Health Care Assistant I

General Summary
The Health Care Assistant (HCA) is responsible to the Health Center Manager for the operation of the reproductive health clinic program. The HCA works as a member of a team. The employee operates from established and well-known procedures, and receives moderate supervision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Health Care Assistants are trained to perform a variety of duties, which are listed below. The essential duties performed as a part of day-to-day activity depend greatly on specific location and clinic demand. However, HCAs are expected to actively participate in the training of all skills, seek opportunities to keep skills current, and participate in follow up training as necessary in order to perform any of these functions as called upon to do so:

Clinic Operation
• Provide high quality customer service at all times.
• Facilitate patient flow and clinic services to achieve an efficiently functioning clinic.
• Work directly with clients to provide information and referral, schedule appointments, and perform receptionist duties.
• Deliver all information in a non-judgmental objective manner in order to promote the individual's right to obtain reproductive services at his/her discretion.
• Keep up to date with the literature on family planning.
• Work with the Clinic Manager in carrying out the activities of the clinic program.
• Answer phone calls as necessary to ensure quality customer service.
• Handle problem situations as they arise.
• Manage patient records in accordance with established guidelines.
• Transfer medical records.
• Maintain patient medical records in good order, utilizing standard language and approved abbreviations and following accepted medical standards for charting.
• Record client statistical and financial information, and assess and collect fees.
• Assure that the clinic is properly opened and closed.
• Perform routine clinic maintenance.
• Assist the clinic manager with new employee training.
• Attend staff meetings and special meetings as indicated.
• Accept individual and joint responsibility for clinic efforts to comply with all organizational quality assurance guidelines and pertinent government regulations including OSHA, CLIA and HIPAA.
• Work cooperatively with staff, medical director, and administration.
• Work within the policies and procedures of Planned Parenthood as approved by the Medical Director

Patient Visits
• Participate in all forms of family planning to meet the needs of the patient(s) and comply with established protocols. Services include but are not limited to HOPE visits, pregnancy screening, STI screening and treatment, abortion care and vasectomy counsels.
• Obtain and record accurate vital signs during each patient visit.
• Interview patients to obtain medical history, identify specific visit need and/or medical problems and answer patient questions.
• Brief licensed provider as needed about patient's problems.
• Dispense medications or contraceptives only when the prescription has been reviewed and approved by a licensed provider.
• Deliver pregnancy test results and pregnancy options information.
• Arrange referrals as necessary.
• Carry out patient follow-up by scheduling return appointments for problems or abnormal lab results, calling back patients when necessary, and answering patient questions.
• Laboratory Skills
• Perform basic laboratory functions (CLIA - moderate complexity)
• Maintain the lab area and lab equipment.
• Perform and document quality control measures for all lab procedures and equipment.
• File laboratory reports.
• Obtain and prepare lab samples in accordance with established protocol using appropriate technique, which includes but is not limited to phlebotomy, finger sticks, urine and feces collection.
• Administer tests required to deliver all patient services provided, which includes but is to limited to UCG, HIV, UA Dip, and HCG.
• Give identified contraceptive injections at the direction of the Medical Director, and under the supervision of the registered nurse or clinician.
• Additional duties as assigned:
• HCA's are given secondary assignments related clinic operations and specialized patient care. When assigned, these duties are to be completed accurately and in a timely manner. Essential duties and functions remain primary and secondary assignments should not interrupt clinic follow and quality customer service. Such ancillary duties include but are not limited to pap/USTI follow up, supply management, pharmacy line, and reminder calls.

Productivity: Participate in health center efforts to achieve established goals for productivity.

Revenue Cycle: Participate in health center/affiliate efforts to achieve established revenue cycle goals.

Customer Service:
• Adhere to affiliate goals and policies on professionalism, wait time in-clinic and on the phone, and the system for addressing client complaints.
• Provide high quality customer service at all times.
• Work directly with clients to provide information and referral, schedule appointments, and perform receptionist duties.
• Answer phone calls as necessary to ensure quality customer service.
• Responsibilities to the organization:
• Work cooperatively and constructively with co-workers, supervisors, volunteers and other representatives within the organization as well as external customers.
• Exhibit flexibility and adapt well to change.
• Demonstrate accountability and initiative with work assignments and work relationships.
• Operate within the policies and procedures of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon.
• Directs behavior to emphasize the achievement of organization goals and core values.
• Support the mission and philosophy of Planned Parenthood.
• Deliver services in a manner that provides objectivity and supports the entirety of services provided by Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon.

Supervisory Responsibilities
The job is not supervisory in nature.

Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, and physical demands that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience
Position requires a high school diploma, with college experience/degree preferable. One to two years of office or medical experience is highly desirable. Previous customer service experienced required. Bilingual ability is also desirable.

Specific Job Requirements
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Effective verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills to be a measurable contributor in a team environment.
• Exhibit high levels of discretion and flexibility depending on staff and client needs.
• Frequently perform basic math, make decisions, and analyze problems.
• Also requires use of negotiation skills, independent judgment, and ability to work effectively under pressure due to competing job demands.
• Proficient use of computer technology including windows based programs and practice management software.

Availability
During peak activity periods work in excess of 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week. Job will involve evening hours and possibly weekend hours, early morning meetings, frequent interruptions, and possible contact with hazardous materials.

Physical Requirements
This position may have periodic contact with hazardous materials.

Regularly (67%-100%)
• Seeing: Must be able to read reports and use computer.
• Hearing: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with people and use telephone system with headset.
• Speaking: Must be able to verbally communicate information in person and via telephone system.
• Fingering/ Grasping/Feeling: Must be able to write, 10-key, type, manipulate a mouse and use telephone system.
• Standing/Walking

Frequently (34-66%)
Pulling/Pushing/Reaching

Occasionally (12-33%)
• Climbing/Stooping/ Kneeling/ Bending
• Lifting weight up to 25 lbs