Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant - Street Medicine Grant Funded

MLK Community Healthcare is seeking a Medical Assistant (MA) to be part of our MLKCH Street Medicine program. The MA will primarily be responsible for conducting field-based outreach and nursing care to patients in encampments or streets.

This individual would provide medical assistance and support during field-based outreach visits, delivering care directly to unhoused and underserved individuals in non-traditional clinical settings (e.g. but not limited to encampments, shelters, sidewalks). This role requires physical endurance, emotional resilience, and strong adaptability to unpredictable outdoor environments. Under the direct guidance of the APP, RN and/or Medical Director, the position would be responsible for providing medications, conducting vitals, and wound care to support the patient's health goals. The Street Medicine MA would work closely to provide scheduling assistance to the department and submitting referrals for specialty care. The street medicine MA role is a Grant-funded position with a funding end date of December 2029.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Assists providers (e.g., MDs, NPs, PAs) in performing patient evaluations and procedures in field settings.

Conducts field-based patient intake, including vitals, history-taking, and documentation using electronic health technology or paper forms.

Carries and maintains mobile medical kits (up to 20 lbs), ensuring equipment is stocked, disinfected, and properly inventoried.

Provides basic clinical support: administering immunizations, wound care, assisting with medication adherence, and arranging follow-up care.

Participates in daily team huddles and safety briefings before outreach. Participates in post-huddles after outreach to plan next steps of care.

Demonstrates flexibility in working outdoors, often walking several miles during a shift and standing for extended periods.

Drive company vehicle and transport team members for RN/Provider/Outreach visits, meetings, or field related needs.

Maintains a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach when interacting with patients.

Assists with navigation of care systems, referrals, and appointment follow-up.

Ensures proper documentation of care delivered in the field using electronic health records when available.

Acts as liaison between Street Medicine providers and the hospital or clinic support staff.

Adheres to safety protocols, infection control procedures, and field-based emergency response practices.

Safety: Use of personal protective equipment required; must be able to respond to emergencies calmly and appropriately.

Implement care plans and provide urgent and primary care services within the Medical Assistant scope of practice.

Collaborate in managing common health care problems present in homeless populations.

Administer immunizations, medications, and blood draws consistent with current guidelines and established protocols.

Perform initial and continued assessment of client health status, immunization, and TB screening, based on established protocols.

Be proficient in Cerner and electronic documentation to document patient information; document appropriately in the electronic medical record; maintain medical records.

Provide client care in a manner that is both non-discriminatory and non-judgmental.

Communicate effectively with the client/patient, clinic staff, the public at large and departmental staff in a non-discriminatory manner.

Participate in Street Medicine clinical case conferences and other case conferences and meetings.

Manage a Cal-Aim Caseload of Street Medicine patients.

Participate in onboarding of new staff.

Performs other duties as assigned by Street Medicine leadership.

Position Requirements

A. Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent. Candidates with extensive medical assistant experience or similar role will be considered in lieu of High School Diploma.
• Graduate of an accredited Medical Assistant program.

B. Qualifications/Experience

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association.
• Must complete annual Workplace Violence Prevention Program/Certificate, per hospital policy, during initial training/orientation but not to exceed 30 days from hire/transfer.
• Valid unrestricted CA Driver's License.
• Phlebotomy Certificate (CPT) Preferred
• Demonstrated experience building effective, strong relationships with peers and leaders.
• Relevant experience in understanding homelessness, and in promoting community relations (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability in providing services for people experiencing homelessness (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus on strategies among peers to address unhoused patients (preferred).
• An ability to effectively coordinate care with medical assistants and other support staff, encourage and nurture development and growth, to build a strong and productive team, preferred.
• Commitment to the provision of primary care services for the underserved with demonstrated ability and sensitivity in working with a variety of people from low-income populations, with diverse educational, lifestyle, ethnic, and cultural origins.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and problem-solving skills and ability to be flexible and adaptive to change.
• Ability to effectively present information to others, including other employees, community partners, and vendors.
• Ability to seek direction/approval on essential matters yet work independently with little supervision, using professional judgment and diplomacy.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with several professionals with different work styles and support needs.

C. Special Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people on the streets and at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrate ability to work with unsheltered homeless, their environment and their social issues.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of public health care systems.