Ophthalmology Front Desk & Patient Access Specialist

Perlmutter Eye Center & Perlmutter Dermatology; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Perlmutter Eye Center & Perlmutter Dermatology in Albany seeks a Patient Access Specialist to be the first point of contact, handling high call volumes, scheduling, and patient inquiries with professionalism. The role supports front desk operations across locations and requires multitasking in a fast-paced medical setting.

Strong communication, empathy, HIPAA compliance, and experience with EHR (ModMed a plus) are valued. On-site with occasional travel to Clifton Park and Troy as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and accurately.
• Experience in customer service, over the phone or in-person.
• Previous experience in a medical setting (ophthalmology a plus).
• Proficiency with EHR systems (ModMed a plus).
• Knowledge of medical terminology related to eye care.
• Bilingual skills (Spanish or other languages).
• Flexibility to travel to Albany, Clifton Park & Troy locations during the day.

Responsibilities

• Answer incoming calls in a timely, courteous, and professional manner and triage emergencies.
• Respond to patient inquiries regarding appointments, billing, and procedures with high service.
• Provide information regarding services, policies, and appointment prep.
• Triaging calls and routing tasks to clinical or administrative staff.
• Maintain high call‑answering rate and reach out to waitlisted patients.
• Schedule, reschedule, and cancel patient appointments accurately.
• Coordinate referrals with referring offices using the referral spreadsheet.
• Enter patient information into the EHR and review charts.
• Complete appointment confirmations and follow‑ups.
• Handle patient concerns with empathy and escalation as needed.
• Greet, check in, and verify demographics and insurance during visits.
• Maintain front desk cleanliness and HIPAA confidentiality.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Phone handling

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EHR systems (ModMed)

Job description

Perlmutter Eye Center & Perlmutter Dermatology in Albany seeks a Patient Access Specialist to be the first point of contact, handling high call volumes, scheduling, and patient inquiries with professionalism. The role supports front desk operations across locations and requires multitasking in a fast-paced medical setting.

Strong communication, empathy, HIPAA compliance, and experience with EHR (ModMed a plus) are valued. On-site with occasional travel to Clifton Park and Troy as needed.