Medical Assistant

Harmony Health is a Tribally owned wellness clinic that treats a broad-spectrum population of Native and Non-Native patients. Harmony is established to provide those with substance use disorders whole person care: primary care, infectious disease, and mental health care. We are building a team of dedicated and compassionate individuals who align with this mission.

Harmony Health brings an innovative model of highly individualized, compassionate care to patients with -substance use disorder. From the moment someone walks through the door of our state-of-the-art outpatient facility, they will encounter our thoughtfulness and intention for a humanizing and respectful experience with us. The comforting and safe setting of our nature-inspired facility and the friendly, professional attitude of our staff help to define our journey with each patient - and with each other - from day one.

Each employee at Harmony Health creates their own ripple effect in the larger circles of the families and communities that we touch.

We are currently seeking a Medical Assistant to support our clinic in Perris, CA. This position will report to the Nursing Manager and will work in collaboration with clinic leadership and OTS leadership.

Indian Preference applies. Qualified Indian (American Indian or Alaskan Native) applicants will receive preference in accordance with 25 U.S.C. § 5323 and 25 U.S.C. § 472a.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Medical Assistant reports administratively to the designated Registered Nurse Supervisor or Nurse Manager. The Lead Medical Assistant coordinates daily assignments, workflow, and task completion under nursing leadership. Clinical procedures requiring practitioner authorization, delegation, or supervision remain subject to applicable state law and Medical Director-approved protocols.

The Medical Assistant works in both the front and back office. You will greet and register patients, room patients and obtain vital signs, draw blood and prepare lab samples, collect drug screen specimens, keep track of medical supplies, and support providers and nurses throughout the day. This role is crucial to maintaining accurate records, as our program is built on a scientific approach to addiction medicine and is highly regulated. If you have an eye for detail, understand that standard protocols are essential, and like to learn new things, we look forward to speaking with you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Back Office Clinical Support

• Provide patient care under the supervision of a provider; delegated medical tasks must be directed and supervised by an authorized practitioner as state law requires.
• Perform patient check-in, including vital signs, height, weight, chief complaint, brief relevant history, pain status, allergies, and current medications.
• Perform venipuncture only after completing state-required training and documented clinic competency validation; prepare, label, and track lab samples per clinic procedure.
• Collect body fluid specimens, including observed urine drug screen collection after documented training, following the clinic collection procedure, chain-of-custody requirements, and patient privacy safeguards; maintain urinalysis, oral toxicology, and urine drug screen schedules and logs.
• Perform only those CLIA-waived tests authorized under the clinic's CLIA certificate and documented training, and record quality control.
• Give only those injections and medications that state law authorizes for medical assistants, under an authorized provider order, required supervision or delegation, and documented training and competency; medical assistants do not independently select, adjust, or decide to give any medication.
• In accordance with clinic policy, Medical Assistants are not authorized to prepare, dispense, administer, transport, reconcile, or conduct controlled-substance inventory counts of OTP medications; these responsibilities are reserved for personnel specifically authorized under applicable law and clinic policy.
• Prepare patients and assist providers with examinations and procedures, including those requiring aseptic and sterile technique.
• Immediately notify the RN or authorized provider of critical vital signs, abnormal findings, suspected overdose, and other urgent patient safety concerns; do not perform nursing assessments, triage, or make clinical decisions.
• Route and track laboratory results to the appropriate licensed professional; do not interpret results, acknowledge them on behalf of a provider, or close results that require clinical review.
• Perform breath alcohol testing and urine pregnancy testing as ordered, and complete CLIA-waived testing quality-control checks and logs per clinic procedure.

Front Office Support

• Greet patients, complete check-in and registration, and verify demographic and insurance information.
• Schedule appointments, answer phones, and route calls and messages to the appropriate team member
• Share community resource information and support referrals as directed.

