Patient Access & Front Desk Specialist

Montgomery College; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Patient Service Specialist to be the first point of contact for patients and visitors. You will handle registration, scheduling, financial clearance, and communications to ensure accurate, efficient care access in a fast-paced clinical setting.

The role emphasizes empathy, accuracy, and professional teamwork, with responsibilities spanning every step from check-in to payments and records management, all while maintaining HIPAA compliance and patient privacy.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED (or equivalent experience) Minimum 3 years of administrative or customer service experience, with at least 1 year in a healthcare or medical office setting preferred
• Experience using electronic medical records (EMR) and scheduling systems is beneficial
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills are essential

Responsibilities

• Patient Experience & Front Desk Operations: Welcome patients and visitors with a professional, courteous, and empathetic approach; manage check-in/out with accurate identification; communicate wait times and updates; maintain a clean, patient-ready reception area.
• Scheduling & Access Management: Schedule, confirm, and modify appointments; coordinate referrals and tests; ensure alignment with provider schedules and patient needs; support same-day scheduling.
• Communication & Call Management: Answer calls, route messages in the EMR, manage transfers and escalation; provide clear information to patients and care teams.
• Registration, Insurance & Financial Coordination: Verify demographics and insurance; validate payer hierarchy; identify requirements for referral/authorization; collect co-pays and balances; provide receipts.
• Revenue Cycle & Cash Handling: Collect payments; reconcile cash; meet front-end collection metrics; prepare deposits; ensure financial controls.
• Medical Records & Documentation: Prepare charts; scan and index documents; process records requests; ensure HIPAA compliance.
• Team Collaboration & Operational Excellence: Partner with clinical staff, leadership, and support teams to improve workflows and ensure compliance.

Skills

Customer Service Excellence

Communication & Active Listening

Attention to Detail

Multitasking

Emotional Intelligence

Professionalism

Problem-Solving

Teamwork & Collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Patient Service Specialist to be the first point of contact for patients and visitors. You will handle registration, scheduling, financial clearance, and communications to ensure accurate, efficient care access in a fast-paced clinical setting.

The role emphasizes empathy, accuracy, and professional teamwork, with responsibilities spanning every step from check-in to payments and records management, all while maintaining HIPAA compliance and patient privacy.