Medical Assistant - HOST

Homeless Outreach Stabilization And Transition (Host) Medical Assistant

Days Off : Saturday, Sunday

Shift : Day (9 : 00 am - 5 : 00 pm)

Insurance Benefits : Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums / payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits : Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation : This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC :

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

Job Definition

Homeless Outreach Stabilization and Transition (HOST) is a multi-disciplinary team serving homeless adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. HOST prioritizes services to those who are highly vulnerable, lack service connections or other support, and are unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models. The HOST team works throughout Seattle and parts of King County to provide critical survival services and engagement with the ultimate goal of addressing acute mental and physical health needs, increasing stability, obtaining housing, and transitioning to long-term services.

The HOST Medical Assistant (MA) coordinates and evaluates client medical needs under the supervision of the RN Supervisor. This position functions as part of the larger HOST team to serve clients struggling to meet their basic needs, navigate the healthcare system, and engage in traditional healthcare settings. Services will be provided in clinic, on the streets, in shelters and other service centers as assigned. Interested individuals should possess a high degree of coordination and collaboration skills, interest in social justice, advocacy, and health integration.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

Case Management & Social Support :

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing some components of on-going case management services to homeless and formerly homeless adults.
• Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, especially primary health care services, ensuring that clients' needs are met, and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Assist clients that are Medicaid eligible to get connected to benefits, connect to community services, and / or re-engage clients who are Medicaid benefit eligible but have not maintained active status.
• Participate in the planning, organizing and facilitating of psycho-educational treatment services for consumers served by the mental health program, under the direction of the mental health professional (MHP).
• Provide outreach and engagement on the streets, shelters, encampments, and other community areas.
• Provide individualized medication management services and instructions as needed, and ongoing documentation of treatment plan, impacts, and side effects.
• Assess client needs and care coordination when clients are hospitalized, incarcerated, and / or moving into or out of housing facilities.

Medication, Medical Services, and Clinical Skills :

Other duties & responsibilities :

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to stand for long periods, climb stairs, sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer :

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.