MEDICAL ASSISTANT

Job Description

Job title

Medical Assistant 

Reports to

Clinic Manager 

Location: 

National City Opsam Clinic

Status:

Full-Time

Opsam Health is a federally qualified community health center that emerged in 1973. The agency serves low-income families and individuals in the County of San Diego in two (2) strategic areas with a high density population of Filipinos/Asian and other low-income, uninsured individuals — National City (Southern San Diego County) and Mira Mesa (North Central San Diego).

JOB PURPOSE 

The Medical Assistant plays a key role in supporting clinical operations by providing direct clinical and administrative support to the assigned Provider across multiple clinic locations, including Rancho Peñasquitos and City Heights. This position follows the Provider between sites and ensures continuity of care, efficiency, and consistency in daily clinic operations.

Under the supervision of a Nurse Practitioner or Physician, the Medical Assistant assists with patient preparation, basic clinical procedures, rooming, documentation support, and other duties as directed. The role requires flexibility, strong organizational skills, and the ability to adapt quickly to different clinic environments while maintaining high standards of patient care and professionalism.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Administration:

• Responsible for preliminary preparation of health center to include exam room, medical supply and equipment inventory.
• Keep exam rooms clean according to clinic Infection Control Protocol.
• Sterilize instruments as needed.
• Screen patients for vital signs, chief complaints, allergies, lab requests, smoking status, Behavioral Health, medications, and family, social, and medical history as part of intake. 
• Prepare rooms and instruct patients regarding specifically indicated medical procedures.
• Perform EKG’s, administer injections, and assist with medical exams as needed.
• Documents injections in government websites eg. SD112 San Diego immunization Registry. 
• With Laboratory Technician’s permission and supervision, perform lab procedures, including venipuncture and blood withdrawal, HCT, urines, and cultures.
• Administer standing orders as they pertain to patient concerns.
• Checking documents and monitoring vaccine refrigerator and freezer temperatures twice a day (AM/PM) and reporting out of range temperatures to supervisor or vaccine coordinator. 
• Interpret for patient and physician as needed.
• Assist with follow-up for all patients, with supervision from R.N.
• Scan the necessary lab, x-ray, emergency room forms, or other important documents within the medical chart for the physician to be evaluated during the examination.
• Check paperwork in charts and encounter forms for completeness and accuracy.  Keep accurate records.
• Participate in in-service training as requested by Clinic Manager.
• Assist in all areas of clinic as directed by supervisor.  
• Assist in patient discharge from clinic and discharge instruction.  
• Work as a member of the medical team, and assist other members of the team as deemed appropriate by the Clinician or Clinic Manager.   
• Key data into computer to maintain office records, patient records, make appointments for follow-up and make referrals to specialist.
• Assist to provide patient encounter responsibility at front office as needed.
• Translate between the physician and the patient by explaining diets treatments or special instructions to be followed by the patient. Translations must be verbatim to what has been stated by the physician, unless instructed otherwise.
• Call no-show appointments and re-schedules the appointment and documents on CH.
• May rotate or be assigned to other areas in the clinic as needed at the discretion of the clinic manager.
• Utilize the Primary Care Medical Home model to provide coordinated Team Care that addresses current diseases and provides panel management for preventative and health maintenance follow-up for the maximum number of patients per day.
• Medical Assistants must be available to rotate Saturday shifts with their colleagues, as applicable. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have a high level of organizational skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with a variety of people.
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, Board members, vendors, medical providers, and members of the general public.
• Complete many different duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Must be able to work under stress when confronted with critical or unusual situations.
• Must be able to follow instructions explicitly.
• Demonstrate ability to exercise analytic ability. 
• Ability to demonstrate lab safety and aseptic techniques.  

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Annual Requirements, Licensure, and Certifications

• Medical Assistant Certification. 
• Current CPR Certification. 
• Have reliable transportation; clean driving record, and car insurance as required by the state.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Normal office and health center environment. 
• Move throughout the clinic and community. 
• Repetitive hand movement, use and view PC. Use fax, telephone, and copier.
• Sits or stand for long period of time, reach, bend, climb, stoop, and lift up to 25lb. 
• Read and write, verbal and written communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Prioritize, meet deadlines, and use sound judgment. 

OTHER DUTIES

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.