Director Patient Access Jobs

Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Patient Access is administratively responsible for the development, implementation and overall operation of the Patient Access/Registration Services. The Director of Patient Access will ensure patient access services/programs align RCH’s strategic initiatives with emphasis on customer service and the overall patient experience.
The Director provides oversight for patient access services provided at the hospital, overseeing the delivery of services that facilitate access to RCH; financially securing patient care prior to or at time of care, avoid bad debt related to unauthorized hospitalizations or procedures, un-sponsored care or incorrect patient payer or demographic data, and enhance patient/family and physician/provider satisfaction with access services. The Director will work with executive leadership, clinical directors and physicians to identify operational and capacity issues that create barriers to patient flow. The Director also interfaces with external entities such as third party payers, regulatory agencies, other health care institutions, vendors, patients and families. The Director of Patient Access will assure hospital compliance with Advanced Beneficiary Notification (ABN), Medicare as a Secondary Payer Questionnaires (MSPQ), Advanced Directives, Patient Bill of Rights, medical necessity, observation status and other regulatory guidelines. The Director of Patient Access leads the organization in a manner that is patient-centered and respectful of all other customers and stakeholders.
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops maintains reports including performance indicators to ensure key functions are performed promptly and accurately.
• Oversees maintains Patient Registration and Patient Eligibility systems processes.
• Institutes and maintains policies procedures to maintain compliance with external regulations and internal directives to assure efficient and effective operations.
• Assures timely and accurate flow of information from patent registration to all ancillary departments, nursing units and billing department.
• Develops maintains process for handling patient’s valuables in Patient Registration.
• Assures the Hospital’s Financial Assistance programs are compliant with regulations, maintains all required data reports, activity logs, etc.
• Oversees process of providing price quotes and making financial arrangements for patients.
• Updates the Financial Assistance Program annually when the Federal Poverty Guidelines are released.
• Assists in the recruitment, orientation, training, cross - training, evaluation and discipline of staff involved in the access functions to drive performance improvement
• Assures staff is informed of regulatory, process, and computer system changes which includes ongoing staff education.
• Continuously evaluates department processes to maintain efficiency and effectiveness always being open to and searching for opportunities to provide better service.
• Oversees the preparation of departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Establishes and maintains an effective financial counseling service for patients and their families. The service should educate patients regarding financial responsibilities as well as providing education and assistance regarding the Hospital’s Charity Care program and other governmental (i.e. Medicare and Medicaid) and non - governmental agencies
• Understands and demonstrates the importance of satisfying the needs of the customer/patient by interacting with them in a friendly and caring way, being attentive to the customer’s needs, and by taking the initiative to maintain communications with the customer in order to provide a secure and pleasant experience.
• Establishes maintains an effective “Point of Service” collection effort.
• Interfaces with internal and external auditors and assuring they are provided with accurate information they require in a prompt manner
• Proactively drives continuous improvement in overall daily outcomes and operations of the Patient Access department.
• Utilize resources effectively to ensure the safe, efficient and positive processing of patients through the Patient Access flow
• Ensures patients receiving care have been financially cleared prior to services being rendered and that prior to discharge, patient demographic and financial data is captured accurately
• Directs the following operational areas of the revenue cycle for the entire Hospital including Patient Admitting/Registration, Pre-Admissions/Registration, scheduling, cashiering, patient financial assistance, financial counseling, PBX and patient communications

It is understood that this job description identifies typical duties for the classification and is not to be considered inclusive of all duties, which may be assigned.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree required.
EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated track record of meeting department goals without an adverse impact on employee morale or customer satisfaction
• In depth knowledge of general business concepts and processes within the healthcare revenue cycle
• Demonstrated success in managing day-to-day operations of the patient access functions within a hospital environment
• Experience in the implementation of an electronic health record prefer
• Experience in establishing and managing a centralized scheduling and registration model prefer
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement and effect transition from a “transaction” orientation to a high quality customer service orientation
• Ability to plan, direct, and control the affairs of admitting and registration departments
• Ability to establish rapport and cooperation between staff in patient accounting, utilization review, medical records, hospital management, IT, payers and all other departments that impact patient access functions