unique healthcare needs and extends high-quality healthcare services and educational programs to individuals facing obstacles such as financial constraints, geographical isolation, or social barriers. Open Door Community Health Centers is recognized as one of the best places to work in Humboldt County, emphasizing employee well-being through free monthly online therapy sessions, interactive training, educational programs, and employee appreciation events.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of the MA Scope of Practice in California.
Knowledgeable of all injection routes (i.e. SQ, IM, ID) and the seven rights of administration.
Ability to consistently and accurately chart patient information.
Ability to promote effective communication between the patient and the primary care provider.
Ability and desire to work as a member of a team in order to enhance patient and staff experiences.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to establish constructive working relationships with all levels of management and employees in a staff of varied and diverse backgrounds.
Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
Effective communication skills; written and verbal.
Ability to complete routine paperwork and write professional, quality correspondence.
Basic computer skills; internet, Word, and email.
Exercises sound and responsible judgment.
High School diploma or GED.
Completion of accredited Medical Assistant training program OR six months or more related experience and/or training as a medical assistant.
Injection certificate (required by 6 months of employment).
Current CPR Certification.
Certificate of Completion of Accredited Medical Assistant Program OR evidence of equivalent MA education.
May need to possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation for delivery.

Nice To Haves

State or National Certification or has successfully challenged the state or national board examination.
Medical Assistant Certification.
Venipuncture/dermal puncture certification.

Responsibilities

Delivers compassionate assistance to patients in alignment with ODCHC’s Model of Care.
Obtains and records patient medical histories, vitals, test results, and other information for the medical chart while maintaining strict confidentiality in alignment with HIPAA, HITECH, and California regulations.
Prepares patients for the visit and provider examination by performing preliminary screenings, vital signs, measurements, and other MA rooming and charting duties.
Performs chart preparation and Robust Confirmation Calls before scheduled appointments to ensure the patient visit is smooth and efficient.
Follows Epic EMR workflows for MA duties including standard rooming intake, telephone call documentation, prepping/routing refill encounters, and managing message inboxes and pools.
Properly conducts MA procedures in alignment with ODCHC guidelines, such as electrocardiograph (ECG), respiratory testing, vision and hearing tests, ear irrigations, peak flow, nebulizer, etc.
Administers all medications and immunizations per ODCHC policy as directed by licensed staff (practitioner, registered nurse) using the seven rights of administration.
Sets-up, assists and cleans up for minor procedures in clinic such as pap smears, mole removals, minor lacerations, incision, and drainage (I&Ds), etc.
Properly obtains specimens and performs point-of-care testing according to laboratory protocols.
Stocks and cleans exam rooms to remove clutter and ensure patient safety.
Properly disposes of sharps, bio-hazard waste, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Follows standard practices of medical asepsis to clean and disinfect exam rooms and other patient facing areas of the clinic.
Ensures the proper sterilization and packaging of instruments, as well as the proper maintenance of the autoclave machine.
Follows guidelines for universal precautions including hand washing and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as appropriate.
Schedules appointments and follow up visits per health center procedure.
Adhere to the basic MA Scope of Practice in California as outlined in ODCHC policy.
Floats to other clinics when needed to provide coverage when requested or minimum staffing levels not met.
As necessary, may be required to support delivery of medications to patients’ homes.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

Benefits

Free monthly online therapy sessions.
Interactive training opportunities.
Educational programs.
Various employee appreciation events throughout the year.
Comprehensive medical benefits.
Dental benefits.
Vision benefits.
Retirement plans (for all full-time employees and some part-time employees).
Paid training for many entry-level positions in medical or dental fields.
Additional .75 hourly differential for Hmong and Spanish speakers who successfully pass a language exam.