Patient Access Specialist - Emergency Department Wage

UCLA Health and David Geffen School of Medicine; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

UVA Health in Charlottesville, VA is seeking a Patient Access Specialist to ensure accurate, courteous registration and check-in; you will support clinical care and revenue cycle readiness with precise data handling and empathetic communication.

This role emphasizes exceptional customer service, collecting demographic and insurance information, performing verification, and providing patients with the tools needed for a smooth visit.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent.
• Experience: Preferred not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service across in person and telephone interactions.
• Collect and confirm demographic and insurance information to support clean registration and downstream billing workflows.
• Perform verification functions aligned with scheduling/registration standards and unit guidelines.
• Complete visit documentation activities accurately and within expected timeframes.
• Provide patients with paper and electronic tools required by clinical teams to help the visit run smoothly.

Skills

Customer service

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

At UVA Health, Patient Access Specialistteam members shape thepatientexperience in the moments that matter most: when a patient arrives to the Emergency Department for care.

In today’s healthcare environment, patient registration is clinical in its own way: it requires precision, empathy, and calm execution under pressure. If you take pride in getting the details right, supporting care teams, and making every interaction feel human, this role stands out. At UVA Health, you will join a community known for professionalism, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence for patients and families.

The starting base rate for this role is $17.50/hr. Individual compensation will bedeterminedby the selected candidate’spreviouswork experience, education, and/or experience.

The Role:

As a Patient Access Specialist you are a key member of the team responsible forthe accuracy, flow, and professionalismof the patient access experience. Your work directly supports clinical care and revenue cycle readiness by ensuring registration and check-in steps are completed thoughtfully, correctly, and on time.

What you will do day to day:

• Provideexceptional customer serviceacrossin personand telephone interactions,settingthe tone for each visit.
• Collect and confirmdemographic and insurance informationto support clean registration and downstream billing workflows.
• Performverification functionsaligned with establishedscheduling/registrationstandards and unit guidelines.
• Completevisit documentation activitiesaccurately and within expectedtimeframes.
• Provide patients withpaper and electronic toolsrequired by clinical teams to help the visit run smoothly.

What is an average day like?

Throughout the day, you will balanceaccuracy (insurance, demographics, documentation) with pace, while keeping patients informed and supported at each step of their visit.

Why UVA Health:

UVA Health is an integrated academic health system built for complex care, teaching, research, and innovation. You will be part of an organization that includes aworld classacademic medical centerand a broad statewide network of community hospitals and outpatient clinics. In Charlottesville, the University Medical Center anchors advanced care with aLevel I Trauma Center,Level IV NICU, thefirstNCI‑designatedComprehensive Cancer Center in Virginia, and UVA Health Children’s.

What that means for Access professionals is simple:your role is operationally essential to clinical excellence.Access is where quality, safety, and patient confidence begin.

Why this role matters here:

• You support care delivery across all inpatient units where interprofessional teams work together to deliver coordinated care.
• You join a health system guided by a clear mission and vision, emphasizing excellence, innovation, and community impact.
• You work within a culture that valuesa strongpatient experience, operational reliability, and collaboration across clinical and administrative partners. https://careers.uvahealth.org/us/en/uva-health-university-medical-center

UVA Health advantages you can feel in your day to day:

• Academic medicine environmentwithhigh standardsand meaningfulpurpose, where teams teach, learn, innovate, and advance care.
• System recognized for excellence across service lines, witha track recordof awards andrecognitionacross the enterprise.
• A supportive employment foundation with a comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, paid time off, disability coverage, retirement savings plans, and flexible spending accounts).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent. Customer service experience preferred.

Experience: Preferred not required.

Licensure: None required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires sitting for prolonged periods, frequently bending/stooping, reaching (overhead, extensive, repetitive) and repetitive motion: computer keyboard. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 20 - 50lbs.

The pay range for this role is $17.50 - $26.76 hourly. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as High Performing in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children’s is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.