Medical Assistant I/II

Medical Assistants Building Healthier Communities

Who we are: La Clínica de La Raza is a community-based health center committed to providing culturally appropriate, high-quality, and accessible health care to the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. We have spent over 40 years advocating for and creating a health home for the many that have been denied access to care. As health care activists, we are dedicated to making sure individuals who do not have health coverage get the same level of quality healthcare as those who have it. From our genesis as a community health center in 1971, we understood that we cannot heal our communities without also addressing the economic and social factors that affect health. Many times, this requires that we go outside and provide services in other settings to build the bridge that links individuals to our health center for preventive and primary care. Over 90,000 individuals come to La Clínica because it is a welcoming place that addresses the whole person, coordinating and connecting them to a broad network of services to improve and maintain their health and well-being. While we are still known for our activism and spirit of social justice, we are also proud to have grown into a sophisticated provider of primary health care services with 35 sites across Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties.

Be part of an excellent care team: We are looking for Medical Assistants who are inspired to deliver a great experience to our patients and who want to play an important role in patient-centered care by performing at the top of their scope of practice. At La Clínica, you will be challenged to be exceptionally accurate, observant and an efficient task-master while at the same time providing a human touch and an excellent overall patient experience. Many people excel at one of these areas, but it takes someone with a special combination of skills and character to do both. To be successful, you need to enjoy interacting with all kinds of different people, to feel energized by a fast paced clinic environment, and remain cool under pressure even when serving a person who is upset, disrespectful or impatient. You should have a successful history of being responsible, reliable and capable of solving problems while being friendly and helpful in looking for ways to support other care team members.

Major Areas of Responsibility include but are not limited to:

Patient Care

• Prepare treatment rooms and set up medical laboratory equipment.
• Verify purpose of visit with the patient and record medical history in the Electronic Health Record system (EHR).
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding patient information.
• Administer health questionnaires.
• Prepare patients for examination by performing preliminary physical tests and taking vital signs.
• Effectively communicate request from patients to provider or care team members.
• Perform routine medical tasks and procedures, including vision tests, urine dipstick tests, pregnancy tests, basic hearing tests, blood glucose testing, site of care hemoglobin A1C testing, sputum collections, oral HIV tests, and non-invasive specimen collection.
• Collect finger stick blood specimens and assist in the collection of tissue or other laboratory specimens: log the specimens and prepare them for testing.
• Conduct specialized procedures under the direction of a clinician such as nebulizer treatments, spirometry, suture removal and wound-care.
• Coordinate patient flow to maximize patient access and service.
• Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
• Explain and/or translate treatment procedures, medications, diets, or providers’ instructions to patients.
• Schedule follow-up appointment or recall appointment after visit.
• Help providers examine and treat patients.
• Prepare and administer medications and injections as directed by a provider.
• Provide prescription information to pharmacies, as directed by a provider.
• Actively participate in panel management and population health practices and software tools.
• Complete and review information at end of patient visit.
• Administer immunizations, document in EHR, and other electronic tracking systems.
• Ensure that all logs, forms, records, and charts are complete, thorough, and accurate.
• Provide patient education and follow-up care instructions as instructed by provider.

Commitment to Quality

• Demonstrate a commitment to excellent patient experience and quality outcomes in equal measure.
• Communicate and work effectively with providers and other members of the care team to best serve patients.
• Contribute to a welcoming clinical space and healthy work environment through proactive relationship building, direct communication and sound judgment.
• Engaged participation in huddles, staff meetings, team building activities and assigned development opportunities.
• Continue your professional development through participation in educational opportunities.
• Adherence to La Clínica all ethical and professional standards, including La Clínica’s policies and procedures.

General Office Duties

• Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments for patients, answering telephones, recording medical updates from the provider, or completing insurance forms.
• Screen and monitor EHR requests, completing or routing as assigned.
• Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic in the appropriate electronic system.
• Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or appointments.
• Inventory stock, order, and verify receipt of medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.
• Keeps equipment operating by following operating instructions; troubleshooting breakdowns; maintaining supplies; performing preventive maintenance; calling for repairs.
• Enter key medical record information or perform other required record keeping duties required.

Minimum Job Requirements

Knowledge

• Basic medical assisting practices and skills and the various types of equipment used.
• Modern medical terminology, chronic health conditions, and health education related to the service area.
• Working with modern computer applications and electronic health records.
• Administration of skin tests and medication by injection.
• Methods of safely lifting and moving patients, equipment and supplies.
• Cleaning and sterilization techniques for medical equipment, examining rooms and patients areas.

Abilities

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish.
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to accept changes gracefully.
• Able to work professionally and collaboratively in team-based care delivery.
• Comfort with direct patient contact and solid interpersonal skills for patient education and coaching.
• Ability to work and communicate with people from various ethnic, socio-economic, educational and life experience.
• Use clear and efficient written and verbal communication skills using the English language.
• Complete and maintain accurate and concise patient records.
• Ability to participate with other staff in Saturday and evening rotation.

Other Certifications and Experience

• MA-I: One year of hospital/clinic/medical office experience preferred.
• MA-II: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), California Certifying Board of Medical Assistants (CCMA) or the Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA).
• CPR certification within 6 months of hire.
• Phlebotomy Certification (only if required by the clinic).
• Certification for health clearances required of all healthcare professionals.
• High school diploma/equivalent.