Medical Assistant III - Santa Monica, CA

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is seeking an experienced and caring Medical Assistant with excellent clinical and customer service skills to work full-time at our Santa Monica Health Center.  An intermediate level position responsible for all supporting functions in the delivery of reproductive health care services.  Performs all Medical Assistant front and back office functions.  Assist patients by providing testing, screening, and education required for the provision of medical reproductive health care and to provide non-judgmental, empathetic education and communication on options for patients, as required.  Over one hundred years ago, Planned Parenthood was founded on the idea that everyone should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams. Founded 57+ years ago, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is one of the largest providers of reproductive health care services in Los Angeles County. The Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA) team works together to provide high-quality, affordable reproductive health care to women, men, and young people across Los Angeles County. At PPLA, you will discover a culture of like-minded individuals who are eager to make positive contributions to their community and to the Planned Parenthood mission.

Our Ideal Candidate will have the following qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Medical Assistant Diploma from an accredited institution required
• Medical Assistant Certification preferred
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification required
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in a clinical setting required
• Availability to work flexible hours including Saturdays
• Venipuncture and Injection training (to be completed within 30-days of hire)
• Reproductive health care experience desirable
• Knowledge of surgical services preferred
• Keep current on relevant anatomy and physiology, methods of contraception, STIs, pregnancy, adoption, early prenatal care, education techniques, community resources, agency protocols, referral procedures, all Planned Parenthood programs initiatives and communications

General Back Office Duties:

• Abortion patients are cared for at each of our health centers and in part through the administrative, support, and other non-clinical services provided at all PPLA locations and by all PPLA employees, and supporting these critical services is an essential job duty and fundamental responsibility of all employees and contractors.
• Obtain medical history, interview and educate clients ensuring informed consent
• Assist with the Patient Portal Enrollment process
• Obtain vital signs (blood pressure, height, weight, etc.)
• Accompany clients during procedures, as necessary
• Assist nurses and clinicians
• Pregnancy testing and options counseling
• Provide abortion education per agency protocols, make appointments and complete pre-screening form
• Complete daily quality control log
• Clean and stock exam and interview rooms
• Comply with infection control, safety, and emergency guidelines
• Sharp handling
• Ability to clean Autoclave and monitor Attest system
• Dipstick urinalysis
• Phlebotomy/Injection

Surgical Duties:

• Vitals and Screen for potential problems: ascertain NPO status, identify and record allergies, identify and record drug or medication history, educate on analgesia options, note funding source, educate on contraception choices
• Clean and prepare room for examination, assist the patient in preparation for examination
• Prepare lab slips
• Assist in the transportation of patient, Provide support for patient
• Turn on equipment: EKG, pulse oximeter
• EKG lead placement
• Operate electric table: Know table positions
• Assist with Ultra Sound machine (as directed by MD)

General Front Office Duties:

• Greet and assist all patients and visitors, whether in-person or by telephone
• Schedule, reschedule, cancel, or confirm patient appointments in a timely manner to maximize scheduling for patient volume
• Register patients and compile complete and accurate information
• Accept and process cash payments according to established guidelines
• Verify insurance coverage, determine patient eligibility
• Prepare and assemble charts, copy, transfer, and scan as needed
• Reconcile billing at the end of patient visit
• Maintain effective patient flow to assist in prompt treatment of patients
• Utilizes various computer programs to verify eligibility, schedule and register patients, enter charges, obtain benefit information, and generate letters for authorizations
• Appropriately refers patients to correct agencies or offices for service(s)
• Respond to Billing Department and Call Center inquiries and responds effectively to questions and concerns expressed by patients and other staff
• Communicate/coordinate with health center staff to resolve issues relating to scheduling of patients
• Ensure the accuracy and presence of appropriate documentation for effective patient care
• Ensure appointments conform to established authorizations
• Resolve problems (registration, eligibility, billing or financial) in a timely manner
• Follow inventory control policies and assist in monthly inventory, as needed

Front Office Management Duties:

• In the absence of the Health Center Supervisor, ensure compliance with Risk Management, including occurrence and incident reporting, and illness & injury policies and procedures
• Model excellent customer service and effectively manage patient complaints
• Ensure that inventory control policies and procedures are followed
• Ordering and inventory maintenance (forms, medical equipment)
• Generate monthly reports
• On-call duties
• Assist in verifying daily clinic sign-in log and employee time sheets
• Review charts for completeness, errors, signatures and appropriate assembly
• Train new staff and volunteers by demonstration of techniques and procedures and observation
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Health Center Supervisor/Center Manager

Compensation Philosophy and Position Hiring Range:At Planned Parenthood Los Angeles we continuously work towards our value of "we respect and honor all people", which also relates to our compensation philosophy. PPLA recognizes that decisions about pay, and benefits have significant impact on staff, so we are committed to ensuring all positions are rooted in a description that identifies competencies, duties, responsibilities, and qualifications, and that they are compensated equitably which considers both internal organizational equity and market compensation data for similar roles.
Equal Employment Opportunity will be afforded to all applicants and other covered persons without regard to protected characteristics, including their perceived protected characteristic. Protected categories include: race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hair styles such as, braids, locs, and twists as examples but not exhaustive list), color, religion or religious creed (including religious belief, observation, practice, dress, and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/chestfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision-making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (including past, current or prospective service in the uniformed service), and any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.  PPLA will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the requirements of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.