Medical Clinic Assistant 1 or 2

Department: Health & Human Services

Union Affiliation: AFSCME

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Total Hours Per Week: 40

Tillamook County follows Oregon Pay Equity laws in reviewing education, experience and seniority for wage offers.

The Tillamook County Health and Human Services Department (HHS) includes the Community Health Center Primary Care Clinics, Dental, Behavioral Health, integrated Public Health, and Environmental Health. This is a dynamic department with a fast-paced environment serving diverse populations. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 1 supports medical, behavioral health, and specialty providers in facilitating direct patient care and communications and prepares patients for examinations, performs routine lab procedures and tests, and gathers and records information into patient charts in the Electronic Health Record. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 1 supports patient flow by ensuring timely rooming, accurate documentation, and preparing patients for in-person and virtual visits. The position involves independent decision-making within established guidelines and plays a key role in coordinating patient care between providers and external healthcare organizations. The role requires clinical knowledge and proficiency in coordinating patient care, including handling prior authorizations and referrals. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 1 is also responsible for the upkeep and functionality of examination rooms and medical equipment, including inventory tracking. This classification provides nursing care in the clinic setting when procedures do not require licensure by the state.

The Tillamook County Health and Human Services Department (HHS) includes the Community Health Center Primary Care Clinics, Dental, Behavioral Health, integrated Public Health, and Environmental Health. This is a dynamic department with a fast-paced environment serving diverse populations. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 2 supports medical, behavioral health, and specialty providers in facilitating direct patient care and communications and prepares patients for examinations, performs routine lab procedures and tests, and gathers and records information into patient charts in the Electronic Health Record. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 2 supports patient flow by ensuring timely rooming, accurate documentation, and preparing patients for in-person and virtual visits The position involves independent decision-making within established guidelines and plays a key role in coordinating patient care between providers and external healthcare organizations. The role requires advanced clinical knowledge and proficiency in coordinating complex patient care, including handling prior authorizations and referrals. 

The Medical Clinic Assistant 2 is also responsible for the upkeep and functionality of examination rooms and medical equipment, including inventory tracking. This classification provides nursing care in the clinic setting when procedures do not require licensure by the state. This level requires previous experience as a Medical Clinic Assistant in a clinical setting and demonstrated competency in clinical procedures, including administering injections, performing lab tests, and assisting in patient care.Required Qualifications (Minimum qualifications for this role)
Education

• Other: Graduation/completion from an accredited Clinical Medical Assistant or Registered Medical Assistant program.

Experience

• One (1) year experience or Medical Assistant certification.
• If Certified Medical Assistant, must demonstrate completion of an accredited educational program), no experience required.
• If not Certified Medical Assistant, one (1) year of experience required as a Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, or healthcare work experience.

Certifications or Licenses (if applicable)

• Certified Medical Clinic Assistant certification preferred.
• If driving is required, must possess a valid Oregon driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record.

Other Qualifications (if applicable)

• Must pass a pre-employment criminal history background investigation.  

Required Qualifications (Minimum qualifications for this role)
Education

• Other: Graduation/completion from an accredited Clinical Medical Assistant or Registered Medical Assistant program.

Experience

• Two (2) years of clinic experience as a Medical Assistant. 

Certifications or Licenses (if applicable)

• Certified Medical Clinic Assistant certification preferred.
• If driving is required, must possess a valid Oregon driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record.

Other Qualifications (if applicable)

• Must pass a pre-employment criminal history background investigation.  

Duties assigned to this classification include, but are not limited to, the following examples.

