Clinical Aide

At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we honor all members of our community and acknowledge the dignity of each person we serve. Our purpose is to provide high quality, comprehensive primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farm workers and a view to removing barriers to health care. We strive to provide an environment that welcomes and values the people we employ and serve.

If you are unsure whether you meet all the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

Job Summary: The Clinical Aide (CA) position performs delegated clinical and administrative duties in support of clinic operations and patient care. The CA will be trained to perform the duties listed below if no prior training.
This role will have career path opportunities after successful completion of the initial probationary period. This includes shadowing opportunities built into the regular work schedule during which the CA would learn about potential career paths available at Virginia Garcia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Direct Patient Care:
• Greet and prepare patients for their appointment; confirm identity, record vital signs and other appropriate information, verify medication and immunization records, and document interactions.
• Work with certified staff to accurately enter and document medical information in patients’ records (flow sheet, progress notes, immunization records, growth charts, etc.).
• Perform patient care duties that do not require the placement of orders. Examples include but are not limited to collecting vital signs and processing specimens for lab transport.
• Assist or perform approved point-of-care tests and maintain lab logs and quality control logs after training and competency verification.
• Assist providers and certified medical assistants with procedures.
• Support vaccine clinics and public health events with assigned tasks including, but not limited to, data entry, patient “traffic control”, runner, registration, or other needed roles.

In-Direct Patient Care:
• Review daily schedule and verify availability of supplies and working equipment for the day.
• Assemble equipment and prepare trays for minor procedures.
• Maintain cleanliness, inventory and preparedness of assigned exam rooms.
• Check sharps containers daily, replacing when full.
• Stock information pamphlets and forms in the clinic daily.
• Stock exam rooms, nurse’s station, vaccine administration station and lab daily.
• Organize and maintain clean and soiled utility rooms and storage areas.
• Clean, disinfect and sterilize exam tables, counters, and equipment such as scales and blood pressure cuffs per VGMHC Infection Control Guidelines.
• Perform patient outreach as directed by the Clinical Team Supervisor.
• Assist the front desk as needed to expedite check-in of patients.
• Answer phones and route calls to appropriate staff, being courteous, timely, and helpful.
• Coordinate interpreter services as needed.
• Schedule appointments as directed.
• Support Team Assistants (TA) with obtaining medical records, faxing, copying, scanning patient documents, and contacting patients via phone or letter to schedule appointments.
• Work with Panel Care Coordinator (PCC) tracking preventive care required for scheduled patients, scheduling appointments, and documentation and data entry.
• Perform administrative tasks for site leadership in support of operations and clinical care.
• Perform basic office operations.
Clinic Expectations:
• Report off to covering team member when leaving the floor for break, lunch or off duty.
• Assist other staff as requested.
• Implement agreed upon changes in functions, policies and procedures.
• Ensure confidentiality of patients and staff.
• Be an enthusiastic learner and attend career exploration, apprenticeship, and job shadowing opportunities, completing any associated assignments.
• Participate in competency assessment for clinical skills, attend training opportunities appropriate to job development, communicate additional training needs to direct supervisor, attend team and department meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements:
The Clinical Aide will have access to PHI during the course of their work activities. The CA will use this information to prepare both patients and medical records for visits with the provider and to keep the flow of work going smoothly in the clinic. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated records sets to which this employee will have access include: the full medical record, and the scheduling and demographics functions of the practice management system.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
• Bilingual/bicultural proficiency in Spanish and English preferred.
• Ability to set priorities in a changing environment while maintaining a calm, professional demeanor.
• Ability to recognize own limitations and seek guideline/assistance appropriately.
• Ability to rotate to other clinics as needed.
• Ability to problem solve issues in a team environment.
• An enthusiastic learner with the ability to work quickly, accurately, and independently.

Education and Experience Required:
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum two years of customer service experience working with diverse clients, patients or customers in a fast paced work environment required.
• Strong interest in pursuing medical assistant certification or other healthcare career.

Behavioral Competencies:
Accountability
• Role model VG’s mission, vision, and shared values
Customer-Focus
• Listen to the voice of the customer and strive to delight them by exceeding their expectations
Teamwork
• If someone needs help, help them
Initiative
• Be innovative, apply fresh ideas, and continuously improve how you do your work
Confidentiality
• Maintain strict confidentiality and respect the privacy of others
Ethical
• Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and stewardship in all encounters at work
Respect
• Demonstrate consideration and appreciation for co-workers and patients
Communication
• Demonstrate the ability to convey thoughts and ideas as well as understand perspective of others

Physical Requirements:
Percentage of time spent
• Standing: 25%
• Walking: 45%
• Sitting: 25%
• Lifting/Carrying: 5%
• Physically demanding tasks: Must be able to lift/carry 30 lbs. – supplies.

Working Environment/Physical Hazards:
• Work in well-lighted, ventilated environment.
• Potential exposure to blood borne pathogens and hazardous chemicals.

Equipment used:
Office equipment
• Computer: data entry and word processing
• Telephone, fax, copier, scanner, printer
Medical equipment
• Autoclave
• Non-stress test
• Fetal Doppler
• EKG
• Pulse oximeter
• Audiometer
• Nebulizer
• O2 tank
• Liquid nitrogen
• Glucometer
• Hemoglobin A1C
• Cholesterol Screening Equipment
• Hemoglobin Screening Equipment
• Ultra sound machine

Immunization:
Staff member must meet immunizations requirements as stated in VGMHC’s immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC’s Mission.
VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes affirmative action in the area of placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay and termination.