RURAL CLINICAL ASSISTANT -INTERMITTENT

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.

The Rural Clinical Assistant I-Remote has a wide spectrum of patient care and administrative responsibilities.  The position provides care to infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults and elderly in a rural ambulatory care clinic. The position consistently and accurately registers patients with all demographic and insurance information, coordinates all appointments, answers phones, enters data, participates in training, monitors and orders supplies, fulfills expectations as a pharmacy technician and ETT, and performs CLIA-waived lab testing.  The Pelican Clinical Assistant must demonstrate exceptional customer service, good judgment and be self-starting, working under the supervision of a provider.

• Patient Access: Establish and maintain complete, accurate computerized registration for all patients receiving medical services in the Pelican Clinic; schedule appointments; verify all resources including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA; placing notes in the EHR once appointments are complete; assist and schedule patient referrals and travel; assist to schedule and prepare telemedicine services; prepare for patient visit; 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; demonstrates ability to smoothly manage patient care duties while maintaining clinic flow; report and record any changes observed in condition or behavior of patients; report unusual incidents or breeches in safety timely; and 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; prepares patient for and assist with procedures, treatments, and minor office surgeries; provides specimen collection; throat swabs for culture; CLIA-waived laboratory testing; follows protocol for collecting, labeling and transporting of specimens; apply heat/cold packs, abdominal binders, anti-embolism stockings, obtain 12 lead EKG’s, peak flow; apply oxygen, assist patients with ambulation or transfer; take age appropriate vital signs; performs minor treatments such as simple dressing changes; and performs basic health coaching and patient education as directed by the provider and according to evidence-based guidelines using patient education materials. All duties are performed following provider direction and per competency assessment.  Document patient encounters in the electronic medical records accurately.     
• Maintain clinic space including lab and exam rooms: Sanitizes exam rooms between patients; ensures exam room supplies are organized and stocked; maintains equipment and organizes supplies; maintains clean clinic environment; inventory, re-order, and stock medical supplies; dispose of solid/liquid waste and infectious materials according to infection control standards.
• Pharmacy Technician: Retrieves medications from the pharmacy shelf and labels containers under the supervision of the pharmacist; communicates with patients; answers telephone and takes requests for prescription refills from patients; orders and replaces stock in the pharmacy; check for outdated medications, clarifies and answers patient questions when appropriate, refers other requests to a pharmacist; processes confidential information; return prescriptions to stock when they are not picked up by patients within two weeks; process prescriptions through software to reverse billing; may hand out prepared prescriptions under the supervision of the pharmacist. Records information in the EHR.
• Other duties as assigned. Conduct daily/weekly/monthly QA checks, notify provider of any repairs or safety concerns that need attention.  Promote SEARHC 7 Standards of Excellence. 

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience

• 6 months primary care experience preferred

License and Certification

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification at hire or obtained within 12 months of hire
• Successful completion of in-house laboratory and pharmacy training programs within 12 months of hire
• Alaska Pharmacy Technician license at hire or obtained within 12 months of hire (not required for intermittent position)
• Obtain ETT Certification within 12 months of hire (not required for intermittent position)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge:

• Knowledge and sensitivity to the community being served
• Knowledge of clinic procedures for receiving and following through on a patient visit and any related clinic treatments/procedures
• Knowledge of age appropriate vital signs and behaviors
• Knowledge of HIPAA and SEARHC policies

Skills:

• Strong organizational skills
• Communication and use of customer service skills
• Computer application skills sufficient to utilize medical database in a competent manner

Ability to:

• Operate medical equipment including blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, EKG machine, 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