Admitting Clerk (Full-time, 7AM-3:30PM)

Merit Health River Oaks; Flowood (MS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Merit Health River Oaks is seeking an Admitting Clerk to support efficient patient admissions and registrations. The role focuses on accurate documentation, insurance verification, and financial counseling while delivering exceptional service.

Responsibilities include verifying coverage, explaining ABNs, counseling self-pay patients, and logging interactions. The position requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-paced hospital environment.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for patient and staff interaction.
• Proficiency with electronic registration and order entry systems.
• Knowledge of insurance verification and billing processes.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Excellent attention to detail and organization for accurate documentation.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Register patients accurately in the registration system and obtain signatures on consent/authorization forms.
• Verify insurance coverage and identify plan codes for correct billing and prompt payment.
• Explain ABNs and other documents to patients and families as required.
• Counsel self-pay patients on costs, options, and financial resources, documenting all interactions.
• Secure and log patient valuables and place patient armbands for identification.
• Read physician orders and ensure correct order entry for ancillary departments.
• Notify departments/physicians of patient arrivals and follow up on delays.
• Assist with bed assignments for inpatients in coordination with nursing.
• Operate multi-line phone system and relay messages promptly and accurately.
• Support emergency codes and facility emergency plans as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned and maintain regular attendance.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication

Electronic Registrations

Insurance Verification

Confidentiality

Multitasking

Job description

Job Summary

The Admitting Clerk facilitates the efficient admission and registration of patients, ensuring accuracy in documentation, insurance verification, and financial counseling. This role provides exceptional customer service, supports patient safety, and maintains compliance with facility policies and regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions

• Registers patients efficiently and accurately, entering all required information into the registration system and obtaining necessary signatures on consent and authorization forms.
• Verifies insurance coverage and identifies appropriate plan codes to ensure accurate billing and prompt payment.
• Reviews and explains legal and financial documents, including Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs), to patients and families as required.
• Counsels self-pay patients on procedure costs, payment options, and available financial resources, documenting all interactions thoroughly.
• Secures and logs patient valuables upon admission, ensuring proper tracking and safekeeping.
• Places identification armbands on patients to support accurate identification and continuity of care throughout their stay.
• Reads physician orders to determine appropriate registration processes and ensures accurate order entry for ancillary departments.
• Notifies relevant departments or physicians of patient arrivals and follows up on delays to ensure timely service.
• Assists with bed assignments for inpatients, coordinating with nursing supervisors to match patient needs with available resources.
• Operates a multi-line telephone system to manage incoming and outgoing calls, relaying messages promptly and accurately.
• Maintains effective communication during emergency codes and supports the implementation of facility emergency plans as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of admissions, customer service and/or public relations experience required
• 1-2 years of experience in a healthcare setting preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with patients, families, and healthcare staff.
• Proficiency in using electronic registration and order entry systems.
• Knowledge of insurance verification and billing processes.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills to ensure accurate documentation.
• Excellent multitasking abilities to manage a fast-paced environment effectively.