Medical Assistant, MA

Open Door Community Health Centers•McKinleyville, CA

8d•$25 - $34

About The Position

The Medical Assistant Trainee is an on-the-job training opportunity for employees interested in becoming a Medical Assistant who have no prior experience. Trainees receive hands-on instruction and support from Medical Assistants and Clinical Coordinators to assist with patient examinations and treatment under the direction of a primary care provider and/or registered nurse. They advocate for patients and assist with their care within the California Medical Assistant Scope of Practice. Trainees are expected to complete the Medical Assistant Apprentice Program and become eligible to take the Medical Assistant certification exam. The employer lists hourly wage ranges of $25.00–$28.87 for MA Trainee, $28.00–$32.35 for MA I, and $29.50–$34.10 for MA II. New hires start at the base wage for the position; certification and other requirements may qualify a hire for a higher step. Hmong and Spanish speakers who pass a language exam receive at least an additional $0.75 per hour. An additional $0.50 is offered for licensure. The position reports directly to the Back Office Manager and is part of the Clinical Services team. There are no supervisory responsibilities. The stated physical requirements include frequent standing and walking, repeated or prolonged sitting, occasional assistance to patients, frequent lifting or moving of up to 10 pounds and occasional lifting or moving of up to 40 pounds, and use of hands and arms to operate medical equipment. Occasional kneeling, crouching, stooping, and crawling are also required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to chart patient information consistently and accurately.
Ability to promote effective communication between patients and primary care providers.
Ability and desire to work as part of a team to enhance patient and staff experiences.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build constructive working relationships with people from varied and diverse backgrounds and all levels of management and staff.
Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations calmly, consistently, and equitably.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to complete routine paperwork and write professional, quality correspondence.
Basic computer skills, including internet, Word, and email.
Sound and responsible judgment.
CPR certification within 90 days of hire.
Complete the Medical Assistant Apprentice Program and pass the MA Certification Exam within one year of employment.
Obtain injection certification within six months of employment and demonstrate knowledge of injection locations and the seven rights of medication administration.

Nice To Haves

Previous healthcare experience preferred.
Hmong or Spanish language ability, with a language exam required to qualify for the wage differential.

Responsibilities

Provide compassionate assistance to patients in alignment with ODCHC’s Model of Care.
Interview patients; measure and record age-appropriate vital signs, including pulse, temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height.
Chart patients’ chief complaints, intake information, and other basic Medical Assistant documentation.
Perform and document orthostatic vital signs in the electronic medical record (EMR).
Perform basic autoclave duties, including spore checks, cleaning, and proper wrapping and packaging of instruments.
Prepare exam rooms between patient visits and keep them consistently stocked.
Operate EKGs, oxygen saturation monitors, vision and hearing testing equipment, and equipment for ear and eye irrigations, peak flow testing, and nebulizer treatments.
Administer medications, injections, and immunizations according to ODCHC policy and practitioner or registered nurse direction, using proper dose calculations and the seven rights of medication administration.
Set up, assist with, and clean up after minor procedures, such as Pap tests, wet mounts, rapid strep tests, mole removal, and minor laceration care.
Set up and assist with age-appropriate well-child exams and CHDP, including immunizations and accurate documentation.
Follow universal precautions, including handwashing and use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
Perform HCG, Micral, and rapid strep testing and quality control according to site-specific lab guidelines; obtain specimens and cultures for the lab.
Obtain diabetic labs at the beginning of patient visits according to the DM HCM protocol.
Schedule appointments and follow-up visits according to clinic procedures.
Keep medical areas clean and disinfected using standard medical asepsis practices.
Perform chart scrubbing and update the Health Care Maintenance function in the EMR.
Perform EPIC workflows for Medical Assistant duties, including standard intake, telephone call documentation, preparing and routing refill encounters, PHQ, MAR, Meaningful Use, and managing provider in-basket messages.
Follow ODCHC’s attendance policy and maintain basic understanding of and adherence to HIPAA, HITECH, and California privacy regulations.
Adhere to the California Medical Assistant Scope of Practice.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as designated by the supervisor.