Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant - University of Portland

Job Summary

The mission of the Health & Counseling Center (HCC) is to provide comprehensive, high-quality, cost-effective health and wellness services to the students at the University of Portland. The Medical Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, student-centered healthcare within the HCC. This position facilitates efficient patient flow, provides direct clinical and administrative support to healthcare providers, performs a variety of clinical procedures and laboratory functions, and contributes to a safe, welcoming, and effective healthcare environment for University students. The Medical Assistant works collaboratively with providers, staff, and community partners to ensure exceptional patient care, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. This position reports to the Associate Director of Primary Care in the HCC.

As the HCC operates on an academic year when students are on campus, this position works a 9-month assignment period from mid-August through mid-May and receives the summer months off. The University total compensation package is offered for all 12 months.

Core Duties

Clinical Support

• Escort and prepare patients for appointments by obtaining and documenting medical histories, chief complaints, vital signs, and other relevant health information.
• Assist healthcare providers with examinations, procedures, treatments, and patient care activities.
• Administer immunizations and other injections in accordance with established protocols and scope of practice.
• Participate in campus-wide immunization clinics and other public health initiatives serving students outside of the Health & Counseling Center.
• Perform diagnostic procedures, including electrocardiograms (EKGs) and pulmonary function testing.
• Assist with care coordination and referrals to community healthcare providers and specialists.
• Take patient phone calls and be able to relay questions or requests to providers.

Laboratory Services

• Perform CLIA-waived laboratory testing, including but not limited to Rapid Strep, Mononucleosis, Influenza, COVID, Pregnancy, and other approved point-of-care diagnostic tests.
• Perform venipuncture and blood specimen collection accurately, efficiently, and compassionately.
• Process, package, document, and track laboratory specimens for tests ordered by Health & Counseling Center providers.
• Monitor and maintain laboratory quality assurance and quality control processes and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laboratory standards, including OSHA, CLIA, and other regulatory requirements.
• May perform additional laboratory testing when appropriately trained, qualified, and authorized.

Operations and Inventory Management

• Manage laboratory and medical supply inventories, ensuring adequate stock levels and timely replenishment.
• Maintain inventory tracking systems and monitor supply and medication expiration dates.
• Establish and maintain preventive maintenance schedules for laboratory and clinical equipment.
• Maintain and troubleshoot interfaces between electronic health records and community laboratory systems.
• Ensure examination rooms, treatment areas, and laboratory spaces are clean, organized, stocked, and prepared for daily operations.

Patient Services and Administrative Support

• Provide professional, compassionate, and responsive service to students and other Health & Counseling Center constituents.
• Assist with front desk operations and patient registration activities as needed.
• Support clinic workflow and patient scheduling processes to promote efficient patient care and service delivery.
• Accurately document patient encounters and clinical activities in the electronic health record.

Compliance and Professional Practice

• Adhere to all applicable federal and state regulations, including HIPAA, OSHA, CLIA, FERPA, and professional standards of practice.
• Maintain the confidentiality, privacy, and security of sensitive patient information.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement initiatives and professional development activities.
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered healthcare environment.

Other duties as relevant to the duties of the position or as assigned by supervisor or designee.

Please note that the above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s purview and responsibility.

Education & Experience

• Required: Oregon certification as Medical Assistant.
• Preferred: One or more years of professional medical experience in a healthcare outpatient clinical setting.
• Preferred: Prior experience in a higher education health clinic or working with college age population.

Certifications & Licenses

• Required: Current Medical Assistant certification in the State of Oregon
• Preferred: Phlebotomy Technician Certificate

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated proficiency in clinical patient care, including rooming patients, obtaining vital signs, administering medications and immunizations, documenting in medical records, and supporting clinical procedures.
• Strong phlebotomy and specimen collection skills.
• Knowledge of laboratory procedures, terminology, testing methodologies, quality control processes, and related equipment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA, CLIA, infection control, and patient safety standards.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical practice software.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Knowledge of and ability to follow HIPAA, FERPA, and all healthcare compliance factors.
• Excellent judgment and ability to respond in emergencies, crisis, or otherwise serious situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with students, providers, staff, and community partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, including ability to follow and carry out processes correctly and keep accurate records.
• Strong orientation towards taking initiative and ownership of projects and assignments and being proactive with projects, assignments, and process improvements.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Competence with and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively accomplish work within a University setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes.
• Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and computerized maintenance management systems.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently: sit, perform desk-based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.
• Frequently: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 20 pounds.
• Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.

Working Conditions

• Hours of employment: may rarely require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by demands.
• Blood-borne pathogens: requires utilizing aseptic technique to handle specimens that may be contaminated with blood-borne pathogens.
• May sometimes work with medical-related waste.
• Stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

Work Standards

• Respect for the University’s mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University’s mission statement states in relevant part: “we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world.” The University’s Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: “Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color,”