Medical Assistant

County of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

The County of Santa Barbara is seeking dedicated and compassionate Medical Assistants to join their team. This role involves providing high-quality patient care in a dynamic environment, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. The position is open for bilingual (English/Spanish) full-time vacancies in Santa Barbara and South County, including floating positions. Applications are also being accepted to establish an employment list for current and future Full-Time, Part-Time, and Extra Help vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The Department of Behavioral Wellness also utilizes this classification. Some vacancies are for leave of absence (CSR 1414) with potential to transition to regular positions. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship; applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. The County offers generous benefits, including potential retirement reciprocity and advanced vacation accrual for public sector employees. The Medical Assistant assists healthcare professionals in delivering health care services and performs related duties. The ideal candidate will have experience with underserved populations, excellent customer service and organizational skills, the ability to maintain professionalism and initiative, a proven track record of teamwork, and experience with electronic medical records. The County Health Department seeks MAs for its Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs) supporting Primary Care & Family Health (PCFH), focusing on patient engagement and administrative tasks for adults, teens, children, and infants. The Behavioral Wellness Department seeks MAs to support its mental health team in clinics across Santa Barbara County, focusing on patient engagement and administrative tasks for those passionate about the mental health field.

Requirements

Possession of a Medical Assistant Certificate issued by an accredited institution.
Basic medical terminology.
Basic arithmetic.
Safe venipuncture techniques.
Safe work practices in a health care center or community-based setting.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to conduct basic medical tests, such as vision and audiometry.
Ability to understand the needs and problems facing culturally, economically, or socially disadvantaged persons.
Ability to establish and maintain good relations with people from a wide range of social and ethnic groups.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to observe, report, and accurately record relevant information in patient records.
Ability to follow established protocols for conducting medical tests and procedures.
Ability to communicate medical and health information to patients understandably.
Ability to show sensitivity and empathy toward patients.
Ability to write legibly.
Ability to elicit sensitive medical information from patients.
Ability to use computerized medical office systems.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with underserved & economically disadvantaged populations.
Excellent customer service and organizational skills.
Ability to maintain a professional demeanor.
Ability to take initiative and remain professional at all times.
Proven track record of working well as part of a team.
Experience working with electronic medical records.
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required for some positions in this class.
Possession of a phlebotomy certificate is highly desired and hiring preference will be given to candidates possessing this certificate in the Field-Based Environment or in a Health Care Center Environment depending on the specific needs of each Health Care Center.
A California Department of Public Health phlebotomy certificate is highly desirable for field-based positions.
Ability to converse fluently in English and Spanish (for bilingual positions).
Possession of a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certificate issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) may be highly desirable for certain positions and hiring preference may be given to candidates possessing this certificate.

Responsibilities

Identifies patient's chief complaint and records observations in patient's permanent medical record.
Performs height, weight, vital signs, and vision tests and records them in the medical record.
Helps patients to complete medical history forms and prepares patients for examinations and treatment by provider.
Conducts and/or assists with tests and procedures as directed, such as EKGs, non-stress tests, spirometer, audiometer, venipunctures, skin punctures, strep screen, glucometer, chemical analyzer, and urine tests.
Assists health service providers with treatments and examinations of patients such as wound care, pelvic exams, minor surgery, and IUD insertions.
Assists in the identification of psychosocial needs and consults with the health service provider or makes referrals to appropriate agencies.
Performs case management which may include monitoring care alerts, scheduling appointments for specialty tests, hospital admissions, and surgeries; following up on broken appointments to explain the need and value of returning for follow-up care, and arranging transportation.
Provides discharge/exit instructions to patients, prepares referral forms, such as treatment authorization, insurance, disability, and employment physical forms, as directed; transcribes doctors' orders and prepares appropriate requisitions and forms.
Provides health education for patients or groups on such topics as nutrition counseling, diabetes counseling, well children counseling and other health related topics for pregnant women and infants.
Cleans and sterilizes equipment and stocks clinics or vehicles used for home visits or outlying clinics.
Takes direction from the assigned healthcare provider (physician or health care practitioner) as to tasks to perform in the engagement of patient care.
Identifies patient's chief complaint and records observations in designated records and data systems (Field-Based Environment).
Performs and records data on height, weight, vital signs, and visual screening tests (Field-Based Environment).
As directed, conducts and/or assists with clinical services such as tuberculin skin tests (TSTs), venipuncture, and audiometry and visual screening tests (Field-Based Environment).
Conducts field visits with Public Health Nurses and/or may make independent home visits under the general direction and supervision of a Public Health Nurse (Field-Based Environment).
In coordination with Public Health Nurses, assists with communicable disease investigations for Sexually Transmitted Disease, Tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases (Field-Based Environment).
Collects specimens; labels and delivers specimens as directed by Public Health Nurse (Field-Based Environment).
As part of the public health team, assumes a key role in communicable disease case management activities (Field-Based Environment).
Provides health education for patients or groups on such topics as communicable diseases and health care for school-age children, infants, and pregnant women (Field-Based Environment).
Links patients to community resources and medical providers based on patient needs (Field-Based Environment).