"Medical Assistant / Patient Care Coordinator (La Quinta, CA)"

Position Information

The Medical Assistant / Patient Care Coordinator performs medical, technical, and administrative support services to contribute to the efficient day-to-day operations providing a positive patient experience. Clinical duties may include escorting patients to exam rooms, taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, assist in procedures, and other duties as directed by physician. Provides administrative support to the providers and interacts with patients by scheduling patient appointments in tandem with the provider availability, interacts with patients in person and on the phone, answers clinic phone, greets patient at check-in, collects patient information, updates/maintains electronic records, insurance verification, handles visit payments, ensures the clinic has needed inventory for operation, and performs clerical tasks. Secure authorizations for incoming and outgoing referrals. This position will be primarily assigned to a work location; but may also float as needed to various UCR Health clinic locations. This position may be required to work different shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

The full salary range for the Medical Assistant / Patient Care Coordinator is $24.18 - $30.08 per hour. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs.

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Requirements

Educational Requirements

• Medical Assistant Diploma. Required
• In lieu of a MA diploma may have a Certificate of Competency with written evidence to validate training and competency as a medical assistant (i.e., certification of completion of a medical assistant training program, or a letter from supervising physician). Required

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of two years (2) years of experience working in an environment performing tasks related to front and back office duties related to this position. At least one (1) of these years should be in a medical clinic office or hospital setting where insurance verification and patient financial responsibilities are performed. Required
• Experience using standard exam room medical equipment and computers. Required
• Work experience in a pediatric, women's health, and/or primary care clinic setting. Preferred

Certification Requirements

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Required
• Current Medical Assistant Certification. Preferred

Special Conditions

• Flexibility to work at various clinic sites in the inland empire and different work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Travel will be required between clinical sites, administrative offices, campus, and other settings. Required
• To administer injections or provide venipuncture, must have written evidence of validation for training and competence in medication administration by injecting and skin testing. Required
• Shift Work (hours outside standard Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM work hours) Required
• Overtime Required

Minimum Requirements

• Strong oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate with patients of varying ages and multicultural backgrounds.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
• Familiarity with universal precautions, handling of bio-hazardous waste, specimen identification and transport.
• Ability to work well in a constantly changing environment.
• Must possess the skill, knowledge, and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Understanding of medical terminology.
• Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual-English/Spanish.

Key Responsibilities

• Rooming patients: Determining the chief complaint and documenting it in the patient's electronic medical record with close attention to accurate use of medical terms. Interviews patient to record medical history/information, measure vital signs, weight, and height, and records information in the electronic medical record. Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations and procedures, keeping the rooms neat and clean and stocked with necessary supplies. Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height. Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician. Assisting with treatments and exams, including but not limited to minor dressing changes; suture removal; staple removal and injections. Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients. 20%
• Patient referrals / orders: coordinates internal/external referrals and orders between providers and ancillary services (lab, imaging, testing). Generates authorization for approval from the payor. Researches what facility the patient should go to based on the payor and if any pre-authorization is required. Prints and communicates to patient the needed information to fulfill the referral/order. 20%
• Front Office Support (Phones-Appointment and Insurance Verification): Answers the clinic main phone line and assist callers, screen patient calls, handle complaints, retrieve and process voice messages. Ensures the answering service is used appropriately, activated when office is closed and inactivated when present. Schedules appointment for patients, based on provider availability. Reschedules patient appointments at the request of the patient and/or provider. Optimizes patients' satisfaction, provider time, and treatment room utilization by scheduling appointments in person or by telephone. Keeps patient appointments on schedule by notifying provider of patient's arrival; reviewing service delivery compared to schedule; reminding provider of service delays; and keeps in regular communication with patients to inform them of delays. Escorts patients to the room where they will meet the provider. Verifies insurance coverage and obtains insurance authorization for appointment and care plan. Reviews and maintains patient accounts, secures financial arrangements on self-pay balances prior to and during patient appointments, verifies and pre-registers patients and responds to patient inquiries regarding billing and insurance. Contacts patients with self-pay or outstanding balances to ensure appropriate financial arrangements. 15%
• Front Office (Patient Welcome): Provides a warm welcome with appropriate etiquette to patients and visitors by greeting in person or on the telephone and answering or referring inquiries. Educates on the clinic services and the provider's background. Responds to patients', prospective patients, and visitor inquiries in a courteous manner. Comforts patients by anticipating patients' anxieties; answering patients' questions; maintaining the reception area. Collects co-pays for visits and reconciles deposits. 10%
• Inventory Control and Office Maintenance: Monitor Medical Supplies inventory; consult with supervisor regarding items needed. Maintain the supply room in an orderly fashion, so that supplies are easily located, and storage space is maximized. Monitors office equipment. Maintains business office inventory and equipment by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies; scheduling equipment service and repairs. Cleaning and Sterilization: Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies. Clean exam rooms, workstations, and equipment as necessary. 10%
• Medication Administration and Prescriptions: Process prior authorization for medication request form and keep detailed, organized record of approvals and/or denials. Prepare and administer medications under the supervision of physician or RN. In tandem with physician, authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies. 5%
• Laboratory Collection and Processing: Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses. Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing. Retrieves lab and test results as needed and uploads to the medical record. Ensures process is followed for physician review. 5%
• Policies and Procedures: Protects patients' rights by maintaining confidentiality of personal and financial information. Maintains operations by following policies and procedures; reporting needed changes. Protects patient confidentiality by making sure protected health information (PHI) is secured by not leaving PHI in plain sight and logging off the computer before leaving it unattended. 5%
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Maintains patient accounts by obtaining, recording, and updating personal, financial, and compliance information into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Assists providers and patients with access and navigation to the patient portal. Communication: Monitor and respond to messages in the EMR in-baskets. 5%
• Other duties as assigned. 5%

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6710956