Job Title:  Medical Assistant (Fresher Jobs)  

Organisation: United States Peace Corps

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Annual Pay Range: 75,115,111 to 110,085,575 UGX

About Organisation:

The U.S. Peace Corps is an agency of the United States Government, which sends American volunteer development workers to assist in capacity building and technical assistance activities in more than 60 countries worldwide. It operates in Uganda by the invitation of the Government of Uganda and has a memorandum of understanding with government ministries that outline broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda. Volunteers are assigned to government and non-governmental agencies and organizations, community-based organizations, colleges and schools who in partnership enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in Education, Health, and Agribusiness and Community Economic Development. Peace Corps also aims to build cultural understanding between Americans and Ugandans.

Job Summary:   The Medical Assistant (MA) performs a variety of clinical and administrative duties in support of the health unit. The MA reports to the PCMO for administrative issues and works under his/her direction.

The MA is responsible for providing administrative support and, to the extent credentialed, clinical support, including but not limited to; working as the health unit receptionist, actively assisting the PCMO in clinical procedures (*), screening phone calls, taking messages, maintaining records of all international phone calls, coordinating requests, medical appointments, distribution of medicines to PCVs (includes Peace Corps Trainees and Response Volunteers) under PCMO oversight, and other clerical and administrative functions in support of the PCMO(s).

(*) Clinical duties will be performed as approved by the Medical Director/Chief of Clinical Programs, Volunteer Support, with clinical oversight by the PCMO.

Tasks & Deliverables Support to the Health Unit

The MA coordinates responsibilities directly with the PCMO. Must adhere to confidentiality regarding PCVs medical issues and possess excellent interpersonal skills.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Support

• Performs a variety of non-invasive routine clinical and technical services under the supervision/oversight of the PCMOs, which may include clinical tasks such as taking vital signs, administering immunizations, performing laboratory tests, etc. These privileges must be approved by the Medical Director/ Chief of Clinical Programs /OHS.
• Supervising PCMOs are responsible to ensure that MAs perform appropriate health care services. Even under supervision, MAs are not allowed to assist with or perform any unapproved services.
• Responsible for sterilization of equipment.
• Responsible for follow up on results and consultation forms from medical service providers. Ensure this information is relayed to the PCMO for review.
• Conducts follow up with laboratories when results are not received. Files all results in corresponding medical charts when requested by the PCMOs. Coordinates with support staff to retrieve PCV laboratory results and delivers PCV laboratory samples to ensure smooth processing of required tests.
• Serves as chaperone for PCMOs during PCV medical examinations and procedures.

Administrative Support

• Screens office phone calls and takes messages when PCMO is unavailable.
• Places and returns telephone calls in the health unit, including scheduling, modifying, and canceling appointments in coordination with PCVs, PCMO and other personnel, such as clinicians and laboratories.
• Drafts correspondence such as letters, memos, etc. at the request of the clinical staff to PCVs, laboratories, hospitals, etc.
• Routes incoming correspondence to PCMO, stamps and files routine correspondence.
• Prepares mailings, including laboratory samples and medical supplies to be sent to PCVs, training sites and other destinations and forwards them to the appropriate administrative staff for mailing by courier or ground transportation.
• Responsible for photocopying for the health unit.
• Develop and maintain a medical travel/site visit calendar,
• Responsible for updating post’s master calendar with planned medical events, travel and trainings.
• Develop and maintain log system for recording when PCVs are sent to outside consultants and other outside facilities, ensure that reports are received for each event, and cross check invoices against log
• Provide daily status to senior Peace Corps staff of PCVs on medical hold including entering into VIDA.
• Maintains VIDA with up-to-date information regarding PCVs out of site for medical purposes.
• Greet Volunteers and visitors to the Health Unit
• Ensure that phone calls to the medical office during business hours are answered and all actions followed through, takes messages for PCMO’s when not available. Routes incoming correspondence to PCMO’s.
• Maintain logbook of PCV contacts
• Manage scheduling of all medical appointments (routine, urgent, Mid-service, COS, dentists, consultants).
• Responsible for reception and registration of all medical bills submitted by
• PCV’s and local medical service providers. Submits bills to PCMO’s for approval verifying name of volunteer, date of service and services were requested by PCMO, keep updated files of all medical bills presented by PCV’s and others.
• Accompany PCV to local provider, lab or dentist as needed
• Develop and maintain a filing system in accordance with Peace Corps guidelines
• File reports, keeping files in order.
• Assists PCMO in reviewing PCV handbook, Medical handbook and cookbook, updating all necessary addresses, contact information and other details needed
• Updates medical facilities and medical providers’ addresses, contact information and any other information required in this Handbook.
• Manages the health information materials in the Health Unit available to PCV, stocking brochures, pamphlets and books. Keeps a detailed list of any books and/or media materials loaned out.
• Responsible for receiving and registering all medical bills submitted by PCVs and local medical service providers. Submits bills to the PCMOs for approval, verifying name of PCV, date of services rendered and that all billed services were requested by the PCMOs.
• Keeps updated files of all medical bills presented by PCVs and others.
• Assist in downloading, printing and assembling the Trainee Health Records before PST
• Register and prepare labs for shipment to OMS in pouch
• Forward all Health Records to the Medical Records Department in Washington at the COS of each PCV
• Fill out travel and reimbursement vouchers for ill PCVs.
• Maintain confidentiality of all medical information
• Dispense supplies by filling PCV supply requests and packaging supplies to be distributed to PCVs as needed.
• Responsible for requesting office supplies and materials for use at the health unit.
• Regularly updates the list of medical facilities and medical service providers under the instruction and oversight by PCMO.
• Assists PCMO in reviewing the PCV handbook in the areas corresponding to medical information given to PCVs during Pre-Service Training (PST). Updates medical facilities and medical
• providers’ addresses, contact information, and any other information required in this Handbook.

