Patient Access Associate - Emergency Department

Hartford HealthCare; Vernon (CT); On-site; USD 24,796 - 30,307; Full time

Job summary

Hartford HealthCare is seeking a Patient Access Associate for the Emergency Department to enter patients into the system, assess triage urgency, and verify accuracy of medical records. You will obtain demographic and financial data for proper reimbursement, secure signatures, and support uninsured financial assistance processes.

The role requires attention to detail, ability to multitask, and strong customer service and English communication skills, with a focus on accurate admissions and timely

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Basic familiarity with PCs; MS Word and Outlook desirable.
• Knowledge of medical insurance is helpful.
• Registration experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Accurately establishes patient account and links to correct unit and patient.
• Completes demographic and financial information per department expectations.
• Obtains signatures on authorization forms for registrations including observations and inpatients.
• Operates department equipment such as fax, copier, printer, and card/payment devices.
• Pre-registers patients for scheduled appointments and responds to inquiries promptly.
• Performs discharge registration with accurate diagnosis, disposition, and timing details.
• Reconciles ED charges with coding vendor and closes monthly.
• Reports discrepancies to Manager of Patient Access and collaborates to resolve.

Skills

Customer service

English communication

Multitasking

Decision making

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Registration systems

Job description

Location Detail: 31 Union Street (10619)

Shift Detail: As needed- variable shift

Position Summary

The Patient Access Associate for the Emergency Department is responsible for entering the patient into the system and determining the urgency for medical triage as well as validating and verifying the accuracy of medical record selection, working closely with clinical staff to ensure quality patient care and patient safety. This position requires the ability to complete emergency room, outpatient, and inpatient registrations obtaining accurate demographic and financial data to ensure proper reimbursement, as well as the appropriate compliant signatures for documentation. Decision making requirements are needed for correct account management. The position supports policies and procedures pertaining to financial assistance for the uninsured, completing attestations with the patients. Identifies and collects time of service dollars.

Qualifications

• A High School degree or GED equivalent is required.

Experience

• Basic familiarity with the use of personal computers and keyboards, some basic skill in Microsoft Word and Outlook is desirable but not required.
• Knowledge of medical insurance is helpful.
• Registration experience preferred.

Competencies

• Exemplary Customer Service and English communication skills are a must.
• Able to multitask.
• Decision making skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Accurately establishes patient account in a timely fashion, eliminating duplication of medical record numbers by linking the correct patient and Unit number.
• Completes demographic and financial information accurately in conjunction with Patient Access Department expectations while accurately determining the appropriate flow type in the Admissions registration system.
• Obtains signature on authorization form for all types of registrations including observations and inpatients and explains all components of the form to the person signing.
• Working knowledge of systems outside of ADT that are required to complete tasks.
• Directs patients and visitors to appropriate locations within the hospital.
• Completes registration process by producing registration form, admission plate, and bracelet for registrant based on registration type.
• Completes registration by assigning the correct physician(s), admit source and admit priority, as well as HIPAA specific information as evaluated through the auditing process.
• Operates department specific equipment such as fax, copier, printer, and credit/debit machine.
• Pre-registers patients for scheduled appointments by responding to pre-registration phone promptly, returning messages in a timely fashion, printing scheduled lists and initiating phone calls as evidenced by weekly audits.
• Accurately performs the discharge function by entering an accurate diagnosis, disposition, referring out physician, discharge time, including time seen by triage, time placed in room, and time seen by physician.
• Reconciles charges for the ED professional and facility component provided to Hartford HealthCare by the coding vendor and closes out month without delay.
• Reports discrepancies and/or issues immediately to the Manager of Patient Access such as accumulative missing records as evidenced by the weekly suspend report and works collaboratively with the Vendor, HIM, ED/PC physicians and nursing to resolve.