Patient Access Specialist

Northwesternmedicine; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a Patient Access Specialist to support patient scheduling, registration and front-line service on the evening shift. This role requires strong customer service skills, HIPAA awareness, and the ability to work across NMHC departments to ensure smooth patient flow.

The position involves careful data entry, insurance verification, and coordination with various hospital teams to provide a positive patient experience during the ED/3rd shift hours (10p-6:30a).

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Protects patient privacy and adheres to HIPAA regulations.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple departments to schedule visits.

Responsibilities

• Responds to questions and concerns from patients.
• Verifies demographics and insurance information in Epic.
• Ensures accurate patient data entry and scheduling across NMHC systems.
• Maintains confidentiality and complies with Regulatory standards.
• Supports scheduling flow and escalates issues as needed.

Skills

Customer service

HIPAA compliance

Communication

Team collaboration

Epic

Tools

Epic

Job description

The Patient Access Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NMHC, adheres to the organizations Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Hours: ED/3rd shift/10p-630a

Responsibilities:

• Consistently practices Patients First philosophy and adheres to high standards of customer service. This includes setting an example to peers, coworkers, etc. by fostering a team atmosphere.
• Responds to questions and concerns.
• Forwards, directs, and notifies Team Lead or Operations Coordinator of extraordinary issues as necessary.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA regulations.
• Provides exceptional customer service to patients which establish a positive first impression of Northwestern Medicine.
• Exceeds all consumer requests and alerts management of issues or concerns that require escalation.
• Correctly identifies and collects patient demographic information in accordance with organization standards.
• Interacts with various hospital departments and physicians offices to effectively schedule and direct patients through the NMHC systems in a patient/customer friendly manner.
• Reaches out to patients to schedule an appointment as defined.
• Performs medical necessity checks as necessary for scheduled services, communicates options to patient if appointment fails.
• Informs patients of any issues with securing the financial account for their encounter.
• Completes out-of-pocket estimations as requested by patients.
• Provides training and education as needed.
• Manages work schedule efficiently, completing tasks and assignments on time.
• Completes other duties assigned by manager.
• Cross-training between various departments will take place to ensure coverage.
• Participates in Quality Assurance reviews to ensure integrity of patient data information.
• Uses effective service recovery skills to solve problems or service breakdowns when they occur.
• Utilizes department and hospital policies and procedures to complete assigned tasks.
• Adheres to all department policies and compliance requirements.
• Avoids putting patient in financial or safety risk.
• Other duties as assigned.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Communicates information to the patient regarding questions about physician referrals, insurance referrals and consultations.
• Collects authorization numbers in appropriate systems as applicable.
• Provides professional and constructive environment for communication across units/departments and resolves operational issues.
• May attend intra/interdepartmental meetings which involve walking within NM Campus.
• Communicates customer satisfaction issues to appropriate individuals.
• Demonstrates teamwork by helping co-workers within and across departments.
• Communicates effectively with others, respects diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledges the assistance and contributions of others.
• Interacts with internal customers to provide excellent support service to staff in departments which provide direct patient care.
• Accommodates all levels of communication ability.

Technology:

• Utilizes multiple online order retrieval systems to verify or print the patients order.
• Verifies insurance eligibility and benefit levels through the use of online tools (NDAS, ASF, etc.) or over the phone as necessary.
• Completes accurate handoff instructions and notes to scheduling staff, by noting appropriately in Epic.
• Demonstrates ability to use all computer applications efficiently and to the capacity needed in this position.
• Runs real time eligibility (RTE) on all patients to verify insurance and follows out of network policies as applicable.
• Sends quality Epic Messages/Telephone encounters that are descriptive and grammatically correct.

Efficiency, Process Improvement, and Business Growth:

• Proactive in preventing issues with patient visit by double checking type of test, preps required, assuring no conflict with other tests, verifying time and location, communicating relevant information, verifying documenting order retrieval in notes for check-in person, ensures there are no duplicate patient records.
• Understands minimum data set required for a complete registration, collects and verifies critical data and updates that information into registration system.
• Understands departmental and individual quality metrics.
• Proactively analyzes account activity, identifies problems, and initiates appropriate actions/resolutions.
• Evaluates procedures and suggests improvements to enhance customer service and operational efficiency.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement activities.
• Provides ideas and suggestions for process improvements within the department.
• Monitors registration and scheduling, including insurance verification to ensure processing within prescribed quality standards.
• Adjusts processes as needed to meet standards.
• Uses organizational and unit/department resources efficiently.
• Acts as a training resource for new staff and a