Patient Service Specialist-Opthalmology-Full Time

Guthrie; Town of Vestal (NY); On-site; USD 24,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Guthrie’s Vestal Specialty Eye Care is seeking a dedicated Patient Service Specialist to manage front-desk operations, registrations, scheduling, and patient communications. You will support clinicians, ensure accurate records, and help create a welcoming visit for patients seeking eye care in Vestal, NY.

The role emphasizes patient-centered service, teamwork, and adherence to privacy standards. Strong communication, computer literacy, and a proactive, detail-oriented approach are essential for

Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED required. Graduation from a Medical Office Assistant school preferred.
• Minimum 1 year experience in a customer service related field preferred.
• Medical office experience and knowledge of medical terminology preferred.
• Comfortable with computers and learning new applications.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients in a courteous, professional, and timely manner.
• Answer phones in a friendly, efficient manner per Guthrie standards.
• Schedule and maintain patient appointments; verify patient information at scheduling.
• Register patients; review and update demographic and insurance data.
• Verify eligibility for major insurance carriers and assist with forms and referrals.
• Quote and collect copayments, deductibles, deposits, or balances at registration.
• Handle daily cash-out and balancing per policy.
• Coordinate between patients, physicians, and staff; keep patients informed of delays.
• Adhere to policies and participate in meetings and quality initiatives.
• Prioritize daily tasks in a fast-paced team environment.
• Maintain HIPAA confidentiality.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Phone etiquette

Scheduling

HIPAA compliance

Education

High School diploma/GED

Medical Office Assistant certificate (preferred)

Job description

Patient Service Specialist – Medical Group Front Office (Full-Time)

Deliver Exceptional Patient Experiences at the Front Door of Care

Ophthalmology is seeking a Full- Time Patient Service Specialist to join our dedicated team serving Vestal, NY.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys helping people, thrives in a fast‑paced environment, and wants to grow within a respected healthcare organization.

The Patient Service Specialist provides daily front-office support, ensuring smooth patient flow, accurate registration, and exceptional customer service. This role is essential in creating a welcoming environment, supporting clinical teams, and maintaining accurate patient information in a fast-paced medical practice.

Your Workday:

32 hours - includes benefits - Typical hours: Monday–Friday 8-5, daytime schedule.

Travels to other facilities

What You’ll Receive:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive health coverage
• Immediate PTO accrual
• Retirement plan with employer contributions
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Tuition assistance programs
• Employee wellness and support resources

Reconized Excellence:

• Best Places to Work 2025 - Modern Healthcare
• America's Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare 2025, 2026 - Newsweek
• America's Best-In-State Employers (PA) 2025 - Forbes
• America's Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2025 - Forbes
• America's Best Employers for Women 2025 – Forbes

Opthalmology- Vestal Guthrie's Vestal Specialty Eye Care is dedicated to ophthalmology services and is part of Guthrie's larger Specialty Eye Care program. The practice provides care for a wide range of eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases, corneal conditions, diabetic eye disease, and other complex vision issues. As a Patient Service Specialist, you help create a positive experience for patients seeking vision and eye care services. You play a critical role in welcoming patients, scheduling appointments, and supporting them throughout their visit to the clinic.

Position Summary:

The Patient Service Specialist provides direct, daily operational front office support in a manner consistent with Guthrie Medical Group’s Service Excellence Standards. The Patient Service Specialist will continually demonstrate Patient Centeredness, Teamwork, and Excellence in the daily performance of their duties. This position requires the ability to be self‐motivated, flexible, punctual, detail oriented, have good time management skills and have excellent communication skills.

Education, License & Cert:

High School diploma/GED required. Graduation from a Medical Office Assistant school preferred.

Experience:

Demonstrated customer service commitment in a fast‐paced environment with a minimum of 1 year experience in a customer service related field preferred. Medical office experience and knowledge of medical terminology preferred. Must be comfortable with computers and learning new applications.

Essential Functions:

1. Responsible for greeting every patient in a courteous, professional, and timely manner every Time.

2. Responsible for answering telephones in a friendly and efficient manner in conjunction with Guthrie’s Telephone Standards. Screens telephone calls, takes messages and provides information.

3. Responsible for scheduling and maintaining all patient appointments electronically. Verifies patient information at time of scheduling and assigns B# / MRN to new patients. Responsible for editing appointment schedule at the direction of practice management.

4. Registers patient. Reviews, verifies and corrects patient demographic and insurance information along with scanning current insurance cards into the patient’s confidential medical record.

5. Verify eligibility for major insurance carriers including but not limited to New York and Pennsylvania Medical Assistance to ensure accurate billing. Complete various types of insurance forms, pre‐certifications and referrals.

6. Possess the ability to inform, quote, and collect copayments, insurance deductibles, deposits, or unpaid balances at the time of registration as per Guthrie Medical Group, P.C. ‘s policies and guidelines.

7. Responsible for daily cash‐out and balancing in accordance with the Patient Cash Control Policy.

8. Performs liaison duties between patients, physicians, hospital staff, organizational departments, etc., keeping the departments fully aware of all necessary information. Keeps patients informed of any delays.

9. Adheres to departmental and organizational policies and attends meetings/huddles as required.

10. Requires the ability to prioritize daily tasks simultaneously in a fast‐paced, ever changing work environment within a strong team structure.

11. Maintains strict confidentiality related to patient health information in accordance with HIPAA compliance.

12. Assists with and completes other projects or duties as assigned including participating in all quality initiatives established by the organization.

Pay ranges from $17.34-$23.96 based on experience

Other Duties:

1. Other duties as assigned.