Medical Assistant I and II

Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) is a multi-site, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Santa Cruz County residents. SCCH began as a women's health collective in 1974 with the mission to improve the health of our patients and the community and advocate the feminist goals of social, political, and economic equality. Now, 50 years later, we serve that same mission at our three clinic sites: the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center in downtown Santa Cruz serving women and children; the Live Oak Health Center serving everyone; and the Santa Cruz Mountain Health Center providing appropriate and expanded access to care for our patients in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Driven by our commitment to health care as a human right, SCCH is a leading non-profit provider offering comprehensive health services to our patients, regardless of their ability to pay. We have been recognized in the community as a leader in delivering high-quality, innovative care, and we are active in local, state, and national advocacy work that empowers our patients and community to be healthy, happy, and successful.

SCCH has a diverse patient population and an engaging and friendly work environment. Our caring and committed staff work as a team to fulfill our mission so that all our patients have access to quality, whole-person health care.

POSITION SUMMARY:

A Medical Assistant (MA) ensures patients receive excellent customer service care and that operations are conducted in support of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model. Medical Assistant’s work in Care Teams and are responsible for a variety of back office medical assisting, lab, and patient education duties. Duties include but are not limited to, preparing charts for patient visits, rooming patients, taking, and recording vital signs, assisting providers with exams, and working as a strong and flexible member of a health care team. Medical Assistants are expected to demonstrate exceptional critical thinking, clinical, patient relations, organizational, and time management skills.

Classification: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt 

Reports to: Clinic Manager & Site Operations Director 

Compensation: $23.00 - $32.36 per hour, depending on experience and certification 

Location: Women's Health Center 

Hours: Varies; Some evenings and/or Saturdays required Language: Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Provide health education to patients under the direction of medical providers

• Assist providers with medical procedures and provide direct patient care (under the direction of

  medical providers) when demand is high • Attend and participate in organization meetings and attend assigned trainings

• Ensure protection of individually identifiable health information per HIPAA regulations

• Assist Clinic Manager in ensuring that facilities are safe and meet staff and patient needs

• Create and support a positive teamwork environment

Job Expertise

• Demonstrates knowledge of medical assisting principles and practices

• Demonstrates knowledge and use of clinical policies and procedures as well as applicable federal and state rules and regulations

• Applies technical and procedural know-how to get the job done

• Serves as a ‘resource person’ on whom others rely for advice and answers to difficult questions

• Effectively gathers and uses information, procedures, materials, equipment, and techniques required for job

• Acts as a patient liaison with front office, billing staff, and providers

• Assists providers with procedures

• Demonstrates ability to effectively use Electronic Health Records system (EHR)

• Performs lab tests and documents results

• Conducts pregnancy screening, administers adult and pediatric injections, provides health education, information and referrals as needed

• Sets up and breaks down exam rooms

• Prepares paperwork for external laboratories, sterilizes equipment in autoclave, and assists with stocking, inventory, and ordering medical/clinic supplies

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School graduate or equivalent

• Clinical Medical Assistant School indicating completion of program including externship

• Current BLS/CPR certification

• Minimum of one year of back-office experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred

• Good knowledge of general back-office procedures, such as taking vitals, performing venipuncture, administering immunizations, etc.

• Good comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology in English and Spanish

• Emergency response capability for possible crisis situations

Skills & Knowledge:

• Knowledge of standard clinical healthcare practice policies and procedures.

• Experience working on computers and Knowledge of Microsoft Office software products.

• Ability to work with practice management and EHR systems.

• Knowledge of health insurance plans.

• Knowledge of healthcare terminology, procedures, and practice.

• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Knowledge of personnel management and labor law as it relates to this position.

• Ability to work independently and to use good judgment.

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with co-workers.

• Possess empathy towards the needs of others with excellent leadership and coaching skills.

• Actively works to maintain a good working relationship and team approach with peers and co workers.