Job Summary
The Clinical Assistant reports to the Director of Clinical Services and works under the clinical
supervision of the Provider(s). This role collaborates with Prevention Specialists and other clinical team members to deliver clinical programs and services. The Clinical Assistant maintains certified competencies and assumes the responsibilities of Prevention and Outreach Specialists, playing a key role in providing sexual health services and IDPH-certified HIV Risk Reduction interventions in both clinic and outreach settings. The ideal candidate must demonstrate compassion, cultural competency, and the ability to deliver interventions to a diverse community, particularly serving high-risk and hard-to-reach populations within the service area.
This job includes phone calls, carrying supplies, working with hazardous materials, ability to engage in potentially triggering conversations, managing, and listening.
Background Checks search the Registered Sex Offender Database, Sexual Offenses/Assault charges/felonies, and for any financial fraudulent charges or felonies.
Job Description and Dutes
- Assist providers with general and specialty examinations/encounters in both clinic and virtual/Telehealth settings.
- Educate patients on medication usage and ensure patient compliance to optimize health outcomes, including continuity of care, follow-up, and medication adherence.
- Prepare and administer medications, including intramuscular, intradermal, and subcutaneous injections (e.g., vaccinations and immunizations) as directed by a physician or other licensed provider.
- Measure vital signs and obtain anthropometric measurements (height, weight).
- Identify, document, and report abnormal signs and symptoms.
- Recognize, document, and report normal and abnormal laboratory and test results.
- Verify test order details and select appropriate supplies for each ordered test.
- Determine venipuncture site accessibility based on the patient’s age and condition.
- Prepare the venipuncture site for procedure.
- Perform venipuncture and capillary puncture as required.
- Provide post-procedural care to patients.
- Handle blood samples for diagnostic purposes in accordance with safety protocols.
- Process blood specimens for laboratory analysis.
- Label and match specimens to the correct patient and complete requisition forms.
- Identify and respond to abnormal test results.
- Prepare samples for transportation to reference laboratories.
- Ensure laboratory results are accurately distributed to ordering providers.
Prevention and Outreach Specialist Responsibilities
- Conduct pre- and post-test counseling with clients receiving sexual health services.
- Perform HIV and HCV rapid testing, confirmatory testing, STI screening and testing, urine -based pregnancy
testing, and risk behavior assessments in clinical and outreach settings (e.g., shelters, methadone clinics, harm
reduction facilities, street outreach, behavioral health centers, substance use centers). - Provide culturally competent education on sexual health and harm reduction tailored to client needs and risk
assessments. - Conduct PrEP/PEP screenings for clients who test negative for HIV.
- Screen clients for HPV and Hepatitis A vaccines.
- Engage with the community to promote the use of available programs and services.
- Assist in the development of STI and harm reduction educational materials that are interactive, engaging, and address the needs of high-risk populations.
- Facilitate community-based events and educational presentations on sexual health and risk reduction in a culturally competent manner.
- Set up outreach testing stations to ensure the delivery of confidential health services.
- Ensure mobile units and outreach sites are properly stocked and prepared for testing sessions.
- Assist with inventory management and work with the Operations Manager to secure necessary supplies.
- Maintain a schedule of community-based testing locations, targeting high-risk populations.
- Contribute to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of outreach activities, including testing locations, marketing, and educational resources.
This role requires a dynamic individual with strong clinical expertise, leadership capabilities, and a commitment to serving the diverse needs of the community.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Knowledge and ability to perform phlebotomy
- Knowledge and ability to administer vaccinations
- Ability to develop a rapport with all people served. Must not have any biases towards people living with HIV, LGBTQI+ community, undocumented immigrants, people of a lower social economic status, incarcerated individuals, people who don’t speak fluent English, people who have any addictions, people of another race, sex, gender, religion, or who don’t share the same political/religious opinions.
- Ability to multi-task, working on multiple projects & making decisions according to protocols.
- Ability to learn and pass courses that are required by IDPH.
- Requires patience for others including staff and clients.
- Requires empathy towards others including staff and clients. Requires listening and problem-solving stills to help staff and clients.
- Requires flexibility; work hours, protocols, paperwork, and supplies are constantly changing and evolving.
- Requires personal accountability and initiative to perform the basic tasks.
- Requires networking skills to grow, cultivate, and build relationships for organization.
- Must have excellent verbal/written communication skills and cultural competence in client and community values and behaviors, including experience working with diverse populations.