Manages the medical library in the health unit. Maintains a detailed list of all books and media materials such as CDs, DVDs, etc.

• Responsible for the reception, registration, and filing of all medical bills submitted by PCVs and local medical service providers. Submits bills to PCMO for approval, verifying name of Volunteer, date of services rendered, and that services were requested by PCMO.
• Follows-up on outstanding consultant and laboratory reports, ensuring this information is relayed to the PCMOs for review.
• Utilizes PCMEDICS to assist the PCMOs and backup provider in the documentation and delivery of PCV health care, and to document clinical care given as trained.
• Responsible for scanning, labeling, uploading and filing all documents into PCMEDICS after PCMO review and signature, also ensures that three PCV identifiers are on each page of each document.
• Prepares envelopes and packages, including laboratory samples and medical supplies to be sent to PCVs, training sites, and other destinations, forwarding them to the appropriate administrative staff or delivery.
• Uploads PCV passport face pages and visa pages into PCMEDICS, monitoring regularly to assure accurate and current information.

Medical Supply Duties

• Maintains internal medical inventory for the medical unit, ensuring an adequate supply of disposable materials, maintains inventory within the medical unit, and keeps PCMO informed. Responsible for updating internal medical inventory system (as determined by the PCMOs) when medication/supplies are delivered, dispensed and destroyed.
• Assists the Acceptance Point Clerk (APC) when medical supplies are received by ensuring they are transferred to the health unit.
• Provides documentation to the Medical Supply Inventory Control Clerk (MSICC) on receiving, dispensing and disposing of specially designated medications and controlled substances.
• Keeps an accurate control of the expiration dates of all medicines and alerts the PCMOs of upcoming expired medications. Removes expired items from the pharmacy and logs all items scheduled for disposal.

Responsible for organization and shelving of Health Unit supplies.

• Assists PCMOs with PCV medical supply requests.
• Prepares draft orders for medical supplies, with PCMO guidance, based on needs, historical data, and inventory availability. Assists the PCMOs in ordering medical supplies from PC/HQ and local/regional vendors.
• Maintains files, according to fiscal year, of all ordering, receiving and dispensing documents incompliance with Technical Guideline 240: Medical Supplies and Equipment.
• Prints completed form and files with all completed PL 2006 forms according to fiscal year. Assists medical staff in the monitoring of the medical supplies budget. Files a copy of each transfer form from APC to the health unit in accordance with the corresponding order.
• Assists PCMOs in the monitoring of the medical supplies budget.

Other Duties:

• Attends staff meetings, in-service trainings, and retreats when indicated.
• Understands and complies with Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures.
• Complies with Peace Corps code of ethics.
• Files all documents produced by the position in accordance with the Peace Corps rules and regulations.
• Performs other assignments considered as necessary by the supervisor.

Standard Roles and Responsibilities:

• S&S: Safety and Security of our volunteers is Peace Corps’ number one priority. All staff, including this position, has a role in the Volunteer and Trainee (V/T) safety support system. The contractor shall become familiar with Peace Corps Manual Section 270 (Volunteer/ Trainee Safety and Security) and the Emergency Action Plan at Peace Corps Uganda, including the role of this position in an emergency situation. Contractor shall become familiar with protocols for reporting and responding to safety and security incidents and report all safety and security concerns expressed by V/Ts to the Safety and Security Officer, and CD as soon as possible. When appropriate, the contractor shall support Safety and Security for V/Ts by assisting them to adopt culturally appropriate lifestyles and exercise judgment that promotes safety and reduces risk in their home, at work, and while traveling in Uganda.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Minimum Requirements:

At a minimum, the successful candidate’s CV must demonstrate the following:

• Education: Successful completion of a nursing school (technical/university degree), general medical school, medical assistant program, and valid registered clinical licensure/diploma OR
• Applicable knowledge and experience obtained through on-the-job training or under the direct guidance of a provider (supporting documentation must be submitted).
• A minimum of two years’ experience with knowledge of administrative medical duties related to health services.
• English fluency required.
• Basic knowledge of administration of health units/facilities, including procurement of medical supplies and inventory control Possession of a valid local driver’s license with Classes B,C
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Power Point, Access, Outlook, and Excel).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a nursing school (technical/university degree), general medical school, medical assistant program, and valid registered clinical licensure/diploma
• Three years’ experience with knowledge of administrative medical duties related to health services. Clerical and secretarial experience desirable.
• Ability to work and related effectively with diplomacy and tact with a diverse group of staff, businesspeople, property owners and vendors.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Power Point, Access, Outlook, and Excel).

Only Electronic Submissions will be accepted.

Please submit Word formatted documents to ug-applications@peacecorps.gov

• A letter of interest (maximum 1 page),
• A resume (maximum 3 pages)
• Names and contact information for three references (1 page)

Clearly indicate your name and the position applied for on the subject line of the cover email as well as on all the attachments: For example, “ODONG Richard_Medical Assistant”. Do not write any other words in the subject line of your mail.