Medical Assistant-Ambulatory

Alameda Health System•Oakland, CA

About The Position

Under the clinical supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician/podiatrist, the Medical Assistant provides basic clinical, front-office clerical, and technical support services for patients and the clinic. The role supports patient care, clinic operations, and coordinated delivery of services, and performs related duties as required. Employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level; not all listed duties are necessarily performed by every employee in the classification. The position serves vulnerable, poor, and underserved populations and emphasizes patient-centered care, responsiveness to individual preferences and needs, and customer service. The Medical Assistant assists clinicians with patient follow-up and care plans; gathers patient information and vital signs; supports examinations and procedures; performs specimen collection, phlebotomy, and other trained clinical tasks; maintains examination areas and equipment; and completes patient records and administrative functions. The role also helps coordinate tests, referrals, consultations, authorizations, and services, and may provide health coaching after training.

Requirements

Graduation from a certified or accredited medical assistant school.
Acquire within six months of hire and maintain active Medical Assistant certification issued by one of the following: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA), National Center for Competency Testing/Multi-skilled Medical Certification Institute (NCCT/MMCI), or American Medical Technologists (AMT).
Hold Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
Ability to empathize with vulnerable populations and care for poor and underserved patients.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in an outpatient setting.

Responsibilities

Assist clinicians in following up on patient needs, including inbox management, providing prescriptions and work slips, and addressing messages; provide information or instructions to patients with clinician authorization.
Collaborate with patients and other healthcare providers to deliver coordinated, high-quality care.
Collect and preserve specimens using non-invasive techniques, including urine, sputum, and stool specimens, and transport specimens to the laboratory.
Use population health methods such as patient registries, in-reach, outreach, care protocols, and team-based care to improve patient and population outcomes.
After specific training, administer oral, intradermal, intramuscular, and subcutaneous medications or injections, inhalation treatments, and immunizations; perform skin tests such as PPD placement.
Greet and escort patients to examination rooms, prepare patients according to procedures, assist clinicians with patient care and examinations or treatments, and ensure proper consents are obtained.
Interview patients and collect basic information about current and previous medical conditions; measure vital signs and other required information.
Maintain patient examination areas; clean, maintain, and sterilize equipment; stock rooms; order supplies and equipment; prepare rooms for the daily clinic schedule; and report equipment replacement needs.
Participate in Performance Improvement and Quality Control activities.
Perform department-specific basic clinical and technical skills and simple non-invasive testing.
Perform clerical duties, including answering phones, using computers, registering patients, completing forms, filing medical records, and making appointments in the AHS computer system when appropriate.
Perform phlebotomy, including venipuncture, finger-stick, and heel-stick procedures.
Respond promptly to patient needs and effectively respond to emergencies, including Code Blue, as directed.
Provide respectful, responsive, patient-centered care and promote excellent service for internal and external customers.
Record information in patient records.
Support the plan of care by coordinating consultations, testing, referrals, and required authorizations; help patients implement the plan and ensure results are available.
Assist patients with undressing for procedures when appropriate, direct them to other departments and services, provide appropriate self-care instruction to patients and family members, give basic pre- and post-operative care instructions as needed, participate in orientation of new employees or students as necessary, and follow clinician or provider treatment plans.
Transport patients to ancillary services and assist patients with limited mobility, including wheelchair, crutch, gait impairment, and gurney assistance.
After training, provide health coaching, goal setting, and action-plan review to patients.