Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Bonus based on performance
- Competitive salary
- Paid time off
Position Summary
The Medical Front Desk Receptionist is responsible for creating a welcoming, professional experience for patients while ensuring accurate and efficient front-office operations. This position serves as a primary point of contact for patients and works closely with providers, clinical staff, billing, and management to keep the daily schedule and patient flow running smoothly.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Patient Check-In & Check-Out
- Greet patients promptly and professionally upon arrival.
- Check patients in and verify demographic and contact information at each visit.
- Verify insurance information and ensure current insurance cards and identification are scanned into the patient’s chart.
- Confirm required patient forms, consents, and acknowledgments are completed.
- Notify clinical staff when patients have arrived and are ready to be seen.
- Check patients out following appointments.
- Schedule follow-up visits as directed by the provider.
- Provide patients with appropriate paperwork, referrals, orders, or follow-up instructions when applicable.
Scheduling & Telephone Responsibilities
- Answer incoming telephone calls promptly and professionally.
- Route calls and messages to the appropriate staff member or department.
- Schedule, reschedule, and cancel appointments according to office scheduling guidelines.
- Accurately document patient messages in the EMR and route them to the appropriate clinical staff.
- Assist patients with general questions regarding appointments, office policies, and practice procedures.
- Monitor provider schedules for cancellations, openings, scheduling errors, or other issues that may affect patient flow.
- Contact patients regarding appointment changes when necessary.
Insurance & Patient Information
- Verify insurance eligibility and benefits when required.
- Confirm that insurance information is entered accurately into the patient’s account.
- Identify potential insurance issues before the patient’s appointment whenever possible.
- Confirm referrals or authorizations are available when required for the scheduled service.
- Communicate insurance or administrative issues to the appropriate billing, authorization, or management staff.
- Never guarantee insurance coverage or payment; direct patients to their insurance carrier when appropriate.
Payments & Financial Responsibilities
- Collect copays, deductibles, outstanding balances, and other patient-responsibility amounts according to office policy.
- Accurately process cash, debit, credit card, and other approved payment methods.
- Provide receipts and properly document payments in the patient’s account.
- Discuss patient balances professionally and discreetly.
- Notify management or billing staff of payment discrepancies or patient billing concerns.
- Follow established procedures for daily payment reconciliation and front-desk financial transactions.
Medical Records & Administrative Duties
- Scan and properly label documents into the patient’s medical record.
- Process incoming faxes and route documents to the appropriate staff member.
- Assist with medical record requests according to office policy and HIPAA requirements.
- Maintain accurate patient demographic and administrative information.
- Monitor front-office work queues, messages, and assigned tasks throughout the day.
- Assist with incoming and outgoing correspondence as needed.
- Maintain an organized and professional reception and waiting area.
Patient Service & Communication
- Provide courteous and respectful service to every patient.
- Remain calm and professional when assisting upset or frustrated patients.
- Protect patient privacy when discussing appointments, balances, medical information, or other confidential matters.
- Escalate patient complaints or concerns to the Office Manager when appropriate.
- Communicate effectively with providers, medical assistants, nurses, billing staff, and management.
- Help maintain efficient patient flow by promptly communicating delays or scheduling concerns.
HIPAA & Compliance
- Maintain strict confidentiality of all patient information.
- Follow HIPAA Privacy and Security requirements at all times.
- Verify patient identity before releasing protected health information.
- Follow office policies regarding authorized representatives and release of information.
- Keep computer screens, paperwork, and patient information protected from unauthorized viewing.
- Immediately report potential privacy, security, safety, or compliance concerns to management.
- Follow all applicable practice policies and procedures.
Daily Expectations
The Front Desk Receptionist is expected to:
- Arrive on time and be prepared for the start of the clinic day.
- Review the daily schedule and identify potential scheduling or insurance concerns.
- Maintain awareness of patients in the waiting room and communicate excessive wait times.
- Keep front-desk tasks, telephone messages, faxes, and work queues current throughout the day.
- Complete assigned duties before leaving whenever reasonably possible.
- Communicate unfinished or urgent matters to the appropriate staff member before the end of the shift.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and professional front-desk environment.
Qualifications
Required:
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong customer-service skills.
- Ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Basic computer and data-entry skills.
- Ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
- Dependable attendance and punctuality.
Preferred:
- 1+ year of medical front-office or medical receptionist experience.
- Experience working in an internal medicine, family medicine, or primary care practice.
- Experience with electronic medical record systems.
- Knowledge of medical terminology.
- Familiarity with insurance eligibility, copays, deductibles, referrals, and prior authorization processes.
- Experience with eClinicalWorks (eCW) is a plus.
Skills & Competencies
- Professionalism and a positive attitude.
- Excellent organization and time-management skills.
- Accuracy when entering patient, insurance, and payment information.
- Ability to work effectively during busy clinic hours.
- Good judgment regarding when an issue should be escalated.
- Ability to accept direction and constructive feedback.
- Strong teamwork and communication.
- Compassion and patience when interacting with patients.
- Initiative and willingness to assist coworkers when needed.
- Reliability and accountability for assigned responsibilities.