CLINICAL ASSISTANT I/II/III - Speciality Surgery

About Us:

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Job Overview:

Clinical Assistant is a great role to start or continue a career in healthcare!  We have various levels of Clinical Assistants and offer on-the-job training!

The Clinical Assistant provides care to infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults and elderly in a rural ambulatory care clinic. Essential job responsibilities include rooming patients, performing clinical duties, maintaining lab and exam rooms, quality assurance activities and demonstrating customer service skills.   In addition, Clinical Assistants perform administrative and data management tasks.  Information is written in patients’ chart along with patients’ medical history.  This position works closely with providers giving support such as rooming patients, perform CLIA-waived laboratory tests, answering phones, processing provider orders, and participation in training processes and staff meetings.  Must demonstrate good judgment and be self-starter, but works under close supervision of provider.

This position directly supports and assists the rural clinic provider. This position is essential in maintaining efficient clinic operations and patient flow in order to maximize the provider’s time and to insure access to health care for patients in rural communities. This is a job progression consisting of three job levels, designed to provide progressively more technical and independent work experiences to participants as part of the overall assessment of their ability and capability.  Promotion between job levels is based on performance on prior assignments, required certifications, and the demonstrated ability to successfully handle more progressively responsible assignments.  *Independent performance of all clinical duties will be based on satisfactory completion of competency assessments.

Responsibilities:

• Rooming Patients. Prepares for patient visit by reviewing chart for needed forms, follow-up labs or procedures needed. Prepares patient for the exam by obtaining and recording age-appropriate vital signs per department protocol, i.e.,  temperature, height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure, respiration, pulse oximetry, visual acuity testing. Obtains medical history update and confirms medications. Accurately collects and documents information in patient chart. Keeps patient records in order with all forms properly identified; copies and compiles other medical data as needed.  Assures patient medication and immunization records are current. Recognizes signs or symptoms requiring prompt intervention and acts appropriately. Transports patients within the facility, as needed. Demonstrates ability to smoothly manage patient care duties while maintaining clinic flow.  Report, and when appropriate, record any changes observed in condition or behavior of patients, unusual incidents or breeches in safety. Observe patients to insure children, elderly, or impaired patients who require observation or assistance have someone in attendance. 
• Clinical Duties. Set up equipment and supplies for routine exams and minor procedures. Prepare patient for and assist with procedures, treatments, and minor office surgeries.  Provides specimen collection, throat swabs for culture, CLIA-waived laboratory testing*, such as PT/INR, strep A, hemoccult, capillary glucose, urine analyzer, urine HCG. Performs phlebotomy for Quest labs.  Follows protocol for collecting, labeling and transporting of specimens. With appropriate orders:  apply heat/cold packs, abdominal binders, anti-embolism stockings, per competency assessment, obtain 12 lead EKG’s per competency assessment, peak flow, apply oxygen.  Assist patients with ambulation or transfer; perform minor, non-invasive treatments, e.g. simple dressing changes, use of an automated external defibrillator.  Performs basic health coaching and patient education as directed by the provider and according to evidence-based guidelines using patient education materials.
• Maintain lab and exam rooms. Sanitizes exam rooms between patients.  Ensures exam room supplies are organized and stocked.  Maintains lab equipment and organizes lab supplies. Inventory, re-order, and stock medical supplies. Sterilizes surgical equipment and insures sterile package integrity. Dispose of solid/liquid waste and infectious materials according to infection control standards. 
• Quality Assurance. Conducts daily/weekly/monthly QA checks on equipment and crash cart.  Documents refrigerator temperatures according to regulations.  Keeps sterilization logs.  Demonstrates correct utilization of computer-based health information system and electronic health record systems. Notify provider of any repairs/safety concerns that need attention.  Maintain a safe and clean environment. 
• Customer Service. Promotes the SEARHC Seven Standards of Excellence.  Answers inquiries of a general nature by nursing staff, provider staff, other departments, visitors and patients: assisting them in a friendly and cooperative manner; receives and relays messages to personnel and uses proper telephone etiquette.  Provide cross-coverage for their peers, helping peers and clinics that are in need of assistance to ensure the efficient and effective flow of patients through the department.  Perform duties as assigned in a responsible, respectful and caring manner to promote effective staff relationships. Attends and participates in at least 50% area staff meetings annually; responsible for applying information presented in staff meetings; participates in unit goal setting; complies with area and departmental scheduling guidelines; initiates discussion with department manager regarding area or department issues; complies with dress code; refers un-resolved problems with patients/visitors/co-workers to appropriate Manager for resolution; addresses employee concerns consistent with Human Resources Policy.

Qualifications:

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Level I

Experience:

• One year of experience in healthcare OR
• 2 years customer service experience OR
• Certified Nursing Assistant training OR
• EMT: 1 year actively practicing EMT OR
• Alaska Community Health Aide –level 1 completed

Certification:

• Current BLS certification

Level II 

Experience

• Completion of a Medical Assistant program OR
• One year experience as a Clinical Assistant with SEARHC, with successful completion of Competency Assessment OR
• One year experience providing direct patient care, for example as one of the following:
  • Medical Assistant
  • Home Health Aide
  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • EMT
  • Community Health Aide
  • Laboratory Technician or Phlebotomist
  • Dental Assistant

Certifications

• Certified Nursing Assistant certificate from an accredited program -active or inactive, preferred
• Current BLS certification

Level III

License/Certifications

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or
• EMT III Current Alaska Certification or
• Community Health Aide Practitioner or
• Current Alaska Paramedic Certification or
• Graduation with a nursing degree from an accredited institution can replace certification requirements above.
• Current Basic Life Safety certification

Experience

• Experience working in a healthcare setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Clinic procedures for receiving and following through on a patient visit and any related clinic treatments and procedures
• Age appropriate vital signs and behaviors
• HIPAA and SEARHC policies

Skills:

• Good interpersonal communication skills and use of customer service skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Computer application skills sufficient to utilize medical database in an competent manner

Ability to:

• Operate medical equipment including blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, EKG machine, tympanometer, autoclave, etc
• Learn and use various EMR systems and accurately record patient data
• Communicate and interact with all members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team
• Recognize and respond appropriately in emergency situations