Patient Access Professional I

Nebraska Methodist Health System; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Nebraska Methodist Health System is seeking an experienced Patient Access professional to register patients in the Emergency Department and manage insurance verification and payments. The role focuses on accurate data collection, courteous service, and adherence to EMTALA guidelines.

The position requires strong computer skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced hospital setting with rotating shifts. Prior healthcare registration experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent preferred.
• Previous health care registration, customer service, insurance or billing experience required.
• Medical terminology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greets patients professionally and alerts clinical team of urgent situations.
• Follows EMTALA guidelines when registering in the Emergency Department.
• Verifies insurance eligibility and performs point of service collections.
• Notifies financial counselor as appropriate and assists with referrals.
• Collects and updates patient demographics and payer information in the registration system.

Skills

Phone etiquette

Medical terminology

Computer skills

Multitask

Education

High school diploma/GED or equivalent

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?

At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary

Location: Methodist Hospital

Address: 8303 Dodge St. - Omaha, NE

Work Schedule: 36 hours/week; 9:00am to 9:00pm, 3-week rotating schedule with one weekend and rotating holidays

Registers and dismisses patients in a courteous and timely manner in the Emergency Department. Creates accurate patient records during the registration process through verification of patient demographics, financial, and visit information. Electronically verifies payer source/eligibility, patient financial responsibility, and performs point of service collections, as appropriate. Makes referrals to financial counselor, as appropriate. Ensures a high level of customer service accordance to the mission and vision of the organization. The Patient Access Professional follows EMTALA guidelines when registering in the Emergency Department.

Responsibilities

Greets patients professionally and utilizes triage guidelines to alert clinical team members of urgent situations.

Essential Functions

• Follows EMTALA guidelines when registering in the Emergency Department.
• Follows Code Triage Process as defined by the clinical staff.
• Effectively deals with anxious and agitated people in a calm, professional manner.
• Verbally de-escalates patients and/or family/friends upset with situation/services/requests.

Performs registration and insurance verification accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring all demographic and payer information is correct in accordance with policies and procedures.

• Follows EMTALA guidelines when registering in the Emergency Department.
  • Collects patient identification information to create a “quick registration”.
  • Notifies triage clinical team member of patient arrival and chief complaint.
  • Following EMTALA guidelines, collaborates with the clinical team to identify the appropriate time when the patient condition has stabilized to proceed to the patient bedside to complete the registration process.
• Collects and updates patient demographic information and photo IDs in the electronic registration record. Goes to the patient bedside if needed to complete the registration process.
• Verifies insurance eligibility using electronic work queues and updates the electronic registration record and scans insurance cards into registration record.
• Completes Medicare Secondary Payer questionnaire and other payer specific documents as required.
• Reviews and signs admission paperwork with patient/patient representative.
• Utilizes the translation services, as needed, to ensure accurate data collection.
• Gives patients/representatives copies of all signed documents as appropriate.

Advises patient of financial responsibility in a respectful and courteous manner and performs point of service collections according to policy.

• Communicates patient financial responsibility.
• Reviews patient financial estimates and liability waivers, as appropriate and adds completed documents to the patient registration record. Gives patient/representative a copy of the financial liability document(s).
• Attempts collection of co-pays or other patient financial responsibilities on all encounters as appropriate. Documents collection attempts and reason collection attempt failed. Meets or exceeds POS Collection goals.
• Processes and manages payments/collections appropriately and securely in accordance with policy. Notifies supervisor of any cash discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Refers patients to the Patient Financial Counselors, as appropriate and upon request.

Schedule

36 hours/week; 9:00am to 9:00pm, 3-week rotating schedule with one weekend and rotating holidays

Education

• High school diploma, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) or equivalent preferred.

Experience

• Previous health care registration, customer service, insurance or billing experience required.
• Medical terminology preferred.

License/Certifications

• Requires the ability to provide transportation to other campus locations within a reasonable timeframe.
• American Heart Associate or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) preferred.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Requires the knowledge of phone etiquette, and understanding of some medical terminology.
• Strong computer skills required.
• Ability to open and navigate Outlook, attachments in Word and Excel, and utilize a scanner and copier.
• Requires the skills in basic mathematics to support collections of payments: including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Requires the ability to work independently, and to collect data from patients that is required for entry into the system.
• Requires the ability to multitask, with strong attention to details of registration process.
• Requires the ability to relate to patients in a kind, courteous and helpful manner.
• Requires the ability to relate to fellow workers, in all departments of hospital, and deal with people in a crisis situation.
• Ability to transport/escort patients, and guests/family members to appropriate locations via stairs, elevators or ramps.
• Ability to communicate with others through a glass barrier.

Weight Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.

Physical Activity

• Not necessary for the position (0%):
  • Climbing
  • Crawling
  • Kneeling
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
  • Balancing
  • Carrying
  • Crouching
  • Distinguish colors
  • Grasping
  • Lifting
  • Pulling/Pushing
  • Standing
  • Stooping/bending
  • Twisting
  • Walking
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
  • Fingering/Touching
  • Keyboarding/typing
  • Reaching
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Sitting
  • Speaking/talking
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
  • Hearing
  • Seeing/Visual

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
  • Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
  • Equipment/Machinery/Tools
  • Explosives (pressurized gas)
  • Electrical Shock/Static
  • Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
  • Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
  • Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc)
• Occasionally (34%-66%):
  • Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) (BBF)
  • Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)

About Methodist

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Aff… does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.