Job Title:                  Clinic Medical Assistant/Medical Lab Tech I (50% Wellness Clinic)
 
Department:            Haywood County Employee Wellness Clinic       
Pay Grade:               63                                                     
FLSA Status:            Non-Exempt 

AGENCY MISSION, YOUR MISSION
Haywood County Employee Wellness Clinic’s mission is to enhance the health, safety, and full potential of our patients. You help shape positive health outcomes for Haywood County employees, their dependents, and covered retirees. All members of our team must uphold the confidentiality of our patients, safeguarding their privacy and dignity at all times.
 
 
JOB SUMMARY
The Haywood County Wellness Center is operated by Haywood County for the benefit of its employees, eligible employee dependents and eligible retirees enrolled in the Haywood County Health Plan. All personal medical services are confidential and maintained following HIPAA guidelines. The Wellness Center functions as an urgent care. Covered members may be seen for such things as respiratory infections, minor strains/sprains and other minor medical conditions or surgical procedures such as laceration repair, burn treatment, and foreign body removal. In addition, covered members may receive certain vaccinations and allergy shots ordered by an allergist, and may have lab orders from outside physicians drawn in the clinic. The Wellness Clinic also does occupational health and some wellness activities for covered members.
 
The primary purpose of this position is to provide quality assured Medical Assistant and Lab Technician services. Medical Assistant duties will include but are not limited to providing medical assistance to physician, advanced practice provider, or nurse as needed. This position will interview clients and perform minor lab procedures for clinic clientele as directed and will serve as back up for specialized clinics. Additionally, this individual will be responsible for all duties related to admission and discharge of patients, assisting patients with pre-authorization, e.g., Worker’s Compensation and referral to private physicians, secretarial and receptionist duties that include greeting patients and visitors, answering telephones, taking messages, following up on messages, and scheduling follow-up exams or treatment as required, processing medical records, running reports out of Athena, for chart reviews, ensuring records are countersigned by advanced practice provider or physician. They will be required to become knowledgeable of the electronic medical record system and processing of data into and out of that system. This individual will keep work areas clean, organized and be responsible for ordering/maintaining all office and clinical supplies in line with the department budget. The Medical Assistant will be responsible for assisting the clinic’s medical provider with basic nursing duties such as obtaining brief histories and chief complaints from patients and updating patient’s medical history documentation. Under general supervision and according to established procedure they will help with medical procedures, administer medications, obtain vital signs, draw blood samples and perform in-house lab tests. They will maintain accurate documentation of these clinical patient interactions. 
 
The Medical Assistant must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in the clinic. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principals of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his or her specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the clinic’s policies and procedures. 
 
This position will also function as the Medical Laboratory Technician and will assist with clinical duties as assigned. Technical duties performed are standard serological, bacteriological, biochemical or related clinical analysis for medical purposes. The individual in this position maintains all necessary quality control, documentation and quality assessment necessary for the operation of the laboratory. This position will also assist with Wellness Activities as assigned.
 
 
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:      

• Administrative Duties:
  1. Using computer applications, data entry, general clerical duties
  2. Answering telephones, taking messages, handle correspondence, billing and bookkeeping
  3. Welcoming patients, scheduling appointments
  4. Updating and filing patient medical records, keeping patient information confidential.
• Clinical Duties
  1. Provide medical assistance to physician, advanced practice provider or nurse as needed and/or required
  2. Perform preliminary physical tests; take blood pressure, weight, and temperature; report patient history summary
  3. Explaining treatment procedures to clients, preparing patients for examinations
  4. Performing basic laboratory tests, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
  5. Preparing and administering medications, including my intramuscular, intradermal, or subcutaneous injections
  6. Accurately document patient examination, treatment, and test results in patient charts.
  7. Administer injections or medications/immunizations under the supervision of a provider.
  8. Transmitting prescription refills as directed
  9. Wound care and changing dressings
  10. Restock work areas
  11. Serve as back-up for assistance with specialized clinics
  12. Provide Wellness Checks and Vaccinations, perform drug and alcohol testing, pre-employment screenings, preventative Health Care Education, First Aid as needed/requested.
  13. Treatment and management of Work Related Injuries as appropriate
• Specimen Collection:
  1. Perform phlebotomy procedures for a variety of tests
  2. Preparation and processing of specimens to send to reference (public and private) laboratories
  3. Provide detailed instructions to patients in order to obtain a clean catch mid-stream urine sample
• Urinalysis:
  1. Perform dipstick (chemical) analyses on McKesson analyzer
  2. Perform urine pregnancy tests
  3. Perform urinary sediment microscopic analysis (upon completion of training and competency assessment)
• Microbiology:
  1. Rapid methods-strep throat screen
  2. COVID testing and Influenza testing
  3. Upon provision of equipment, completion of training, and competency assessment

                                         i.   Perform sterility checks and quality control on each media shipment and records on microbiology log in sheet
                                        ii.   Perform wet mounts of vaginal secretions for indications of infections, i.e. yeast, trichomonas, bacteria, and “clue cells”
                                       iii.   Direct smears; gram stains for detection of Neisseria gonorrhea and non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) or other bacteria and yeast. Carry out goals and objections for laboratory services
                                      iv.   Procedures used for further identification and confirmation, i.e. oxidase

