Medical Assistant-HIV/STD Counselor (West Hollywood)

About This Job

APLA Health delivers comprehensive healthcare, essential services, fellowship, empathy, and a welcoming atmosphere to every individual entering our facilities. Our devoted team of medical practitioners is dedicated to offering personalized, compassionate, and free or low-cost health services, designed to address the distinct requirements of each patient. Functioning as a primary medical home, APLA Health delivers a wide range of integrated care through over 71,000 billable patient visits and nearly 10,000 enabling services visits annually. Available services encompass: medical, dental, behavioral health, and HIV care; pharmacy; PrEP counseling and management; health education and HIV prevention; along with STD screening and treatment. For individuals living with HIV, we additionally provide housing support, benefits counseling, home healthcare, and the Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries, among other vital support services.

We provide excellent benefits, competitive compensation, and a positive work atmosphere.

We provide:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance (at no cost to the employee)
• Vision Insurance (at no cost to the employee)
• Long Term Disability
• Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 4 Personal Days
• 10 Vacation Days
• 12 Sick Days
• Metro transit reimbursement or complimentary parking
• Employer-Matched 403b Retirement Plan (6%)

This is a meaningful opportunity to create a positive impact.

The compensation for this role ranges from $25.60 to $28.82 per hour. The final salary will be determined based on relevant experience.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Medical Assistant – HIV/STD Counselor will deliver patient care services under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider, including culturally sensitive HIV/STD services for APLA Health & Wellness patients. In coordination with prevention program staff, this role will focus on identifying HIV-positive individuals within our prevention programs who are not yet connected to HIV medical care. This includes newly diagnosed persons, those aware of their status but never engaged in care, and others who have discontinued care, and facilitating their access to medical services. The HIV/STD Counselor/Medical Assistant will perform both administrative front office and clinical back office duties within the medical clinic. These responsibilities include submitting and monitoring referrals, recording vital signs, preparing examination rooms, administering medications as directed, performing phlebotomy, and completing other technical clinical tasks.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties outlined below are representative of the work that may be performed. The absence of specific task descriptions does not preclude similar, related, or logically assigned work from being included in this position.

• Greet and register patients as necessary; assist with form completion; answer phones and schedule appointments; retrieve and maintain medical files and records.
• Provide client-centered HIV counseling before and after testing.
• Conduct HIV/STD risk assessments.
• Deliver coaching and counseling for HIV/STD risk reduction and prevention.
• Prepare treatment rooms, ensuring they are clean, orderly, and stocked with necessary supplies and equipment for patient examinations; maintain sterile conditions and supplies.
• Interview patients to obtain basic medical information and history; measure and document vital signs, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI); prepare medical records for provider review.
• Perform phlebotomy to collect blood samples; collect urine and other non-invasive specimens; log specimens for testing; conduct urine dip sticks and finger-sticks for hemoglobin and glucose measurements.
• Provide counseling and rapid HIV testing to clients requesting these services.
• Maintain monthly equipment logs for items such as Glucometers, Hemocue devices, and refrigerators.
• Develop targeted strategies to improve the linkage and ongoing engagement to HIV primary medical care for recently diagnosed individuals, those aware of their status but never in care, and those who have discontinued HIV medical care and treatment.
• Assist physicians and nurses during patient examinations and treatments; handle instruments; prepare and disinfect treatment sites; apply and remove dressings and bandages; administer medications per provider orders; administer subcutaneous and intramuscular injections as directed by mid-level providers and physicians.
• Assist in preparing reports as required.
• Maintain HIV/STD testing records to ensure all documentation mandated by funders and the agency Quality Management Plan is properly filed.
• Carry out patient discharge processes; clarify and provide patients with follow-up care instructions and referrals.
• Follow the steps outlined in the APLA Health & Wellness referral tracking policy to ensure patients receive necessary referrals and that all referrals are accurately logged and monitored.
• Administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) during a medical emergency.

Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet business requirements.

REQUIREMENTS

Training and Experience

A High School diploma or GED equivalent is required. Candidates must have successfully completed a Medical Assistant training program from a recognized institution, meeting standards set by the Medical Board of California. Successful completion of LA County’s Division of HIV and STD Programs’ HIV Test Counselor Certification is required within the first 90 days of employment.

Knowledge of

1. Basic medical terminology and patient care methods and techniques.
2. Methods and procedures for performing technical clinical procedures, including phlebotomy, collecting and testing urine and other non-invasive specimens, and administering injections.
3. Routine laboratory procedures.
4. Standards and methods for maintaining sterile and sanitary laboratory and examination room conditions.
5. Methods and standard procedures for maintaining medical records.
6. Applicable safety policies and safe work practices.
7. HIV infection; STD infection and treatment; HIV/AIDS prevention; psychosocial issues related to HIV and STD transmission and acquisition; special issues relevant to individuals at risk for or living with HIV/STD; health education and behavior modification theory; human sexuality, substance abuse, behavior change principles and strategies; effective communication skills; group dynamics; data management; general computer knowledge; community resources; and the health and social concerns of diverse populations, including gay and non-gay identified men who have sex with men and other genders, individuals who share injection paraphernalia, heterosexuals, women at sexual risk, and transgender individuals.

Ability to

1. Effectively interview patients to obtain medical, social, and sexual histories.
2. Provide risk reduction counseling to help prevent the spread of HIV and other STDs.
3. Communicate effectively with people from diverse educational, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.
4. Understand and follow written and oral instructions from physicians, mid-level providers, and nurses, and apply relevant departmental policies, procedures, and protocols.
5. Identify and correct unsanitary conditions and maintain sterile environments.
6. Perform routine medical tests and procedures proficiently and accurately.
7. Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
8. Operate a computer and standard business software.
9. Maintain highly confidential personal and medical information in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
10. Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, and sound judgment when dealing with a variety of people in sensitive situations.
11. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow staff members, patients, and others encountered in the course of work.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This is primarily an office-based role. It requires only occasional bending, reaching, stooping, lifting, and moving of office materials weighing 25 pounds or less. The position necessitates daily use of a personal computer for entering, viewing, and revising text and graphics both on-screen and on paper.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

COVID-19 vaccination and booster, or a valid Medical/Religious Exemption, is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer: APLA Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

To Apply

Visit our website at www.aplahealth.org to apply or click the link below:

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=316557&clientkey=A5559163F67395E0A2585D2135F98806