PATIENT ACCESS SPECIALIST

Fairfield Memorial Hospital Association; Fairfield (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) Retirement Plan

PPO Health Insurance Plan

HDHP Health Insurance Plan w/ HSA

Dental Insurance Plan

Vision Insurance Plan

Short and Long Term Disability

Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Schedules

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

Fairfield Memorial Hospital is seeking a Patient Access Specialist to join the Hospital Admitting team. You will collect demographic and insurance information, verify coverage, and register admissions, outpatient visits, and ED encounters with a focus on accuracy and customer service.

You will operate the switchboard, handle cashiering, and assist patients throughout their visit, while maintaining HIPAA compliance and contributing to patient satisfaction and revenue integrity.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Preferred coursework in healthcare administration or related field.
• Experience in patient registration or hospital admitting is a plus.
• Experience with electronic health records and insurance verification helpful.
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute and maintain accuracy.
• Demonstrated confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Interview patients or authorized representatives to collect demographic and insurance information.
• Verify insurance coverage and obtain required documentation for reimbursement.
• Register inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, and ED encounters.
• Prepare patient identification bracelets and assist with room assignments.
• Process discharges, transfers, and census-related tasks.
• Operate multi-line switchboard and paging systems professionally.
• Perform cashiering and process daily financial reports accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information per HIPAA and hospital policy.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

HIPAA knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Data entry systems

MS Office

Job description

NATURE OF WORKFairfield Memorial Hospital is seeking a customer focused and detail oriented Patient Access Specialist to join our Hospital Admitting team. This position serves as a key point of contact for patients, families, and visitors by facilitating inpatient admissions, outpatient registrations, and emergency department registrations while ensuring the highest level of customer service and accuracy. The Patient Access Specialist plays an essential role in the patient experience by collecting and verifying demographic and insurance information, maintaining accurate patient records, operating the hospital switchboard, performing cashier functions, and assisting patients and visitors throughout their time at FMH. This position supports organizational goals related to patient satisfaction, revenue integrity, and operational excellence while upholding the hospital's commitment to compassionate, high quality care.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESInterview patients, family members, or authorized representatives to collect and accurately enter demographic, insurance, and guarantor information into the electronic registration system.Verify insurance coverage and obtain required documentation to support reimbursement and compliance requirements.Obtain patient signatures for consent forms, release of information forms, Medicare Secondary Payer questionnaires, accident reports, and other required registration documents.Register inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, and emergency department encounters accurately and efficiently.Prepare patient identification bracelets and assist with room assignments and patient escort coordination.Process patient discharges, transfers, and other census-related activities.Operate the hospital's multi-line switchboard and paging systems in a courteous and professional manner.Provide directions, information, and assistance to patients, visitors, physicians, and hospital staff.Perform cashiering functions and accurately process daily registration and financial reports.Maintain confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policies.Monitor and maintain accurate patient records and registration documentation.Participate in performance improvement initiatives and department quality activities.Demonstrate professionalism, excellent customer service, and a positive attitude in all interactions.COMPENSATION: $16.50 - $22.00 per hour + shift differentialSCHEDULE: Night ShiftBENEFITS403(b) Retirement PlanPPO Health Insurance PlanHDHP Health Insurance Plan w/ Health Savings AccountDental Insurance PlanVision Insurance PlanShort and Long Term Disability InsuranceBasic and Voluntary Life Insurance PlansPaid Time Off (Vacation/Sick/Illinois Paid Leave/Holiday)Flexible Work SchedulesProfessional Development OpportunitiesWHAT FMH HAS TO OFFERFairfield Memorial Hospital is a mission focused critical access hospital dedicated to providing exceptional care to the patients and families we serve, with a strong commitment to improving the health and well being of our community through compassionate service, clinical excellence, and a supportive culture that empowers employees to do their best work. FMH offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well being, and long term professional development. We strive to ensure employees feel valued, supported, and equipped to make a meaningful impact. FMH is a drug free workplace, and all candidates must complete a pre‑employment drug screening in accordance with Illinois law. We proudly uphold Equal Opportunity Employment practices and welcome applicants of all backgrounds without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONSRequired: High School Diploma or equivalentPreferred: Additional training or coursework in healthcare administration, medical office procedures, business, or related field.EXPERIENCEPreferred: Previous experience in patient registration, hospital admitting, medical office operations, customer service, or data entry; Experience working with electronic health records and insurance verification processes.SKILLSAbility to type a minimum of 40 words per minute.Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with patients, families, physicians, and staff.Excellent customer service and patient relations skills.Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.Ability to comprehend and follow written and verbal instructions.Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently in a fast-paced environment.Basic computer proficiency and data entry accuracy.Knowledge of patient confidentiality requirements and HIPAA regulations.Dependable, professional, and committed to service excellence.