• Chemistry:
  1. May perform glucose screens, glucose tolerance on Hemocue Glucose semi-automated analyzer.
• Provide quality assured laboratory services
• Assure patient confidentiality at all times
• Answer general questions about laboratory procedures, patient preparation, policies and protocols
• Follow standard precautions at all times when collecting specimens, testing and/or processing specimens
• Decontaminate work surfaces and/or equipment as specified BBP policy manual
• Dispose of hazardous waste properly
• Maintain clean and orderly work areas
• Stock and rotate stock as needed in laboratory and phlebotomy areas
• Check supplies in and mark off on inventory ordering form upon arrival and store appropriately
• Perform preventative maintenance on all equipment as needed
• Process all specimens for reference laboratories in accordance with laboratory protocols and reference manuals
• Perform quality control and quality assessment procedures as required
• Perform all laboratory procedures in accordance with lab protocols
• Check laboratory procedures in accordance with lab protocols
• Check laboratory requisitions/orders for complete and accurate information
• Enter data into EHR and LDS
• Perform and review Proficiency Testing
• Record work time units daily
• Recording of temperatures according to protocols in laboratory policy and procedures manual
• Start up and shut down of analyzers according to laboratory procedures
• Attend workshops, updates, and/or education sessions that supervisor deems pertinent and when funds are available.
• Employees are required to maintain compliance with all State and Federal laws and program requirements including but not limited to confidentiality laws (HIPAA, Juvenile Code, PII, etc.). Employees are expected to adhere to Agency, Countywide and Departmental policies and procedures regarding information security and confidentiality, and to report any suspected unauthorized disclosure or loss of information immediately. Employees must ensure security of all County data, equipment, and information in both electronic and paper form that is accessed as part of job duties to minimize risk of improper disclosure or data breach. 
• May be assigned duties outside of normal job duties and normal working hours during an Emergency impacting the County or County functions.
• Performs other assigned duties.

 
 
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• At least 1 year of training and/or experience with computers, office equipment, data entry, scheduling, message taking for multiple people and the ability to multitask
• At least 1 year of experience or ability to work in customer service with the public, health care workers, and employees is required.
• Demonstrated skill in phlebotomy.
• Graduation of Medical Assistant program.
• Completion of a certified laboratory assistant course in medical technology or comparable course.
• Medical Assistant certification (preferred).
• Or an equivalent combination of training and experience. 
• CPR Certification/Recertification every two years.
• Must participate in Respiratory Protection Plan and be Fit Tested Annually.
• Must be at least twenty-one years of age to drive a County vehicle. 
• Valid state driver’s license. Must have no more than three (3) points showing on current DMV records in order to operate County vehicles.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• General knowledge of applicable laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
• General knowledge of the test procedures performed in the laboratory.
• Skill in the use of laboratory equipment in the performance of procedures.
• Ability to make accurate observations and written reports of test results.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Knowledge of county ordinances, policies, and procedures; Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
• Skill in the use of computers and applicable software programs.
• Ability to concentrate and demonstrate attention to detail when collecting blood samples, other in-house lab studies, and when assisting with patient care.
• Skills necessary to greet and provide assistance with the medical care of patients.
• Ability to obtain medical histories, take vital signs, draw blood, collect lab specimens, and perform in-house tests (such as strep, influenza screen, dip urine).
• Be able to give injections and immunizations.
• Assist with suturing, wound dressings, splinting, foreign body removal, incision and drainage and toenail removal.
• Ability to work independently and possess high levels of interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to participate effectively in a team concept.
• Must be able to travel to off-site facilities at times to process test collections.
• Ability to learn basic lab techniques such as urinalysis, hemoglobin, hematocrit

 
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, depth and texture perception, and color perception. Stamina to be on feet during working day. Must possess ability to ambulate without assistance as getting in and out of car and walk in rough terrain at times will be necessary. Position may involve a moderate to heavy amount of lifting and carrying items from location to location. Considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving repetitive motions and the use of standard office equipment.
 
Work Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – Clinic hours are from 8:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m.
Thursday- Clinic hours are from 2:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.
Work Schedule will depend on clinic hours and may differ from regular business hours. Clinic hours are set but may vary. Other hours may be set or required per the County policy. During an Emergency, additional hours may be required, depending on conditions of the Emergency.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The Wellness Clinic is an adequate, comfortable building with pleasant office space and examination rooms. This is a medical practice and the potential for exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B, other sexually transmitted diseases and/or communicable disease is a reality when coming in contact with body fluids, secretions, and other contaminants of clients. Universal medical safety precautions are observed.
 
Routine instruments to measure vital signs of clients – i.e. stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, thermometer and those needed for more specific examination, i.e. otoscope, ophthalmoscope, and other instruments are regularly required for use in this position.


To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

Haywood County has the right to revise this position description at any time and does not represent in any way a contract of employment.

Haywood County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.