Extern/Intern-Medical Assistant

Externship/Internship: Unpaid Medical Assistant Extern/Intern

Team: WWH Medical Support Staff

About Whitman-Walker Health

At Whitman-Walker, our commitment to “Community, Caring, and Quality” really shines through! Our mission is to be the highest quality, culturally competent community health center serving greater Washington’s diverse urban community, including individuals who face barriers to accessing care, and with special expertise in LGBT and HIV care. We offer a full line of healthcare services including (1) comprehensive outpatient offerings for medical and dental healthcare; (2) an on-site Pharmacy; (3) legal support in the areas of access to healthcare, public benefits, and private insurance, discrimination and workplace rights, immigration, transgender rights, and others; (4) behavioral healthcare provided through individual and group therapy; and (5) confidential HIV testing and counseling services.

About the Medical Assistant Externship/Internship

The Medical Assistant Externship/Internship is supervised by a Manager of Medical Assistants located at either Max Robinson Center 1201 Sycamore Drive, SE Washington DC 20032, and/or 1525 14th Street NW.

During that time, the Medical Assistant will learn how to provide clinical health care under the supervision of an experienced manager, lead MA and licensed clinician.

Interns should demonstrate some level of commitment in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as HIV/AIDS-infected and affected individuals. Interns are required to obtain 100 clinical experience hours.

Interns will spend 5 weeks learning Whitman-Walker's approach to developing the best professionals by working with experienced team leads and management.

Weekly schedules for the Medical Assistant intern would be Monday-Friday; 8:30 am-12:30 pm totaling 20 hours per week.

Key Learning Objectives

Professional Development:

• Performs and behaves according to Whitman-Walker’s mission, cultural norms, and core values of dignity, respect, affirmation, and humility.
• Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients/clients/staff.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service by identifying and exceeding customer requirements.
• Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to HIPAA requirements.
• Maintains data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances.
• Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meet deadlines, and re-prioritize as needed.
• Participates in organizational quality and performance improvement activities.

Objectives to achieve:

• Clocks in and out via email to supervisor when arriving as well as leaving for the day daily.
• Gives intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injections under the supervision of an appropriate clinician, as ordered by a physician NP, or PA and within practice limit. Obtains verification before giving any injection.
• Efficiently and accurately records vital signs, documents activities/results, and maintains records within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) based on WWH guidelines and standards.
• Assists patients in preparing for medical exams and procedures.
• Assists provider as needed with procedures and/or protocols.
• Requests that supplies are ordered as necessary and maintain a clean, sanitary environment at the Health Center.
• Prepares exam rooms for patient visits. This includes but is not limited to checking exam rooms for expired items daily, stocking exam rooms daily with necessary items, and cleaning room in between each client as well as at the end of each clinic day.
• Scans and attaches reports/consult notes to orders/referrals or patient documents during downtime or assigned admin time.
• Calls for outstanding reports/consult notes before the client’s scheduled follow-up appointments with WWH providers.
• Completes, faxes, scans, and assigns all ROIs obtained during downtime or during assigned admin time per departmental procedure.
• Daily Team Review of clinical schedule to promote efficiency, communication, and advanced preparation among all members of the medical team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements listed below may apply.

Eligibility:

• Students must be members of an institution that has a work-study agreement with Whitman Walker.

• Must meet the institution criteria to be eligible to participate.

• Must be able to attend a half-day orientation and complete required additional in-person training, surveys via ADP, and compliance training through the compliance platform.

• Must comply with all regulations of the internship and policies of Whitman-Walker, and the affiliated Institution.

Application process:

To apply, students must upload a resume and cover letter. If selected, students must submit a letter of agreement from the affiliated institution and a student identification card. Students will be selected on a rolling basis and based on availability.