Health Center Associate

General Duties

• Ensures compliance with front office procedures; Assists in setting up and closing down the reception area; Assures lobby is neat and orderly throughout the day; Assures all areas are secure and locked at closing.

Patient Intake

• Greets/welcomes all patients with a smile. Keeps patients apprised of delays or extended wait times.
• Patient check-in/ registration, income and insurance verification, data entry via clinic data system, chart preparation with appropriate forms and service codes, client flow and advising patients on how to complete forms.

Cashiering and/or Patient Check out

• Enters patient charges and payments into clinic data system and generate customer receipts. Processes payment via cash, check, or credit/debit card. Validates debit/credit cards.
• Runs daily cashier reports and balance sheets from clinic computer system, counts the cash drawer contents, balances day sheets, and prepares bank deposits daily.
• Checks-out patients in a professional and pleasant manner.

Counseling

• Provides patient counseling for pregnancy test and options, HIV (pre and post test), birth control methods education and first pelvic exam education in compliance with counseling guidelines.
• Explains medical tests and procedures and obtain informed consent as needed.
• Allows patient to explore feelings and ask questions regarding findings and decisions while demonstrating empathy and being non-judgmental.
• Completes necessary forms and counseling notes. Provides referral information as needed.

Client Prep

• Prepares exam rooms including setting up the rooms up properly before clinic begins and proper breaking down and cleaning of exam rooms at the end of clinic.
• Reviews medical history forms with patient and assists with obtaining patient history, exam related information and education. Completes required forms (pap and lab consent, exam, supply and route ticket).
• Prepares patient for exam to include instructing patient to undress according to the type of visit, putting chart in pocket outside of door, and assists in the exam room as needed.

Lab

• Obtains patient vitals (height, weight and blood pressure). Prepares and performs lab tests & requisitions for clinician.   Lab testing may include urine for pregnancy and/or leukocytes, nitrites, protein and glucose; blood for hemoglobin; HIV quick tests.
• Documents lab results in charts and lab log.
• Keeps lab clean and stocked.

Essential Functions, depending on assigned location, may also include:

Surgical Client Prep

• Maintains surgical instruments/equipment per protocol for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization.
• Demonstrates proper use of autoclave and practices adequate safety measures when unloading autoclave while hot. Reports problems with autoclave immediately.
• Maintains Quality Control records, including date, time, and temperature of each batch of sterilized items.
• Checks sterilization room for expired items weekly and place those items closest to expiration to the front of the shelves.  Rewraps and sterilizes those items expired.
• Maintains clean and neat working area including pre-op, laundry, and scrub areas.
• Prepare procedure rooms using aseptic and sterile techniques in setting up sterile fields for each surgical procedure. 
• Assists in the OR ensuring all instruments and equipment are assembled and operable prior to surgery.

Patient Care

• Drapes/ preps patients using sterile techniques. Assists and/or chaperones the physician.
• Provides support to the patients during surgical procedures. Explains what is happening as needed.
• Assists helping patients on/off procedure table and escorting patients to recovery room.
• Prepares surgical tissue for refrigeration and storage and/or pathology.
• Disinfects the procedure room and equipment during and at the end of each surgery day per protocol.
• Practices blood and body fluid precaution while handling soiled or contaminated items.
• Performs ultrasound examinations according to protocols, if applicable

Ultra Sound

• Prepares patient for ultrasound exam and explains procedure
• Performs ultrasound examinations according to protocols
• Performs ultrasound using appropriate technique
• Documents ultrasound in medical record
• Compiles with state requirements on patient notification and documentation