Medical Assistant

Hightop Health•Austin, TX

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Assistant (MA) supports safe, high-quality outpatient mental health services by providing both clinical and administrative support within the interdisciplinary care team. The MA assists with patient intake, vital signs, IV infusion protocols, medication administration as delegated, and related clinical tasks, as well as scheduling, documentation, and coordination of care. This role helps ensure that patient encounters are efficient, respectful, and trauma-informed, and that clinical and administrative processes follow Hightop Health policies and procedures; applicable laws and regulations; and accreditation standards (including those of The Joint Commission, as applicable), especially those related to patient rights, privacy, safe medication practices, infection prevention, and quality of care. The MA works under the supervision of licensed providers and within the scope of their certification and state regulations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Completion of an accredited Medical Assistant program required.
Current certification as a Medical Assistant (e.g., CMA, RMA, CCMA) strongly preferred in accordance with state and Hightop Health requirements.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required or obtained within a Hightop Health-defined timeframe.
Any additional licenses/certifications required by state law or Hightop Health policy for MA duties in mental health/infusion settings.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a Medical Assistant preferred; experience in behavioral health, psychiatry, or outpatient specialty setting strongly preferred.
Proficiency in obtaining accurate vital signs and performing basic clinical procedures.
Familiarity with treatment-resistant therapy workflows (e.g., IV infusions, interventional mental health treatments) or willingness to be trained.
Working knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.
Experience using electronic health record (EHR) systems and basic office software (e.g., email, scheduling, Microsoft Office).
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clinical information clearly to providers and patients within scope.
Demonstrated dependability, professionalism, attention to detail, and strong time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

Current certification as a Medical Assistant (e.g., CMA, RMA, CCMA) strongly preferred in accordance with state and Hightop Health requirements.
Experience in behavioral health, psychiatry, or outpatient specialty setting strongly preferred.
Familiarity with treatment-resistant therapy workflows (e.g., IV infusions, interventional mental health treatments) or willingness to be trained.

Responsibilities

Perform direct patient support tasks, including obtaining and documenting accurate vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate, SpO₂), height, weight, and pain scores.
Prepare patients for examinations, procedures, and treatment (including treatment-resistant depression therapies as applicable), ensuring privacy, dignity, and clear explanation of processes within scope.
Support IV infusion protocols (e.g., preparation of room/equipment, patient monitoring, documentation) as directed by licensed providers and in accordance with Hightop Health policies and protocols.
Administer medications (e.g., oral, IM, other approved routes) as delegated by licensed providers, following “rights” of medication administration and within scope of practice and state regulations.
Assist with basic life support procedures in emergency situations, including activation of emergency response per protocol and utilization of BLS skills as certified.
Greet patients in a professional, compassionate manner; help orient patients to the clinic and visit flow.
Communicate with patients and families in a way that is rapport-building, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and consistent with Hightop Health’s mission and values.
Provide clear, age-appropriate instructions regarding preparation for procedures, follow-up visits, and use of patient education materials, referring clinical questions to licensed providers as appropriate.
Respond promptly to patient needs and questions within scope, and route messages/concerns to appropriate team members for timely follow-up.
Work collaboratively with psychiatrists, advanced practice providers, therapists, nurses, TMS/infusion staff, and administrative teams to support coordinated, integrated mental health care.
Participate in huddles, team meetings, and case-related discussions as appropriate to the role, sharing observations and relevant clinical information.
Support new providers and staff in understanding clinic workflows and patient flow, modeling team-based care.
Adhere at all times to Hightop Health policies related to patient safety, infection prevention, hand hygiene, sharps safety, and environmental safety.
Follow all relevant federal and state regulations, payer requirements, and accreditation standards (including Joint Commission, as applicable), including HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
Ensure accurate patient identification and appropriate documentation before administering medications, performing procedures, or assisting with IV infusion treatments.
Promptly report safety events, near misses, or concerns (clinical, environmental, or behavioral) using Hightop Health’s designated reporting processes.
Participate in quality and performance improvement initiatives (e.g., data collection, implementation of new workflows, adherence to clinical protocols) as requested by leadership.
Schedule patient appointments, reschedules, and follow-ups as needed, ensuring accurate documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) and practice management systems.
Prepare and update patient charts prior to visits (e.g., verifying demographics, insurance information, medication lists, allergies, relevant clinical history) in accordance with Hightop Health standards.
Verify insurance benefits and coverage for services as requested; communicate basic benefit information and route complex financial questions to appropriate staff.
Maintain accurate, timely, and legible documentation of all patient-related activities in the EHR, including vital signs, patient education provided, and any delegated clinical tasks performed.
Assist with maintaining exam rooms, infusion spaces, and clinical equipment (e.g., cleaning, stocking supplies, checking functionality) per infection control and safety protocols.
Support workflows for treatment-resistant depression and other advanced therapies (e.g., IV infusions, interventional services) as directed, including pre-visit preparation, patient monitoring, and post-treatment documentation.
Maintain awareness of potential side effects and safety considerations related to mental health treatments and infusions; promptly notify licensed providers of any concerning findings.
Assist in collection of patient-reported outcome measures and tracking tools (e.g., symptom scales) as directed by clinical protocols.