Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

About us

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision: a community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together. As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 414,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 95,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance. Since 1969, our employees have been making this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond.

Role Overview and Purpose

The Medical Assistant- Behavioral Health will schedule and coordinate patient and follow-up care for patients in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telepsychiatry, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) programs. This role will support various providers, advanced providers, and registered nurses to provide excellent patient-centered care and services within a dynamic team environment. This role will obtain required authorization and eligibility information for patients referring to behavioral health programs. This position is required to provide cross-coverage in other departments at the assigned site and perform Medical Assistant duties as needed to support clinic operations and patient care demands.

Responsibilities

• Schedules and communicates appointment information to patients and/or families
• Follows up with patients and providers to ensure appointments were kept
• Obtains and documents the consultation and progress reports from providers, radiologists, and other medical professionals in patient medical records
• Completes SDoH assessments, referrals, and linkages and track information/outcomes in patient medical records
• Follows Telepsychiatry for primary care site policy/procedures and coordinate on-site patient care with telepsychiatry providers at other sites
• Documents all actions taken in patient medical records in accordance with current clinic, DHS, and health plan regulations/guidelines
• Communicates with patients in person, by telephone, and/or by mail
• Acts as liaison between patients, clinic/providers, specialty care providers, health plans/funding sources, and community resources
• Attends staff and other required meetings and training courses
• Verifies insurance eligibilities, submits treatment authorizations, and provides coverage for front office staff, as needed
• Participates in quality improvement activities
• Documents all care coordination, services, and/or patient education in medical records
• Initiates and processes incident reports according to documentation guidelines
• Prioritizes activities according to intensity, need, and required follow-up
• Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor and site staff, as needed
• Responds promptly and with caring actions to patients and employees
• Maintains professional working relationships with all levels of staff, clients, and the public
• Cooperate in accomplishing department goals and objectives

Education/Experience

• A high school diploma or GED is required
• A valid Medical Assistant certificate from an accredited program is required
• A current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines, but may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards.

Additional Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology
• Proficiency with electronic health records system experience is preferred
• Intermediate computer and data entry skills
• Must use sound judgment to anticipate needs of patients and providers
• Flexibility with changing priorities and time sensitive deadlines
• Use emotional and cultural intelligence to provide appropriate communication and patient care
• Exemplify compassion to patients and team members
• Bilingual English/Spanish, English/Farsi, or English/Arabic preferred
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/carry 15 lbs/weight
• Ability to stand for long periods of time

Pay Range

$24.95 - $34.93 per hour, depending on experience