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

Merit Health Natchez; Natchez (MS); On-site; USD 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Merit Health Natchez is seeking an Admitting Clerk to facilitate patient admission and registration. You will verify insurance, explain financial documents, counsel self-pay patients, and ensure accurate documentation and ordering across departments.

Key responsibilities include handling patient valuables, armbands, order entries, and communication with care teams. The role requires strong people skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• 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.
• Excellent multitasking abilities to manage a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Register patients accurately in the registration system and obtain necessary signatures on consent and authorization forms.
• Verify insurance coverage and identify plan codes for accurate billing and prompt payment.
• Explain ABNs and financial documents to patients and families as required.
• Counsel self-pay patients on procedure costs, payment options, and resources; document interactions thoroughly.
• Secure and log patient valuables upon admission and track them.
• Place identification armbands on patients to ensure correct identification.
• Read physician orders to determine registration steps and ensure correct order entry for other departments.
• Notify departments or physicians of arrivals and follow up on delays to ensure timely service.
• Assist with bed assignments for inpatients, coordinating with nursing staff.
• Operate a multi-line phone system and relay messages promptly.
• Support emergency codes and comply with facility emergency plans.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Electronic registration systems

Insurance verification

Confidentiality

Attention to detail

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.