Vecino Health Centers is hiring a Patient Access Specialist for its growing clinic operations team!
The Patient Access Specialist is responsible for scheduling patient appointments in a call center setting, registering patients arriving for appointments, and conducting eligibility interviews. Includes the accurate collection and record-keeping of payments received for services rendered in the clinic, as well as updating patient information as needed in the electronic health record system.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work Environment
- Unplanned absences and tardiness are detrimental to the operating efficiency of the Patient Access team so must be kept to a minimum.
- Maintains established Vecino Health Centers’ policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
- Acts as patient advocate and liaison with various departments to meet mutual goals.
- Maintain positive working relationship with all staff in all departments
- All persons at the Center, including clients, board members and staff are to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Participates in team meetings/activities and supports the goals of the team, department, and Center.
- Available to cover all shifts and move within functions on predetermined schedule and during peak periods.
Patient Appointment Scheduling
- Schedules appointments per practice protocol.
- Completes reminder calls to patients for scheduled appointments.
- Management of waitlist to back fill open appointment slots.
- Updates, maintains, and documents patient account information accurately in the Electronic Health Record system.
- Demonstrates professional behavior in all interactions and utilizes proper telephone etiquette during every call.
- Answers telephone calls, assesses needs and determines appropriate actions.
- Addresses patient concerns within duration of initial call or escalates to Manager if necessary.
- Reports and transfers calls to the designated staff member for any patient needing medical advice or emergency treatment with no exceptions.
- Manages and processes patient referrals to internal specialties, as indicated by Vecino providers.
- Documents communications, actions, and other data in the Electronic Health Record System.
Patient Registration
- Accurately register patients according to training guidelines when the patient presents for services.
- Ensure that required/applicable forms and documents are presented and explained at time of registration.
- Provides way finding, general assistance and customer service to all clinic patients/families and visitors.
- Obtains future appointments at time of service for clinic follow-up, referrals, and ancillary services.
- Records no-show and cancellations in the Electronic Health Record system.
- Provides eligibility information to patients when receiving inquiries.
- Completes insurance verification and assisting patients with payment arrangements and or fee waivers.
- Utilizing our HIPAA compliant messaging service WELLAPP Messenger to interact with our patients
- Always maintains positive customer service.
- Daily cash collection and reconciliation of cash drawer. Accurately collects fees, processes charge tickets, and enters payment information.
- Perform other related duties as assigned requirements.
Eligibility
- Greet patients and update registration forms as necessary.
- Educate patients on clinic procedures relative to payment of services sliding fee program.
- Collect and assess patient financial documentation for determining sliding fee eligibility
- Ensure Program eligibility forms are completed as required for the following programs when necessary: Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Exchanges and other programs.
- Verify insurance eligibility for all patients prior to the appointment.
- Educate patients and families on insurance coverage and copayments.
- Schedule patient appointments in accordance with clinic guidelines.
- Contact patients within 24 hours of appointment via telephone.
- Coordinate with Medicaid Eligibility Worker regarding eligibility status updates.
QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- High school diploma or equivalency required; college degree preferred.
- Fluent (speak, read, write) in English/Spanish is required.
- Minimum one to three years of experience in a medical office including at least one year of relative experience.
- Must be comfortable working with financial documents (tax returns, pay stubs, etc.) and evaluating them relative to program eligibility
- Proficiently use the computer medical management software entering and updating patient information as required, including, daily input of patient and insurance information.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to sit, stand, bend and stoop for periods of time.
- Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally/frequently.
- Ability to work in a stressful environment.
- Ability to respond to emergency/crisis situations.
- Exposure to noise.
- Exposure to blood and/or body fluids
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $15.50 - $17.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Medical Specialty:
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Medical office: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English (Required)
- Spanish (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Houston, TX 77020 (Required)
Work Location: In person
