Patient Access Coordinator

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is hiring a Patient Access Coordinator to manage patient flow, scheduling, and communication across departments. You will screen and register patients, coordinate tests and visits, and verify insurance in the EMR.

Strong communication and empathy are essential in a high‑volume healthcare setting. The role requires at least a high school diploma and 1 year of customer service, with preferred BA/BS and experience with EMR or scheduling systems.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• One year of customer service experience.
• Ability to work independently, organize, and prioritize concurrent responsibilities and demands.
• Ability to work in a high pressure, time-sensitive, and complex health care environment.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and empathy in an emotionally challenging environment.
• Active listening skills.
• Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone, and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• Experience using an EMR and/or automated scheduling system preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintains the flow of the clinic by coordinating with staff to direct patient location.
• Greets and screens patients and checks them in using scheduling systems.
• Schedules surveillance appointments, labs, imaging, and return visits.
• Assists with triage and routes questions to appropriate staff.
• Notifies and coordinates with providers, nurses and staff on patient needs and schedules.
• Verifies insurance coverage and referrals in EMR prior to appointments.
• Supports department functions and cross-coverage or special projects as needed.
• Participates in training of new staff.

Skills

Customer service

Active listening

Empathy

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS)

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EMR system

Automated scheduling system

Email/computer systems

Job description

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Patient Access Coordinator is a member of the care service team and acts as a professional liaison for patients and families, care providers, as well as other Fred Hutch departments. The role uses critical thinking skills to facilitate and operationalize complex scheduling requests through heavy use of multiple computer systems.

This is a full‑time, hourly position, location is onsite at our South Lake Union campus.

Responsibilities

• Maintains the flow of the clinic/unit by coordinating with clinical staff to direct and monitor patient location
• Greets and screens patients arriving for appointments and checks them in using an automated scheduling system.
• Schedules patients’ surveillance appointments, laboratory services, imaging studies, and return‑to‑clinic visits.
• Schedules Same‑Day lab appointments as needed
• Assembles and distributes appropriate paperwork to patients and clinical staff.
• Triage questions and concerns from callers and forward to appropriate staff or department as needed.
• Works closely with patients, families, visitors, providers, and staff to identify needs, answer questions, resolve problems, provide information and follow up.
• Communicates with providers (physicians, therapists, etc.) technologists, PCCs and nurses regarding the patient’s needs, treatment schedule, and additional requests. Notifies appropriate parties as needed.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates correct code procedures.
• Utilize the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to verify patient insurance coverage, authorization status, and referral requirements, ensuring all necessary approvals are current and in place prior to their appointment date.
• Supports the overall function of the department, and may be required to take on additional duties such as cross coverage, special projects, etc.
• Assists with the training of new staff

Qualifications

Required:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• One year of customer service experience.
• Ability to work independently, organizing, and prioritizing concurrent responsibilities and demands.
• Ability to work in a high pressure, time‑sensitive, and complex health care environment.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and empathy in an emotionally challenging environment.
• Active listening skills.
• Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Coping skills.
• Ability to work independently, organize, and prioritize concurrent responsibilities and demands.
• Ability to use a mouse, navigate computer programs, and use email in a business setting.
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone, and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to identify and triage issues appropriately.
• Attention to detail to ensure scheduling accuracy.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS)
• Previous medical office/hospital experience coordinating physician appointments and patient services.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Bilingual skills.
• Prior experience utilizing an electronic medical record system and/or an automated scheduling system.
• Medical office or hospital experience coordinating appointments and patient services preferred.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $25.72 to $36.62 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H‑1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H‑1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well‑being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12‑22 days per year), paid sick leave (12‑25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

Additional Information

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at [e-mail] or by calling 206‑667‑4700.