Primary Care Medical Assistant 1 (9253C), University Health Services #88567

Primary Care Medical Assistant 1 (9253C), University Health Services #88567 About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan , which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride .

Departmental Overview

University Health Services (UHS) serves the campus by providing a comprehensive campus-based health center providing fully accredited primary medical care, counseling and psychological services and innovative health promotion programs for students, faculty and staff. The UHS provides on-campus medical and mental health care and coordinates off-campus care through a network of community specialists and hospitals. Departments serving students include general medical, speciality and urgent care clinics, counseling and psychological services, laboratory, pharmacy, physical therapy, radiology and health promotion. In addition, the UHS administers a major medical insurance plan, the Student Health Insurance Plan. UHS provides services to students Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 6:00PM and on weekends.

Approximately 65,000 visits occur annually including Primary Care, Urgent Care, Occupational Health, and Specialty Clinics. Services are designed to enable students to get the most from their educational experience, minimizing the impact of illness, injury and emotional distress on their academic careers. Medical care and wellness programs for faculty and staff are designed to meet their occupational health needs and minimize lost work time. These visits generate ancillary encounters with the Radiology, Clinical Laboratory, Physical Therapy and Pharmacy departments. The Counseling and Psychological Services department sees an additional 15,000 visits per year.

Position Summary

Under direction and supervision, the Primary Care Medical Assistant supports clinicians and health care team members in providing for patient needs and rendering the best possible care.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 18, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Clinic Reception - 15%

Greets patients, verifies eligibility, accurately completes registration of patients and verifies that compliance forms are complete.

Schedules/reschedules patient appointments, using a computerized appointment system to maximize clinic efficiency. For Specialty Clinic: Schedules appointments for the speciality physicians.

Able to set priorities in balancing clinical operations/clinician support with administrative duties.

Directs or escorts patients as necessary. Assures that patients leaving the area have appropriate instructions, forms and referral information.

Reviews incoming faxes and distributes to appropriate clinical personnel to handle.

May assist with running and clearing weekly unresolved appointments.

Assists with submitting tickets to IT for kiosk or computer issues.

Intake and Checkout - 70%

Documents chief complaint, and all patient interactions according to established guidelines.

Takes vital signs and rooms patient as per unit guidelines.

Documents findings and reports abnormal findings to RN or clinician.

Instructs patient in specimen collection and performs specific testing as defined by assigned unit., i.e. check visual acuity using Snellen chart and urine dipstick, etc.

May assist with examinations and procedures, using sterile techniques as indicated.

Reviews after visit summary and assures the client receives appropriate paperwork before they leave.

Assures that patients leaving the area have appropriate instructions, forms and referral information.

Assists in maintaining smooth clinic operations and optimal patient flow: demonstrates initiative in carrying out duties. Notices issues with and offers solutions to workflow issues.

Handles the advice line, answering more complex questions and referring as necessary. Does not include triage, assessment or advice.

Schedules/reschedules patient appointments, using a computerized appointment system to maximize clinic efficiency. For Specialty Clinic: Schedules appointments for the speciality physicians.

Swabs patients for Strep, Influenza and COVID tests, supports staffing various surveillance sites for COVID tests.

COVID related care as determined by unit.

Clinic Maintenance and Supplies - 10%

Demonstrates ability to use equipment correctly and safely. Notices and reports any problems with equipment.

Performs maintenance on equipment as required.

Keeps inventory of supplies and restocks in assigned area, as needed, including patient education material. May be responsible for ordering clinic supplies.

Unpacks and shelves goods received: must be able to lift supplies.

Cleans and stocks rooms in assigned areas as per protocol.

Processes contaminated articles, prepares packs for sterilization and sterilizes equipment as needed and per infection control guidelines.

Other duties as assigned - 5%

Professional and career development: staying up to date on required trainings, latest trends, policies/procedures and best practices.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated customer service skills, including the ability to respond professionally and courteously to patient needs, questions, and concerns.

Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills to obtain, convey, and document patient and work-related information clearly and accurately.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships and interact respectfully with patients, families, colleagues, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, cultures, and lived experiences.

Ability to understand and follow written instructions, clinical protocols, and established procedures related to patient care.

Knowledge of medical terminology applicable to a healthcare setting.

Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR), patient scheduling, patient tracking, or comparable healthcare information systems.

Ability to accurately obtain and document patient information and recognize when findings or patient concerns should be escalated to appropriate clinical staff.

Experience with clinical support activities such as taking vital signs, rooming patients, specimen collection, point-of-care testing, or assisting with examinations and procedures.

Knowledge of patient privacy and confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA and requirements applicable to medical records.

Skilled in organizing and prioritizing work while managing competing patient-care, clinic, and administrative responsibilities.

Ability to adapt to changing unit priorities and workload demands while communicating effectively and collaboratively with supervisors regarding workload management.

Skilled in managing challenging patient or workplace interactions professionally and resolving or escalating concerns appropriately.

Familiarity with infection prevention, equipment safety, and other safety practices applicable to a clinical environment.

Possesses the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Education / Training

Graduation from high school (or GED) and one year of appropriate experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses / Certifications

Current BLS/CPR certification (Required)

Current Medical Assistant Diploma (Required)

Current CA phlebotomy certification (CPT1) (if performing phlebotomy) (Preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $27.88 (Step 1) - $30.76 (Step 6).

This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.