Precepting & Training

• Serve as a preceptor for new medical assistants, Patient Services Representatives, externs, and other assigned staff, assigned by nursing leadership or the Lead Medical Assistant
• Orient and train staff using the clinic's orientation program, competency checklists, and approved procedures; training is part of the regular duties of this position and is compensated at the employee's established pay rate.
• Train other medical assistants in technical supportive services only when qualified and authorized under applicable state law, including California Business and Professions Code §§ 2069–2071 and 16 CCR §§ 1366–1366.4, and clinic policy; medical assistants serving as clinical trainers must maintain applicable certification, demonstrated proficiency, and any additional qualifications required for the procedure being taught. In California, a qualified MA trainer acts under the direction of a licensed physician or podiatrist responsible for training content and proficiency under 16 CCR § 1366.3(a)(1), and training to administer medication by inhalation must be provided by a licensed physician or respiratory care practitioner.
• Observe, coach, and document trainee performance without independently authorizing clinical practice; final organizational competency validation is completed by designated qualified nursing leadership or another authorized clinical evaluator, and practitioner orders, delegation, and supervision required by state law remain separate requirements; in California, nursing sign-off does not replace the supervising physician's or podiatrist's responsibilities under 16 CCR § 1366.3 (see California Scope of Practice)
• Report training needs, competency gaps, or safety concerns to the Lead Medical Assistant or nursing leadership.
• Model professional conduct, accurate documentation, and adherence to clinic policies.

Clinic Operations & Quality

• Follow standard precautions, hand hygiene, sharps safety, and bloodborne pathogen exposure response procedures; clean and prepare exam rooms, procedure tables, and equipment following infection control procedures.
• Stock exam rooms and the nurse station, check expiration dates, and initiate supply reorders.
• Complete daily equipment checks, refrigerator temperature logs, and CLIA documentation
• Report non-functioning or defective equipment to the supervisor immediately.
• Assist with quality improvement projects, chart audits, and patient education materials.

Documentation & Compliance

• Document complete and accurate patient observations and care in the electronic health record.
• Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2
• Complete initial and periodic documented competency validation for every assigned clinical procedure, attend staff development, and maintain skill level.
• Fulfill mandatory reporting obligations under California law and the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act and follow clinic procedures for reporting suspected abuse or neglect.
• Other duties as assigned within medical assistant scope.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Completion of a medical assistant program or other qualifying training that meets state requirements.
• Venipuncture training that meets state requirements and demonstrates phlebotomy competency.
• Current medical assistant certification from an organization approved by the Medical Board of California (see California Scope of Practice)
• Active American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Working knowledge of electronic health records and Microsoft Office
• Ability to successfully complete employment-related background screening, occupational health requirements, and any legally permissible drug screening, consistent with applicable federal, state, and tribal laws and clinic policy
• Ability to provide health clearance and tuberculosis (TB) clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of medical assistant experience, including phlebotomy.
• Preceptor, trainer, or externship supervision experience
• Front office and insurance verification experience
• Experience in substance use disorder, behavioral health, or community health setting
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish or a language native to the community served.
• Experience working with Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal health programs.

SKILLS

The ideal candidate embodies the following:

• Customer-first attitude and a non-judgmental approach
• Ability to react to frequent changes in duties and patient volume.
• Effective oral and written communication and empathetic listening
• Ability to logically organize details.
• Patience and skill in teaching and coaching new team members.
• Commitment to respectful, patient-centered care, confidentiality, and safety

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to keyboard or type, handle materials used in performing the essential functions of the classification, and reach with hands and arms. The employee will be asked to perform repetitive behaviors (e.g., typing and data entry). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds (think boxes of paper). Specific vision abilities required by this classification include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing abilities required by this classification includes those which permit the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively in person, by telephone. While performing the duties of this classification, the employee works in an office setting where the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee must also analyze and evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action.

We support our team through a competitive salary and benefits package and opportunities for continuing education and professional advancement. Harmony Health Center staff will also be cross trained to meet the needs of patients and to make each day a success. On-the-job training will empower team members, as we believe the excellence of the clinic and the professional development of our staff complement one another.

Please visit www.harmony.health for more information.