Pod Coordinator

Open Door Community Health Centers • Fortuna, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Pod Coordinator position is a clinical step up from a Medical Assistant (MA) role. This position assists in the examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a primary care provider or registered nurse. The Pod Coordinator advocates for patients and assists in furthering their care within the California MA Scope of Practice. This role offers a wage increase of $1 compared to the current Medical Assistant wage.

Requirements

• Proficient 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 experience.
• 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.
• May perform venipuncture based on operational need and competency assessment.
• High School diploma or GED.
• Completion of accredited Medical Assistant training program and six months of MA experience in a medical setting OR 1 year of equivalent MA education and experience (required).
• State or National Certification or has successfully challenged the state or national board examination (required).

Nice To Haves

• Injection certificate
• Current CPR Certification
• Current Medical Assistant Certification
• Certificate of Completion of Accredited Medical Assistant Program or evidence of equivalent MA education
• Venipuncture/dermal puncture certification (optional)
• May need to possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation for delivery.

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 (EKG), 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 bio-hazard waste.
• 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 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

• Medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans for full-time employees and some part-time employees.
• Free monthly online therapy sessions.
• Interactive training opportunities.
• Educational programs.
• Various employee appreciation events throughout the year.
• Paid training for many entry-level positions in the medical or dental fields.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED