STREET MED MA

The Street Medicine Medical Assistant is a vital member of ISMART (Integrated Street Medicine & Addiction Recovery Team), a pioneering program dedicated to providing healthcare services to underserved populations in Kern County. ISMART’s mission is to deliver equitable, quality, and compassionate medical and behavioral health care to sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in the setting of their choice.

Through mobile clinics and outreach efforts, ISMART bridges gaps in healthcare accessibility by delivering compassionate medical care directly to individuals experiencing housing insecurity and suffering from substance use disorders. The Medical Assistant supports the delivery of clinical care by assisting providers, performing phlebotomy, and managing medical supplies to ensure the team’s outreach efforts are effective and aligned with ISMART’s values of equity, dignity, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Support:

• Phlebotomy: Perform blood draws with expertise and care, ensuring patient comfort and safety during procedures.
• Vital Signs: Measure and document patient vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate.
• Patient Interaction: Assist with patient intake, including gathering medical history, updating records, and addressing initial questions or concerns.
• Specimen Handling: Process, label, and store specimens for lab analysis according to proper protocols.
• Medical Procedures: Assist providers with basic medical procedures, wound care, and other treatments during outreach activities.
• Patient Education: Provide instructions and education to patients on prescribed treatments, preventative care, and follow-up steps.
• Lab Follow-Up: Contact patients to provide information on lab results, coordinate follow-up care, and address provider recommendations.

Operational Support:

• Equipment and Supplies: Maintain and organize medical equipment and supplies within the mobile clinic and outreach settings. Restock supplies as needed to ensure the team is prepared for every outreach session.
• Documentation: Record patient information accurately in electronic or paper records while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA standards.
• Coordination: Collaborate with the Street Medicine team to anticipate and address clinical and operational needs during outreach efforts.
• Sanitation: Ensure cleanliness and sterility of medical equipment and workspace in mobile clinic settings.
• Patient Scheduling: Add patients to the schedule, ensuring timely access to follow-up care and prioritizing urgent cases.
• Enhanced Care Management: Assistance to ECM case managers to complete ECM enrollments and follow ups

General Duties:

• Complete Tasks as Assigned: Perform additional responsibilities as directed by ISMART leadership to support the mission and goals of the program.
• Client Interaction: Provide respectful, nonjudgmental assistance to clients, reflecting ISMART’s commitment to compassionate care.

Qualifications

• Required Certifications:
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or equivalent certification.
• Experience: Minimum of 1 year of medical assistant or related clinical experience preferred, ideally in community health or outreach settings.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Phlebotomy experience (1 year)
• Knowledge of infection control practices and medical terminology.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on compassionate care for vulnerable populations.
• Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR) systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively in dynamic and diverse environments, including urban areas and outdoor settings.
• Excel experience is a plus.
• Physical ability to lift and transport medical equipment (up to 50 lbs) and stand for extended periods during outreach activities.

Work Environment

• Field-based, including outdoor environments and mobile clinic settings with varying weather and environmental conditions.
• Flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends, based on ISMART outreach needs.