FRONT OFFICE MEDICAL ASSISTANT

Job Description

Job Description

Front Office Medical Assistant

Administrative interest and experience | Part time | 25-30 hours weekly | Watsonville California

Rheum Without Walls is seeking an experienced, bilingual Front Desk Medical Assistant with strong administrative interest and experience for a small physician-owned outpatient specialty practice in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine. This is a hands-on coordination position combining front-desk operations, clinical Medical Assistant support, patient scheduling and telephone coverage with coordination of staff, students and office workflows.

Established support structure. The employee will be supported by four staff members who collectively provide front- and back-office support, including prior-authorization work and approximately 70percent of incoming call coverage. This role provides coordination, oversight and front-office support within the existing team structure.

| Position type | Part-time W-2 position, 25-30 hours weekly; hourly and nonexempt. MON, WED, FRI ON-SITE [ This is NOT a Remote Work Option]
| Primary location | Watsonville, California
| Compensation path | $22.00 per hour for days 1-90; $25.00 per hour for days 91-180 after satisfactory onboarding progress
| Certification | Prior  OUTPATIENT Work Experience [ 2-5 years ] is a Requirement for this position. Medical Certification may be waived if candidate comes with > 5 years of work experience in outpatient specialty and /or with  great references by prior employers. A pathway to certification may be designed for the right candidate who brings experience, maturity, stability and Trustworthiness. 
| Experience | Experience in health care settings is preferred over certifications. Fresh Graduates from Medical Assisting Schools May be considered on case by case basis IF they have rotated through our office or are willing to shadow 1-2 weeks in office so the executive can assess for 'best -fit'. 
| Language | Bilingual English and Spanish required
| Typing | Minimum 35 words per minute. Typing practice for 30 hours may be required  if typing speed is not adequate. 

Core responsibilities

• Manage front-desk operations, patient scheduling, registration, insurance verification, check-in and checkout.
• Answer incoming calls and recover calls missed by other office personnel; route clinical concerns appropriately.
• Use the practice’s EMR and telecommunications systems efficiently and monitor assigned administrative work queues.
• Coordinate daily schedules for medical students, rotating medical assistants and other assigned personnel.
• Confirm that scheduled staff report to work and promptly escalate coverage gaps.
• Monitor assigned front-office and back-office workflows on clinical and non-clinical days and follow incomplete work through resolution.
• Provide hands-on clinical Medical Assistant support and oversee completion of assigned clinical workflows when required.
• Support prior authorizations, specialty-medication coordination and tracking of biologic and injection workflows.
• Develop and maintain consistent SOPs for this two-year-old practice, nine months at its current site, by working directly with the Executive Physician to review workflows, solve problems and translate the practice’s vision and mission across the organization.
• Protect patient confidentiality and maintain professional communication with patients, pharmacies, insurers, schools and clinical partners.

Qualifications

• At least three years of prior work experience as a Medical Assistant in an outpatient clinic or medical-office setting is required; three to five or more years is preferred.
• Medical Assistant certification is required for candidates with three or four years of experience. Certification is not a prerequisite for candidates with at least five years of prior medical-office experience. When needed, an on-the-job pathway toward Medical Assistant certification may be designed for a well-qualified candidate who demonstrates fit, reliability and long-term commitment.
• Experience with medical scheduling, EMR systems, insurance verification and patient communication.
• Experience with prior authorizations, specialty medications, biologics, injections or staff coordination is highly desirable.
• Strong organization, follow-through, professional judgment and reliable attendance.
• Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency is required.
• Minimum typing speed of 35 words per minute with accurate data entry.
• Comfort with EMR and telecommunications software and the ability to complete ongoing EMR training as system-wide software updates are implemented.
• Phlebotomy skills are preferred but not required.
• Current BLS certification or ability to obtain it within the timeframe established by the practice.

Schedule and location

This part-time position is scheduled for 25-30 hours per week, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These three days are required and non-negotiable. If the practice expands in 2027-2028, Tuesday may be added as an anticipated expansion day and may include Santa Clara County coverage.

Compensation and development

The first six months are a non-structured introductory and training probationary period because the practice invests considerable time in onboarding. Pay is $22.00 per hour for days 1-90, then $25.00 per hour for days 91-180 after satisfactory onboarding progress and continued fit. At six months, the employee may enter regular part-time benefited status, including Harbor 401(k) employer contributions, subject to plan eligibility, service requirements and applicable law. Later wage reviews / Raise and the three-to-five-year advancement pathway consider performance, applied skills, approved CEUs, career-oriented training and required development meetings.

Schedule commitment

Dependable availability during the fixed Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule is required. Outside employment that may affect attendance, performance, confidentiality or practice duties must be disclosed for advance review; lawful off-duty activity presenting no legitimate conflict is not restricted.

How to apply

Submit a resume addressing relevant clinic experience, certification status, problem-solving and technology skills, bilingual proficiency, typing speed, and availability for the required Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. Uncertified applicants must clearly document at least five years of medical-office experience and may note their certification interests. Before advancing, one reference letter from a prior employer or supervisor is required; two are preferred. Recent student graduates from Medical Assisting Schools, will need to provide a letter from the site of Externship as well as a supervisor at the school. Qualified applicants will receive a screening interview.

Rheum Without Walls is an equal opportunity employer.