Bilingual Medical Assistant

Trenton Health Team (THT) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the greater Trenton and Mercer County communities by partnering with the community to expand access to high-quality, coordinated, cost-effective healthcare and addressing housing quality, food security, neighborhood safety, education and social inequities inextricably linked to poor health outcomes. Having achieved national recognition since its founding in 2006, THT is now one of four State-designated Regional Health Hubs focused on addressing the social determinants of health and achieving equitable health outcomes.

As a Trenton Health Team employee, you will not only be joining an organization that improves the lives of others, but one that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

You will be joining a diverse group of ~50 individuals with a shared commitment to Trenton residents. With backgrounds in public health, medicine, social work, community development, data analytics, information technology, and business management, our team is dedicated to improving health and healthcare delivery. You will work with a leadership team that fosters a culture of support and creativity while giving you the freedom to bring your best self to work every day.

What we offer

Our employees enjoy the following benefits:

• A hybrid work schedule (1-2 days per week non-remote)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) with employer funding 85-100% of premium and HSA contribution
• 401k Retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Employer-funded Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Generous paid time off (PTO plus 16 holidays annually)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral program
• Discretionary benefit programs

This is a terrific opportunity to join an important organization at an exciting time in its history. Now in its 16th year, THT faces the future with renewed energy, financial stability, and an expanded understanding of what a healthy Trenton would mean for its community and state.

You will be joining a diverse group of individuals with a shared commitment to Trenton residents. With backgrounds in medicine, social work, community health, education, data systems, and management, our team is dedicated to improving health and health care delivery. You will work with a leadership team that fosters a culture of support while giving you the freedom to bring your best self to work every day.

Under the direction of the Community Screening Manager, collaboratively works in community-based settings (e.g., healthcare, social services, local government, religious, residential, local businesses) to perform biometric screenings (blood pressure, BMI, HbA1C, social needs) to promote disease prevention and wellness.

Functionally responsible for providing patient care and cultivating new and existing relationships with community organizations by project plan; Serving both the English-speaking and bilingual community by performing biometric screenings at the events, communicating negative results, and directing individuals to appropriate follow-up care. Submits internal and external reports. Ensures medical records, reports, and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings are properly documented. Act as primary THT representative for Spanish-speaking population.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Conducts initial SDOH phone screening for confirmed patients. Explains programs, and answers questions.
• Attends community meetings, health fairs, and other events to build relationships with community members and organizations, and to publicize the program and its activities. Keeps abreast of community changes and identifies new barriers, challenges, and potential neighboring groups. Collaborates with other community-facing THT staff in this regard.
• Conducts clinical screenings during events and clinic sessions located at THT partners’ clinical practice locations; Provides blood pressure (digital and manual), point-of-care hemoglobin a1c and body mass index screening to participants and refers participants to follow-up care in accordance with THT’s policies and procedures.
• Maintains communication with the Community Screening Manager including consulting about positive screening results, unusual clinical presentations, etc.
• Establishes rapport and builds trust with participants who may have complex medical and social needs. Leverages trust to assist patients with identifying and removing barriers to screening and any further diagnostics and treatment that may be indicated.
• Maintains accurate records of services performed and billed. Maintains privacy of Protected Health Information as required by law and THT policy.

• Maintains universal safety precautions while conducting screening activities (e.g. hand hygiene, proper donning, doffing, and disposal of gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE), as appropriate for the level and or duration of contact.
• Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate education related to cancer awareness, screening and prevention through evidence-based interventions and best practices
• Refers individuals who are identified as active users of tobacco, tobacco products, and/or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to NJ Quitline through the completion of the required forms.
• Acts as back-up support to Screening Specialist as needed in the coordination of screening events, including: securing appropriate locations, scheduling appropriate clinical and support staff, inviting and pre-registering participants, ordering and setting up supplies, assisting with breakdown and cleanup of screening sites, securing diagnostic specimens for pickup by contracted laboratory service.
• Act as back up support for making entries as appropriate into the Cancer Screening and Tracking (OXBOW/MED-IT) system, Trenton Health Information Exchange (THIE), NowPow, and other record systems (both paper and electronic) as directed.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate across all strata of the community.
• Excels working in a dynamic environment.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide translation and bilingual support to other teams within THT
• Participate in and contribute to regular Team meetings
• Actively supports community screening teammates by acting as back-up when appropriate
• Participate in and contribute to regular Team meetings
• Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director, Chief Community Care Manager and Community Screening Manager.

Requirements

• Active NJ licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Medical Assistant (MA), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• 3-5 years’ experience in health-related field
• Bilingual in written and spoken English and Spanish.
• Proficiency with biometric screenings
• Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health Professional experience in community-based work (including outreach) and/or public health or clinical operations or administration.
• Must have a passion for helping people and serving the Trenton community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate and interact effectively with individuals from diverse groups regardless of race, sex, age, and/or sexual orientation and members of underserved communities.
• Excellent presentation skills with an ability to motivate and energize community members/groups to action.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence; effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations to partners, clients and other employees of the organization.
• Valid driver’s license, with reliable access to a car, required.
• Proof of vaccination for COVID-19 status and ongoing compliance with THT’s vaccination policy

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree
• Deep knowledge of and experience working with community-based programs within the City of Trenton preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources including the services of community health workers

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Excellent computer skills with specific knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and web-browsers/web-based programs.

COMPETENCIES

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The specific demands for this position include, but are not limited to the following:

The incumbent performs job duties in a normal business office environment in an urban community. Office tasks are generally carried out with no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands. While performing the office duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit at a desk and work with a computer for extended periods of time. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment such as personal computers; copy machines, fax machines and standard office telephones.

Approximately 50 percent of the time will be spent in the community and the incumbent must be able to travel to and from various sites as needed and the incumbent must be able to transport equipment in their vehicle

While performing community tasks, the role may require:

• occasional exposure to outside weather conditions
• occasional exposure to extreme heat or cold
• frequent exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectious materials
• the ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds

Further, the incumbent will be occasionally responsible for working nights and weekends given sufficient notice

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

Full-time position with an annual salary range of $45K - $50K (non-exempt)

Our employees enjoy the following benefits:

• A hybrid work schedule (1-2 days per week non-remote)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) with employer funding 85-100% of premium and HSA contribution
• 401k Retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Employer-funded Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Generous paid time off (PTO plus 16 holidays annually)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral program
• Discretionary benefit programs