General Statement
The Clinical Assistant, under general supervision, supports the delivery of public health services by performing a variety of clinical and administrative tasks in a clinic or laboratory setting. Duties include assisting nurses and other clinical staff with patient intake, preparing exam rooms, collecting and recording health information, assisting with laboratory and diagnostic procedures under supervision, maintaining supplies and equipment, and ensuring compliance with infection control and confidentiality standards. The Clinical Assistant contributes to efficient clinic operations and the provision of quality, compassionate public health care.
Bilingual required.
Essential Functions
Assists licensed clinical staff with patient care and public health services in accordance with established protocols and standing orders.
Conducts patient intake and screening, including obtaining and recording vital signs, medical histories, and other pertinent health information in electronic health records.
Prepares and maintains examination rooms, equipment, and supplies to ensure cleanliness, safety, and readiness for clinical operations.
Administers diagnostic tests under the direction and supervision of a licensed nurse or provider, following agency and state guidelines.
Collects, labels, and processes laboratory specimens for analysis; performs basic laboratory and point-of-care testing as authorized.
Provides patient education on health promotion, disease prevention, and available public health services.
Assists with communicable disease control activities, including client interviews, documentation, and follow-up, as directed by nursing or epidemiology staff.
Maintains accurate, complete, and confidential medical and program records in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Assists nurse or medical provider during health examinations with specimen collection, ensuring proper technique and patient comfort.
Uses correct aseptic technique to create a sterile field for medical procedures.
Performs vision and hearing screenings on pediatric patients as directed by nursing or provider staff, accurately recording results in electronic medical records.
Prepares patients for physical examinations and non-stress test (NST) monitoring by ensuring comfort, privacy, and accuracy of recorded data.
Stocks and maintains exam and storage rooms with necessary medical, laboratory, and cleaning supplies. Cleans and prepares exam rooms between patients, ensuring all surfaces and equipment are properly sanitized.
Performs routine cleaning of ultrasound and non-stress test (NST) machines and ensures proper disposal of biohazardous materials.
Collects and processes soiled instruments according to infection control and sterilization protocols. Serves as a chaperone during provider and nursing examinations and procedures to ensure patient comfort, safety, and compliance with clinic policy. Escorts patients to and from designated clinic and laboratory areas, providing clear communication and maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality throughout the process.
Provides clinical support services during Public Health community outreach events and emergency response efforts. Assists with vaccination and testing clinics, health screenings, and disaster shelter operations by performing clinical tasks, preparing supplies, supporting registration and flow, and ensuring adherence to infection control and safety protocols.
Adheres to all infection control policies and standard precautions to ensure a safe and sanitary clinical environment. Completes all required quarterly infection control education and mandated trainings.
Supports patient triage by answering incoming calls and obtaining accurate demographic and medical information. Documents and enters all caller details into the electronic medical record (EMR) system for appropriate routing to nursing staff. Ensures timely communication, confidentiality, and accuracy to support effective patient care and clinic workflow.
Acts as a backup to the laboratory team performing phlebotomy, hemoglobin, blood glucose, and waiver laboratory testing as requested.
Performs medical translation and interpretation (in person and remotely). Conveys communication between the provider and patient, while accurately converting the exchange between the English and Spanish language pair; works in assigned public health and environmental health program areas and in a variety of settings including homes and community sites; renders interpretation as accurately as possible, given the idiomatic difference between languages, while keeping the spirit and letter of the original communication; and communicates possible misunderstandings by the patient to the provider.
Abides by the professional standards and codes of ethics of the National Council for Interpreters in Health Care.
Assists nurses and providers in understanding the patient's culture to include nonverbal communication, health practices, and social relationships; maintains strict confidentiality regarding all patient-provider information; and refrains from inserting own opinion or judgment when communicating with patients.
Provides language services support with nurses, providers, laboratory, and care managers through interpretation during patient appointments, phone calls, and home visits when needed.
Supports patient triage with language services by answering incoming calls and obtaining accurate demographic and medical information. Documents and enters all caller details into the electronic medical record (EMR) system for appropriate routing to nursing staff. Ensures timely communication, confidentiality, and accuracy to support effective patient care and clinic workflow.
Provides interpreting services at Public Health community outreach events or Public Health emergencies including vaccination or testing clinics and disaster shelter locations.
Serves as backup interpreter support for the WIC Clinic, providing language assistance to ensure effective communication between clients and staff. Assists with participant interviews, nutrition education sessions, and benefit issuance while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to interpreter ethics and Public Health standards.
Utilizes the consecutive mode of Interpreting and follows interpreting protocols.
Utilizes remote interpreting technology including telephones, virtual consoles, teleconferencing platforms or a combination of these systems.
Provides written translation of informational and instructional materials and letters for Public Health, WIC, Environmental Health, and Transportation Services as requested. Accurately translates information as literally as possible, given the idiomatic differences between English and Spanish.
Utilizes sight translation in filling out medical forms or conveying brief follow-up instructions to clients. A written translation is not substituted.
Utilizes applicable computer programs and electronic health records to perform duties.
Performs clerical support duties including copying, scanning, faxing, and filing records to support efficiency of day-to-day clinic operations.
Updates patient demographic information and records in the electronic health record systems according to policy.
Follows-up with patients who miss their appointments in accordance with program policies.
Prepares and assembles health education packets, updating required forms, and restocking educational materials for clinic and outreach settings.
Assists patients with the completion of internal and external medical forms.
Makes follow-up calls to patients as directed by a nurse or provider, including after-hours calls as needed.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
High School diploma or equivalent, and two (2) years of medical office or healthcare setting work that includes translation or interpreting experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Licenses or Certifications
CPR certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment. Will be provided by Public Health is needed.
Successful completion of required Clinical Assistant trainingor ability to obtain within 90 days of employment. Clinical Assistant training will be provided by Public Health. Competency evaluation will occur on an annual basis thereafter.
Certified proof of competency as a Medical Interpreter or ability to successfully pass an interpreter skills test. This testing will be conducted by the hiring manager for the candidate of choice prior to an offer of employment.
Successful completion of a 40-hour language services training within 90 days of employment. Training will be provided by the hiring supervisor.
Special Requirements
In order to perform work in this role, within (30) thirty days of employment employees must provide immunization records, provide proof of immunity, or receive/start the required vaccination series, as applicable, along with complying with any necessary screenings, as required by the Union County Public Health Department and its Healthcare Personnel Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Policy, in accordance with applicable law.
This position may be subject to a fingerprint background check. Per NC General Statute 153A-94.2(b), applicants for a position of employment required to work with children in any capacity will be required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record.
Preferred Qualifications
Education and Experience
Previous experience performing Clinical Assisting in a Public Health setting and completion of Medical Interpreting coursework.
Licenses or Certifications
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Certified Nurse Aide (CAN)
Medical Office Assistant (MOA)
Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI)
Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI)
Certification in Document Translation
Supplemental Information
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including, tablets and computers, calculators, copiers, telephones, fax machines, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in an environment where errors on the part of the employee in this role can lead to significant physical or mental consequences for the employee or others.