• Prepare, review and update patients’ Electronic Health Records.  
• Take vital signs. 
• Give injections as directed.  
• Perform routine laboratory tests such as urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, PKUs, rapid step test, stool occult blood, and urine cultures.
• Perform phlebotomy and point-of-care testing (POCT) such as A1c, lipid panels, flu, COVID, RSV, hemoglobin, and blood sugar tests.  
• Prepare other lab tests for shipping.   
• Conduct ear lavage procedures as needed.
• Assist providers with in-clinic procedures such as Pap smears and dermatology treatments.
• Ensure all injections and medications are correctly dosed according to patient age and provider orders.
• Perform screening tests such as EKG, Peak Flow Meter, spirometry, nebulizer, pulse oximeter, and tympanogram.   
• Record test results in patient's Electronic Health Records.   
• Maintain and prepare clinic supplies.   
• Sterilize equipment and clinical areas.   
• Clean and maintain lab equipment and supplies.  
• Prepare exam room for next use.   
• Provide educational information to patients as directed.  
• Review, maintain, and order resources and educational materials.   
• Support patients with literacy challenges, hearing impairments, and other disabilities in completing their medical history, screenings, or other parts of the medical record. Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments.
• Assist with telehealth setup for virtual visits.
• Complete with insurance authorizations and prior authorizations for imaging, procedures, and medications.
• Communicate with insurance companies, pharmacies, and specialists for patient care coordination.
• Call patients with lab and imaging results and provide follow-up instructions.
• Assist patients in completing health history forms and screenings; enter data into the EHR.
• Answer patient phone calls and resolve medication issues with pharmacies.
• Maintain accurate documentation in EHR for all patient interactions.
• Provide administrative support related to medical authorizations, referrals, and processing patient paperwork.
• Monitor and respond to patient voicemails, prioritizing urgent messages.
• Review and process daily medication refill requests, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
• Monitor critical lab or imaging results and ensure timely patient notification and provider follow-up.
• Carry out patient care independently when within scope and escalate concerns as needed.
• May assist in the onboarding and orientation for newly hired Medical Clinic Assistants (includes new hire shadowing and observation).

Duties assigned to this classification include, but are not limited to, the following examples.

• Prepare, review and update patients’ Electronic Health Records.  
• Take vital signs. 
• Give injections as directed.  
• Perform routine laboratory tests such as urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, PKUs, rapid step test, stool occult blood, and urine cultures.
• Perform phlebotomy and point-of-care testing (POCT) such as A1c, lipid panels, flu, COVID, RSV, hemoglobin, and blood sugar tests.  
• Prepare other lab tests for shipping.   
• Conduct ear lavage procedures as needed.
• Assist providers with in-clinic procedures such as Pap smears and dermatology treatments.
• Ensure all injections and medications are correctly dosed according to patient age and provider orders.
• Perform screening tests such as EKG, Peak Flow Meter, spirometry, nebulizer, pulse oximeter, and tympanogram.   
• Record test results in patient's Electronic Health Records.   
• Maintain and prepare clinic supplies.   
• Sterilize equipment and clinical areas.   
• Clean and maintain lab equipment and supplies.  
• Prepare exam room for next use.   
• Provide educational information to patients as directed.  
• Review, maintain, and order resources and educational materials.   
• Support patients with literacy challenges, hearing impairments, and other disabilities in completing their medical history, screenings, or other parts of the medical record.    
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments.
• Assist with telehealth setup for virtual visits.
• Complete with insurance authorizations and prior authorizations for imaging, procedures, and medications.
• Communicate with insurance companies, pharmacies, and specialists for patient care coordination.
• Call patients with lab and imaging results and provide follow-up instructions.
• Assist patients in completing health history forms and screenings; enter data into the EHR.
• Answer patient phone calls and resolve medication issues with pharmacies.
• Maintain accurate documentation in EHR for all patient interactions.
• Provide administrative support related to medical authorizations, referrals, and processing patient paperwork.
• Monitor and respond to patient voicemails, prioritizing urgent messages.
• Review and process daily medication refill requests, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
• Monitor critical lab or imaging results and ensure timely patient notification and provider follow-up.
• Carry out patient care independently when within scope and escalate concerns as needed.
• May assist in the onboarding and orientation for newly hired Medical Clinic Assistants (includes new hire shadowing and observation).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Not a supervisory role but provides informal training/orientation to volunteers, or newly assigned personnel.

Supervisory Controls

• Works under close supervision, performing routine tasks independently based on past experience. Deviations from established practices are referred to the supervisor for guidance.

Working Conditions

Mental effort 

• High degree of concentration with above normal periods of attention, above normal deadlines, or a high degree of creative thinking.

Physical effort 

• Moderate: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; or recurring lifting of moderately heavy items, such as tables, equipment, and medium-sized parts. The work may require specific but common, physical characteristics and abilities, such as above-average agility and dexterity.

Selection Process 

• After the close of this recruitment, if you are selected as a candidate for an interview, you will hear from us by email, to arrange a date and time. We want to ensure that we hire the best possible staff for our county team because we believe that the right people are our most valuable asset!