Medical Assistant Behavioral Health Department

Medical Assistant – Behavioral Health Department
Reports to: Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Services

Position Overview
The Medical Assistant will support the RN who oversees the psychiatric department within a behavioral health organization. This role is essential in ensuring smooth clinical operations, accurate documentation, and efficient coordination of patient care. The Medical Assistant will assist with administrative and clinical tasks that enhance the patient experience and support the workflow of psychiatric providers. Certification is not required; however, strong attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability are mandatory.

Key Responsibilities
Administrative & Clinical Support

• Assist the RN with daily psychiatric department operations, including preparing charts, updating patient records, and ensuring all required documentation is complete prior to appointments.


• Collect and update patient information such as demographics, medications, allergies, and medical history within the EHR.


• Perform insurance verification for psychiatric services, including eligibility checks, benefits confirmation, and authorization tracking.


• Support the RN with medication management workflows.


• Prepare and organize virtual or in-office sessions for psychiatric providers, ensuring all documentation and necessary forms are completed ahead of time.


• Provide reminders and follow-up calls/messages to patients to reduce no-shows and maintain continuity of care.


• Assist with maintaining accurate tracking of required assessments, labs, follow-up appointments, and compliance-related documentation.


• Manage the flow of messages and tasks in the EHR, ensuring timely routing to the RN or psychiatric providers.


• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA and behavioral health compliance standards at all times.

Coordination & Communication

• Act as a point of support for patients regarding scheduling, medication questions (within scope), and general psychiatric service inquiries.


• Collaborate with internal departments such as intake, billing, and clinical teams to ensure patients receive complete, coordinated care.


• Communicate clearly with insurance companies, pharmacies, and outside providers when gathering information or resolving patient concerns.


• Support crisis triage workflows by promptly alerting the RN or clinical supervisor when a patient communicates safety concerns.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a medical assistant, medical office, or behavioral health support role preferred.


• Strong knowledge of EHR systems, digital charting, and clinical documentation workflows.


• Experience with insurance verification, including behavioral health benefits, authorizations, and eligibility checks.


• High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple tasks accurately in a fast-paced environment.


• Strong communication and customer service skills, especially with vulnerable or high-need populations.


• Ability to work collaboratively under the supervision of an RN and within a multidisciplinary team.


• Certification as a medical assistant is not required.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with psychiatric medication terminology.


• Previous experience in behavioral health, outpatient psychiatry, or a similar setting.


• Strong organizational skills and comfort with task-driven workflows.


• Ability to remain calm and professional when supporting patients experiencing emotional distress.

Work Environment
This position operates in a behavioral health setting with a combination of administrative and patient-support responsibilities. The Medical Assistant will work closely with the RN and psychiatric providers to ensure a high level of care, accuracy, and efficiency within the department.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Work Location: In person