Psychiatric -Medical Assistant

Position Description

The Psychiatry Medical Assistant (Behavioral Health Support) reports to the Psychiatric Specialist Supervisor for administrative oversight and to the Chief of Psychiatry, or designee, for clinical supervision. This role provides clinical and administrative support to Behavioral Health and Psychiatric providers, including Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Responsibilities include coordinating patient care, managing provider schedules, supporting psychiatric workflows, and assisting with patient care within the Medical Assistant scope of practice. As a Psychiatric Medical Assistant at JWCH, you will have the opportunity to grow your career while helping to improve the lives and health status of the undersereved segments of the population of the greater Los Angeles area.

Principal Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for psychiatric visits, including required screenings, consents, and documentation.
• Room patients and obtain vital signs in accordance with scope of practice.
• Administer and document standardized behavioral health screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7) per protocol.
• Support medication management workflows, including refill requests, prior authorizations, and pharmacy coordination.
• Document patient information accurately in the electronic medical record (NextGen).
• Assist with telehealth visit setup and patient readiness.
• Maintain stocked, organized, and prepared clinical areas. Behavioral Health Coordination.
• Manage appointments and scheduling for Behavioral Health and Psychiatric providers.
• Conduct triage and assess urgency of referrals, supporting crisis intervention workflows as needed.
• Provide warm hand-offs between administrative and clinical teams to ensure continuity of care.
• Oversee provider panels and optimize scheduling, including waitlist management.
• Follow up on no-shows and reschedule patients promptly; document all outreach attempts.
• Process and coordinate behavioral health referrals within the EMR system.Front Office & Administrative Support
• Perform patient registration, check-in, and check-out processes.
• Verify insurance, payer selection, and sliding fee scale eligibility.
• Conduct pre-visit planning and pre-check-in 24 hours prior to appointments.
• Respond to patient calls and messages regarding appointments, medication requests, and urgent needs.
• Assist with medical records requests and care coordination.
• Run reports and support administrative tracking as needed.
• Utilize the AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank You) communication framework.
• Provide culturally competent,trauma-informed care to a diverse patient population.
• Educate patients on visit expectations, follow-up care, and available services.
• Promote a welcoming, respectful, and supportive clinic environment.
• Adhere to all organizational policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain infection control and workplace safety practices.
• Participate in required training, meetings, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with medical, dental, and behavioral health teams to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times.
• Perform other duties as assigned within scope of practice.

Requirements

• Completion of an accredited Medical Assistant program required.
• Active Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, or equivalent)required
• Minimum 2 years of experience in behavioral health or psychiatric setting.
• At least 1 year of clinical Medical Assistant experience (vitals, patient care, documentation).
• Experience supporting Psychiatrists or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners preferred.
• Strong understanding of behavioral health workflows and patient populations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records (NextGen preferred) and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of scheduling, referrals, and insurance processes.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Compliance Statement

All clinical duties will be performed in accordance with Medical Assistant scope of practice under appropriate licensed provider supervision and in compliance with state regulations.

Employee Benefits

JWCH Institute, Inc., offers competitive salaries for all positions. Employees working 30 hours per week or more are provided a monthly allowance which can be used towards medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums. The agency offers sick leave and vacation accrual, 13 paid holidays, jury duty pay, mileage reimbursement, employee parking, direct deposit, credit union, and an employee assistance program. In addition JWCH offers a 401(k) Profit Sharing plan to employees who work a minimum of 1,000 hours per fiscal year.

Wesley Health Centers, JWCH Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.