Patient Access Specialist-Full Time

Patient Access Representatives provide customer-service coverage in the centralized front office of Jennie Stuart Medical Center, and assume the responsibility for successful financial outcomes of all patient services. Under the general supervision of the Patient Access Manager, this position performs imperative duties, including but not limited to, registration in outpatient and emergency department, insurance verification, telephone coverage, data entry, and point-of-service collections, while maintaining patient relations, customer satisfaction, and Jennie Stuart Medical Center’s financial solvency.

Organizational Expectations

• Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization.
• Adheres to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and TJC standards and/or standards from other accrediting bodies.
• Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Maintains hospital standards for a clean and quiet patient environment to maintain a positive patient care experience.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
• Complies with organizational and regulatory policies for handling confidential patient information.
• Maintains compliance with organization’s policies, as well as established practices, protocols, and procedures of the position, department, and applicable professional standards.
• As a Studer Partner must have the ability to develop a full understanding of the Studer Group practices and tools and communicate effectively. Must embrace the Studer Philosophy and Principals by conducting him/herself in a professional manner. Will be held accountable to the following Studer Philosophies and Principles:
• AIDET
• Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
• HCAPS Patient Perception
• Demonstrates excellent customer service through his/her attitude and actions, consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for timely and accurate registering of patients. Registers patients for admissions, emergency and outpatient services according to departmental policies and procedures in an accurate and timely manner.
• Demonstrates knowledge of Accountability, human growth and development and the care of patients appropriate to the ages of patient served.
• Opens individual upfront collection log and assures it is in balance at end of shift.
• Understands insurance deductibles, co-pay, and coinsurance in order to explain and educate the patient.
• Verifies insurance coverage.
• Makes appropriate documentation in system.
• Employee demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to the Jennie Stuart Medical Center Mission, Vision and Values.
• Adheres to HIPPA privacy regulations in accordance with hospital's policies and procedures.
• Completes all shift activities and communicates current situations to the next shift for continuity of the department.
• Cross-trained in registration and insurance verification (OneConnection Pre-Registration).
• Understands financial payment options available to patients.
• Other duties occasional assigned performed timely and accurately.
• Request/collects patient's payments and issues receipts.
• Answers incoming phone calls to Patient Access.
• Interviews patient for all demographic information form patients assuring complete and accurate data by maintaining at least a 98% accuracy rate tracked by departmental performance improvement plan.
• Pre-registers scheduled patients.
• Offers assistance and provides direction to patients, visitors, physicians and families in an informative, positive and courteous manner.

Required Skills

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Basic Knowledge Of The Following

• Efficient time management skills and ability to multi-task.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, coordinating and collaborating skills.
• Excellent writing, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Mckesson and AccuReg.
• Medical terminology.
• Hospital and professional billing processes and reimbursement.
• ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS codes and coding processes.
• Superb customer service, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills.
• Various payer regulations and contracts.
• Strong understanding and comfort level with computer systems.

Required Experience

Education

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or related field desired.
• High School Diploma or GED required.

Experience

• Experience with database software applications desired.
• At least 1-2 years of experience in a healthcare environment preferred.
• At least 1-3 years of customer service, administrative, and/or data entry experience required.