Medical Assistant

Bilingual Medical Assistant

For over 40 years, Ritter Center has been dedicated to preventing and resolving homelessness and improving the health, dignity, and well-being of people living in poverty in Marin. When you join Ritter Center, you join a highly trained staff that combines national clinical best practices with a whole-person care approach to solving each person's medical and mental health, housing, and food needs. We are growing to meet the needs of our community. We are looking for staff who are ready for a career with a mission-driven organization, want to be valued, have diverse experience, and have compassion. If this sounds like you, we would love to have you join us!

Ritter Center is currently recruiting a Medical Assistant for our Clinic Team. This full-time, non-exempt position reports to the Clinic Manager based in San Rafael, CA; the role operates out of our main Campus. Please find the full job description below.

Position Description

The Medical Assistant will perform a wide range of duties in the Medical and Behavioral Health Departments of Ritter Center's Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and is the first point of contact when working on Ritter Center's Medical Mobile Van. Tasks primarily (although not limited to) involve assisting in the examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a Physician, and/or Family Nurse Practitioner. The Medical Assistant has direct contact with patients and works closely with the front office staff. This position is responsible for patient registration, checking insurance eligibility, and basic patient care duties. When not in the field, this person will provide backup in our on-site clinic in the back office and perform regular MA duties. The person in this role should be culturally competent and create a welcoming atmosphere for patients with co-occurring conditions. The role primarily functions to welcome, assess, educate and recommend patient medical treatment, with occasional need to administer medical point-of-care tests, venipuncture, and support our Street Medicine Nurse Practitioner. This position may require working nights or weekends. The Medical Assistant reports to the Clinic Manager.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Escort patients to the exam room, interviews patients, measure vital signs, such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight and height, and records information on patients' charts
• Prepare treatment rooms for examination of patients. Drape patients with covering and positions instruments and equipment
• Hand instruments and materials to practitioners as directed
• Maintain inventory and order medical supplies and materials
• Operate electrocardiograph (EKG), and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic test or calls medical facility or department to schedule patients for tests
• Give injections or treatments and perform routine laboratory tests.
• Key data into computer to maintain office and patient records
• Clean, sterilize and disinfect medical equipment and instruments in accordance with clinical policies and OSHA guidelines
• Follow policy and procedures including universal precautions as defined by OSHA's guidelines on Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazardous Materials standards.
• Practice good people skills to maintain good public relations with patients and with fellow co-workers
• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance to Ritter's policy and HIPAA guidelines.
• Attend and participate in required meetings, training and educational programs
• Perform administrative responsibilities, including checking eligibility, verifying demographics, assisting patients with filling out necessary paperwork, and making up follow-up appointments
• Provide field-based services and case management triage to individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments, on the streets, and in other locations to meet their immediate needs and engage them in care by the multidisciplinary team
• Provide health education and training, including COVID-19 risk mitigation, overdose prevention, and harm reduction strategies
• Provide respectful engagement to adults experiencing homelessness, many of whom have complex physical and mental health conditions, and a significant lack of trust in conventional systems of care
• Provide basic patient care duties such as taking vital signs, assisting patients with ambulation, wound care, venipuncture, and other basic POC testing as directed by the Medical Provider
• Document patient encounters using Ritter Center's Electronic Health Record system
• Crosstrain with the Behavioral Health Department to support our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
• Perform other related work as assigned

Qualifications

• Per OSHA requirements, employment at Ritter Center requires compliance with being able to produce a negative TB test prior to the start of employment, as well as being vaccinated against COVID-19 (unless applying for an exemption) per the August 5, 2019 State Public Order for Healthcare Facilities, providers, and employees.
• Per the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services, Ritter Center requires all employees to receive the Influenza vaccine (unless applying for a qualified medical or religious exemption)
• Bilingual Verbal English/Spanish not required but preferred.
• Must have a valid Medical Assistant certificate from an accredited Medical Assistant Educational program
• High School Diploma or GED completion required
• Must have current CPR certification
• Minimum of 6-12 months of work experience preferred but will consider new graduates from an accredited Medical Assistant program too
• Prior experience working in community health-care clinic environment a plus
• Ability to follow instructions and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills
• Must have ability to multitask in fast paced health-care clinic environment
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English, verbally and written
• Must be able to work flexible hours as needed, evenings, with the possibility of weekends if necessary

Ritter Center is an Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate against any person in employment or in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs and benefits on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.