Placer County

To provide routine, para-professional nursing assistance in support of public health personnel in clinic settings; and to perform clerical duties in support of public health services.

Community Health Aide I
Receives immediate supervision from a Senior Mid-Level Practitioner or other assigned health professional or supervisory staff and may receive technical and functional supervision, including medical direction from appropriate medical staff.

Community Health Aide II
Receives general supervision from a Senior Mid-Level Practitioner or other assigned health professional or supervisory staff and may receive technical and functional supervision, including medical direction from appropriate medical staff.

• Assist physicians, nurse practitioners and registered nurses with clinic procedures; check and chart vital signs and other pertinent information.
• Maintain physical setting of clinic site, including adequate supplies and equipment; assist in collecting and processing laboratory specimens.
• Maintain adequate and effective patient flow; explain clinic, medical and medication procedures as necessary; determine patient program eligibility and collect and receipt payments; assist in gathering statistics.
• Serve as clinic receptionist; answer the telephone; make appointments; assess nature and urgency of patient need; make referrals to other appropriate community or medical resources as necessary.
• Explain various public health programs and services to clients in person, by telephone, in writing, or through community outreach activities.
• Complete paperwork, including billings, according to appropriate program criteria; make copies; sort files and documents; and establish and maintain medical records and other files.
• Perform field work as directed.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Community Health Aide I

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Six months clerical experience in a medical/dental environment is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Required License or Certificate:

• Incumbents in this classification who are assigned to a position allocated as Bilingual, requiring the use of a second language, will be required to be proficient in the verbal, written and interpretive skills of the specified language.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of Certificate as a Nurse Assistant or Home Health Aide is desired.

Community Health Aide II

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two years of responsible community health aide experience performing duties similar to a Community Health Aide I with Placer County, or one year of responsible community health aide experience with a Community Health Aide Certificate.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Required License or Certificate:

• Incumbents in this classification who are assigned to a position allocated as Bilingual, requiring the use of a second language, will be required to be proficient in the verbal, written and interpretive skills of the specified language.
• Possession of Certificate as a Nurse Assistant or Home Health Aide is desired.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Community Health Aide I

Knowledge of:

• General nursing assistance practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand operations and observe safety rules. Intermittently identify and problem solve routine clinic operations; identify and locate supplies and equipment; interpret work orders; and explain operations and procedures to patients.
• Intermittently, sit while typing or preparing records and charts; walk, bend, squat, climb, kneel or twist when assisting patients, handling supplies/equipment or retrieving/returning files/charts; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift heavy weight.
• Understand and accept differences in attitudes toward health problems.
• Work with persons infected with communicable disease.
• Collect and properly handle samples of human fluids and wastes.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work effectively with interruption; and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, video cassette recorder, telephone, facsimile machine, postage meter and photocopy machine.
• Type at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Community Health Aide II

In addition to the qualifications for Community Health Aide I:

Knowledge of:

• Practices and procedures of the Health and Medical Services Department, especially as related to the Public Health Nursing Division.
• Nursing assistance practices and procedures.
• Purposes and objectives of public health organizations.
• Community resources generally available to the public.

Ability to:

• Assess nature and urgency of patient needs.
• Prioritize activities relative to assigned duties.
• Record observations and make routine oral and written reports.