Job Description
Job DescriptionPosition Summary
You will work side-by-side with primary care and psychiatric providers in a high-volume clinical environment, supporting patient flow, vitals, screenings, documentation, and direct clinical tasks. Because Hawaii does not separately license or certify medical assistants, your clinical scope is set by the supervising provider through Ohana's documented competency program. Tasks expand as you complete Ohana competency training and receive supervising-provider sign-off. Ohana provides training, mentorship, and a supported pathway to formal MA certification.
About Ohana
Ohana Psych and Ohana Care Clinic are clinician-led organizations serving Hawaii's behavioral health and primary care population. Ohana Psych delivers psychiatric care across the Hawaiian Islands, primarily through telepsychiatry with in-person care as clinically indicated. Ohana Care Clinic is an independently owned Rural Health Clinic (RHC) in Hilo providing comprehensive care — including psychiatry, primary care, and pediatrics — and currently operates without staff physicians, led by experienced nurse practitioners and clinical leadership. Together, the organizations are expanding rural access to integrated care across the State of Hawaii.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The duties below are considered essential functions of this position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals with disabilities.
- Triage patients arriving for visits and incoming clinical calls; assess urgency and route to the appropriate provider per clinic and provider protocols.
- Obtain and document vital signs, height, weight, BMI, chief complaint, and medication reconciliation.
- Administer injectable vaccines and immunizations (adult and pediatric), VFC vaccines, and TB skin tests (PPD) by IM, SQ, or intradermal route — only after documented competency verification and written supervising-provider sign-off, under provider order and per Ohana protocols. The role does not administer oral medications and does not perform IV therapy.
- Manage vaccine inventory and VFC program compliance, including temperature logs, stock rotation, and documentation per Hawaii Department of Health and CDC requirements.
- Perform CLIA-waived point-of-care testing (e.g., POC glucose, urine dip, rapid strep, A1c, flu, COVID) within signed-off competencies.
- Process and follow up on referrals to specialty, hospital, and ancillary services.
- Process and follow up on prior authorizations for medications and services.
- Administer behavioral health and primary care screening tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, ASRS, AUDIT, etc.) and document accurately in the EHR.
- Follow Ohana clinic protocols, provider-specific protocols, and standing orders.
- Do not perform any clinical task for which competency has not been verified and signed off by the supervising provider; competency status is maintained in the employee HR file and reviewed at least annually.
- Maintain exam rooms, equipment, supplies, and PPE inventory; perform infection control and emergency-cart checks per Ohana policy.
- Comply with HIPAA, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030, CLIA, and TCT/RHC standards.
- Performs other duties as assigned consistent with the role and within scope of practice.
Required QualificationsEducation
High school diploma or GED required. Completion of an MA training program preferred but not required.
Licensure / Certification
- Current BLS certification (AHA or equivalent) required within 60 days of hire.
- Completion of Ohana MA Competency Program for each clinical task performed; written supervising-provider sign-off on file before performing that task independently.
- Annual HIPAA, OSHA, infection-control, and bloodborne-pathogen training (provided by Ohana).
- Formal MA certification (CMA, RMA, CCMA, or NCMA) encouraged and supported by Ohana but not required.
- No exclusions on OIG LEIE, SAM.gov, or Medicare/Medicaid debarment lists.
Experience
Prior healthcare, customer-service, or clinical-assistant experience preferred but not required. Ohana provides structured training and a competency-based clinical pathway.
Skills & Competencies
- Reliable attendance, punctuality, and willingness to learn clinical skills at pace.
- Comfortable working with patients in mental health distress and with diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Accurate EHR documentation.
- Discipline around aseptic technique, infection control, and PPE use.
- Willingness to operate strictly within the scope of competencies signed off by the supervising provider.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior medical office, behavioral health, or RHC experience.
- Completed MA externship.
- Bilingual (Hawaii-relevant languages).
Physical & Environmental Requirements (ADA)
- Standing and walking for the majority of an 8–10 hour shift.
- Frequent lifting, pushing, pulling, and assisting patients; ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally with or without assistance.
- Manual dexterity for vital-sign equipment, computer, and routine clinical tasks.
- Potential occupational exposure to blood, body fluids, and infectious agents.
- Use of required PPE (gloves, mask, eye protection, gown) per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030.
- Visual acuity for documentation, screen work, and clinical observation.
Outpatient clinical environment. Direct patient contact. Possible exposure to bodily fluids, sharps (incidental), cleaning agents, and infectious disease. PPE provided. OSHA, bloodborne-pathogen, and infection-control training is mandatory and provided annually.
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Determination: Category I (anticipated occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials once clinical competencies are signed off and performed).
Confidentiality & Compliance
This position requires strict compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 where applicable, and all Ohana policies governing protected health information (PHI), confidentiality, and information security. Violation of confidentiality obligations is grounds for immediate termination.
Compensation & Benefits
Final offer based on experience, credentials, and internal equity. Ohana offers a competitive benefits package, subject to plan terms, which may include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, retirement plan with employer contribution, malpractice coverage (for licensed roles), CME allowance (for licensed roles), and license/credentialing fee reimbursement (for licensed roles).
Equal Employment Opportunity
Ohana Psych and Ohana Care Clinic are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).