CARE ASSOCIATE/CARE TECH II (FT)

The Care Associate/Care Tech II at Riverside Healthcare is a key member of the healthcare team, responsible for providing both clinical and administrative support in a physician office setting. This role includes direct patient care, such as administering injections, performing diagnostic tests, and assisting with medical procedures. The position also involves handling administrative duties, including patient check-in, data entry, and maintaining accurate records in various electronic medical records (EMRs) and demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure. Candidates with experience in a healthcare setting, knowledge of medical terminology, and relevant certifications are preferred.

Essential Duties

• Clinical Support:
• Administer subcutaneous injections as requested by the physician, following established protocols.
• Perform venipunctures and non-blood specimen collection, ensuring proper labeling, form completion, and transport to laboratories.
• Assist physicians and nurses with medical procedures, including immediate care and occupational medicine, following ACOEM protocols for workers compensation.
• Conduct pulmonary function tests, electrocardiograms, pulse oximetry, and nebulizer treatments, fit testing, vision/audio exams, drug collections, and breath alcohol collections as needed by protocol.
• Collect and document clinical data accurately in EMRs, ensuring compliance with regulatory agency guidelines, health maintenance protocols, and quality measures.
• Follow up on lab work, referrals, consultations, and other tests, providing patients with timely updates as directed by the physician.
• Reconcile patient immunization records in the EMR, including ICARE records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain Point of Care Testing (POCT) competencies and perform quality controls for waived testing.
• Administrative Tasks:
• Greet patients timely and courteously, escorting them to exam rooms and ensuring a positive patient experience.
• Answer telephone calls promptly, taking accurate messages and addressing customer questions and concerns efficiently.
• Assist patients with electronic registration within the clinic setting, ensuring all required information is accurately entered.
• Perform accurate computer data entry of patient demographics and other essential information in Agility and other EMR systems.
• Register patients according to clinic protocols, including verifying insurance, collecting payments, and scheduling clinical and diagnostic appointments.
• Scan and file patient test results, records, and other paperwork timely and accurately in the appropriate folders.
• Document missed appointments in patient records and ensure timely follow-up on patient work queues.
• Assist with confirming appointments and maintaining front desk and reception areas, ensuring they are 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:
• Acknowledge and greet all customers timely with a professional and friendly demeanor.
• Identify patients' needs for additional information, referring them to appropriate healthcare resources when necessary.
• 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 appropriate wet time guidelines, ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Assist with maintaining office supplies, including filling supply orders for onsite visits, physicals, drug screens, wellness programs, and fit testing.
• Certification Maintenance:
• Keep current on all required certifications, including DOT, drug and alcohol testing (DATIA), breath alcohol testing (BAT), and audiometric testing, as applicable.
• Support occupational health procedures and paperwork, including proficiency in Agility software.

Required Experience

• Ability to spell, alphabetize, and count accurately.
• Ability to work effectively in an automated environment is required.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is required.

Preferred Experience

• Previous clinical experience is preferred, including the ability to take vital signs, perform phlebotomy, EKG, and administer injections.
• Previous experience with ICD-10 and CPT-4 coding is preferred.
• Experience in a physician office or other healthcare setting is preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance and authorization processes is helpful. 
• Prior knowledge of payer regulatory compliance and an understanding of the hospital revenue cycle is preferred

Preferred Licensure/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Preferred Education

• DOT certification
• DATIA certification
• Audiometric testing certification
• Breath Alcohol testing certification
• Medical Assistant certification
• CPR certification (depending on staffing needs)

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: Protective Clothing Required