PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANT
23030
(Competitive)
The work involves responsibility for performing a variety of non-technical, clerical and record keeping tasks to assist professional staff in a public health clinic or in another public health program. Activities may vary depending on the program or clinic to which assigned. Responsibilities involve various clerical duties such as starting and maintaining health or program records, securing or transferring current information to records, setting up appointments, and assisting medical and nursing staff by performing such duties as preparing for routine physical examinations, performing pre-physical examinations and accurately recording the results for case records or a central file system. The work involves considerable contact with participants in the clinics as well as professional, medical and nursing staff assigned to the program. An employee in this class performs required tasks within certain set guidelines and performs routine tasks independently following orientation to the program and training in forms, procedures and terminology. Detailed instructions are given at the beginning of any new assignments. Direct supervision is received from a community health nurse or public health professional with work being reviewed through observations in the clinical setting and through checks of compiled records. Does related work as required.
Performs non-technical activities for pre-physical examination of infants, preschoolers, school aged children and adults by conducting vision tests and taking height and weight measurements, urine screening and preparation of lab slips.
Assists physicians and nurses in the preparation and conduct of physical examinations by preparing and collecting medical forms, recording non-technical medical information, organizing children, explaining procedures to participants, etc.
Records and maintains health and program records by transcribing medical information from physician's letter and parent's reports, taking medical history information at clinic site, distributing and collecting medical treatment forms and filing records in central filing system.
Acts as receptionist at clinic site, giving out routine information on policy and procedure.
Performs various clerical duties such as filing and retrieving records and forms, registering new participants in the program, scheduling and verifying appointments, issuing identification cards and answering telephone.
Refers patients to nurses, nutritionists and to other public health or community services as needed; refers more difficult questions or problems to the supervisor.
Conducts patient follow-up with regard to missed appointments, referrals, etc.
Participates in team outreach by distributing and posting flyers, disseminating information at health fairs, etc.
Performs miscellaneous tasks to assist public health professionals such as compiling and recording numerical data and assisting in the completion of reports as needed.
Determines supply needs and prepares requisition forms.
Distributes information to agencies by sending posters, newsletters, pamphlets, etc.
May use a data entry terminal or personal computer (PC) for filing or obtaining information.
Participates in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned.
Working knowledge of record keeping and filing procedures.
Working knowledge of clerical techniques.
Ability to maintain records using an alphabetical, numerical filing system or a manual or computerized filing system.
Ability to prepare narrative and numerical reports.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to understand and interpret written material.
Ability to communicate clearly.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with public health professionals, nurses, clinic patients and children and public agencies.
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
There are no minimum qualifications for this position.
10/2005 Revised