Medical Assistant - Southeast - Clinical Pharmacy

JOB PURPOSE: The Medical Assistant serves in a medical support role as part of a team providing quality healthcare to El Rio patients. In this role, the Medical Assistant provides direct patient care, as well as provides clinical and non-clinical services within the scope of practice at El Rio Health, at a clinic location assigned by management.

This scope of practice for a Medical Assistant employed will adhere to the Policies and Procedures of El Rio Health. An employee in this position routinely works with general supervision and review, and any work problems involving departures from standard policies, interpretations, or procedures are reviewed with the supervisor for resolution.

The primary goal of the El Rio Health Medical Assistant is to support El Rio’s Mission of providing comprehensive, quality health care that is affordable and accessible to all who may have healthcare needs, by successfully performing the primary essential functions.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Completes all clinical and non-clinical assigned duties, tasks, responsibilities, and assignments for a Medical Assistant within reasonable time frames while meeting established rates of performance for the position, ensuring the highest standards of excellence and the lowest of error rates in your work performance.
• Prior to the patient seeing a provider the Medical Assistant will complete all the steps and actions that are defined in the Patient Intake Process:
• documenting all the information
•  patient responses to inquiries
•  actions into the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Assists, performs, or completes procedures, and/or activities, within the scope of practice appropriate for a Medical Assistant position while complying with all Nursing Policies and Procedures.
• Anticipates, identifies, and responds to the needs of the patient based upon the patient’s reason for the visit, including the coordination and availability of all outside medical records, as well as laboratory and radiology results.
• Completes all Provider Orders ensuring that the patient understands and verbalizes their understanding of the discharge instructions.
• Documents completed orders and actions taken by the Medical Assistant shall be entered into the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) and submitted for processing within the defined period.
• Completes all administrative and non-clerical activities, which are received through El Rio Health IT systems and/or the Patient Portal in support of clinical operations, completing all required documentation on these activities.
• Maintains proficient skill levels that meet defined performance expectations for a Medical Assistant, as evidenced by successful completion of competency skills evaluations for this position on an annual basis.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment in compliance with all Policies and Procedures to include, but not limited to work areas, workstations, examination rooms, hand washing, etc. as required for a Medical Assistant.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and proficiency with the application of all compliance and reporting requirements respective to Joint Commission Accreditation standards for a Medical Assistant.
• Maintains patient confidentiality by controlling the environment and information disclosed to authorized individuals ensuring HIPAA and corporate compliance requirements at all times.
• Understands and complies with all organizational Code of Conduct standards, Policies and Procedures, Standing Orders, and Service Excellence requirements at all times with all patients, visitors, and employees.
• Ensures a work environment safe and free from hazards; immediately address or inform management of safety issues or hazards; adhere to Health and Safety Policies and Procedures; participate in all safety programs, which may include assignment to an emergency response team.
• Demonstrates at all times a professional attitude and acceptable job performance for all clinical and non-clinical duties, tasks, responsibilities, and assignments for this position at any clinic location or assignment that supports the operational needs of El Rio Health and as assigned by organizational leadership.
• Evaluates problems, situations, or issues presented to the employee (whether in a clinical or non- clinical environment) for priority needs, resolving the problem effectively and in a timely manner using critical-thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate to the position and authority for a Medical Assistant.
• Ensures that all communication with a patient is completed in a proactive, positive, and effective manner that promotes the patient’s compliance with scheduled appointments and/or treatments.
• Documents communication efforts with the patient in in the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) in accordance with the Nursing Policies and Procedures.
• Identifies and reports any safety hazard, or potential hazard, by directly notifying supervisory staff immediately and ensuring that El Rio facilities provide a safe and secure environment for all patients, visitors, and employees.
• Adheres to Health and Safety Policies and Procedures; participate in all safety programs, which may include assignment to an emergency response team.
• Adds labels, rotates, and stocks medications, medical supplies, and equipment in compliance with the Nursing Policies and Procedures, maintaining proper and appropriate inventories for operational use

Minimum Education and Experience:

• A High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (G.E.D.).

If applicable, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, and must be directly related to the functions and responsibilities of the job.

Required Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

• A Medical Assistant Certificate from an approved and accredited educational institution.

• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers.
• Level I fingerprint clearance card: current valid and in good standing or have applied for it within seven working days after beginning employment.
• Employees in this position may be required to have reliable transportation that can meet any operational reassignments of the organization during the workday. If an employee is driving during work hours, the employee is required to possess a valid driver’s license and must comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities:

• One year of experience as a medical assistant in an ambulatory health care setting.

•  Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to speak, read and write in both languages

El Rio Health is a diverse and inclusive organization. We are invested in helping you and your family Create Tomorrow.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

El Rio Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age 40 and over, disability, genetic information, military status, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

El Rio Health requires all employees (except those 100% working remotely) to have a Level One Fingerprint Clearance card. A.R.S. 36.425.03. If the prospective employee does not possess this prior to hire, fingerprint application must be completed within 7 days post hire.

All employees are strongly recommended to obtain COVID 19 and maintain vaccination status (i.e. as recommended by CDC and/or other public health agencies) to include an Influenza vaccination. Personnel who decline to receive COVID 19 and/or flu vaccination per most recent CDC recommendations will be recommended to wear a facemask while in an El Rio Health facility, including both clinical and non-clinical areas from November 1 to April 30 (subject to change depending on viral activity). Subject to exemptions and accommodations when required by law.

All employees are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, will be subject to post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal and State regulations for alcohol and controlled substance testing. Employees in positions holding responsibility for the safety and welfare of others will also be classified as safety sensitive.

El Rio Health is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and abides by all applicable federal Drug-Free Workplace standards. El Rio Health is an equal opportunity employer.