CARE ASSOCIATE/CARE TECH (PT)

The Care Associate/Care Tech at Riverside Healthcare is a vital part of the healthcare team, providing both clinical and administrative support within a physician office setting. This role involves direct patient care, such as administering injections, performing diagnostic tests, and assisting with medical procedures. Additionally, the Care Associate/Care Tech is responsible for various administrative tasks, including patient check-in, data entry, and maintaining accurate records in electronic medical records (EMRs). This position requires excellent clinical skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently in an automated environment and demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

Clinical Support:

• Administer subcutaneous injections as requested by the provider, following all applicable protocols.
• Perform venipunctures and non-blood specimen collection, ensuring proper labeling, form completion, and timely transport to laboratories as applicable.
• Assist providers and nurses with medical procedures, ensuring patient comfort and safety.
• Conduct pulmonary function tests, electrocardiograms (EKGs), pulse oximetry, and nebulizer treatments as instructed by the provider as applicable.
• Collect and document clinical data accurately in all applicable EMRs, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines, health maintenance protocols, and quality measures.
• Follow up on lab work, referrals, consultations, and other testing as directed by the provider.
• Reconcile patient immunization records in the EMR, including ICARE records, ensuring accuracy.
• Maintain Point of Care Testing (POCT) competencies and perform quality control for waived testing.

Administrative Tasks:

• Greet patients timely and courteously, escorting them to exam rooms and ensuring a positive experience.
• Answer telephone calls with a positive attitude, take accurate messages, and address customer questions and concerns efficiently.
• Assist patients with electronic registration within the clinic setting, ensuring all required information is accurately entered into the system.
• Perform accurate computer data entry of patient demographics and other essential information in the EMR.
• Register patients according to clinic protocols, including verifying insurance, running estimates, collecting payments, and scheduling clinical and diagnostic appointments.
• Scan and file patient test results, records, and other paperwork in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring proper documentation in the EMR.
• Document missed appointments in patient records and follow up on patient work queues in a timely manner.
• Assist with confirming patient appointments and maintaining the front desk and reception areas, ensuring they are ready for each working day and fully operational at the start of business hours.
• Maintain a pleasant, friendly, and professional demeanor with all employees, patients, guests, vendors, and visitors of Riverside Healthcare.

Customer Interaction:

• Adhere to AIDET format and standards. Acknowledge and greet all customers timely with a professional and friendly demeanor.
• Identify patients' needs for additional information and refer them to appropriate healthcare resources as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of insurance coverages to assist patients with insurance verification and authorization processes.

Non-essential Duties

Office Maintenance:

• Clean exam rooms using proper wipes and following appropriate wet time guidelines to ensure a safe and sanitary environment.
• Assist with maintaining office supplies and ensuring the clinic is fully stocked and organized

Preferred Experience

• Previous clinical experience is preferred, including the ability to take vital signs, perform phlebotomy, EKG, and administer injections.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance and authorization processes is helpful.

Required Licensure/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Preferred Education

• CPR certification preferred

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to: 

• Chemicals: Copy machine toner, fax machine toner, household cleaners, bleach, alcohol, peroxide, and liquid nitrogen. 
• Video Display Terminals: Average 
• Blood and Body Fluids: Some potential due to vomit, diarrhea, blood and other body fluids, but the use of Universal Precautions and protection reduces risk. 
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Exposure to patients. 

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Needed for presentations/training, telephone communication, facilitate meetings. 
• Vision: Needed to read memos and literature. 
• Smell: Electrical/fire safety. 
• Hearing: Needed for telephone communications, meetings, and listening to employee concerns. 
• Touch: Need to write, do computer entry, filing.  

Activity/Lifting Requirements: 

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10% 
• Twist: 5% 
• Stand: 40% 
• Crawl: 0% 
• Walk: 20% 
• Kneel: 0% 
• Lift: 5% 
• Drive: 5% 
• Squat: 5% 
• Climb: 0% 
• Bend: 5% 
• Reach above shoulders: 5% 

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently 
• Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally 
• Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally 
• Up to 50 lbs: Not Required 
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required 
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required 
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required 

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): Carry charts from file cabinets to exam room or desk; stock rooms with supplies, carry supplies from med room to patient room. Place supplies in cabinets, move chairs and boxes. Put babies on scale, walk from room to scale in hall, then back to room. 

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 10 
• Twist: 5 
• Stand: 55 
• Crawl: 0 
• Walk: 15 
• Kneel: 0 
• Lift: 10 
• Drive: 0 
• Squat: 10 
• Climb: 0 
• Bend: 2 
• Reach above shoulders: 5 

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

• Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. 
• Normal weight: 70% 
• Pushing &pulling Normal weight: 30% 
• Fine Manipulation: Writing, calculator, and computer keyboard. 

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: Not Required  

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards:

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent): 
• Inside hours: 8 
• Outside hours : 0 
• Temperature: Normal Range 
• Lighting: Average 
• Noise levels: Average 
• Humidity: Normal Range 
• Atmosphere: Odors 
• Special Hazards: None
• Protective Clothing Required: None