Patient Services Associate I

CommonSpirit Health; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health’s Pacific Central Coast Health Centers (PHC) seeks a Patient Services Professional to be the welcoming voice and central administrative support for clinical operations. You will manage phone communications, schedule appointments, verify insurance, and handle referrals with care to protect patient privacy.

Your role emphasizes excellent communication, meticulous attention to detail, and strong organizational skills to support patient care and smooth clinic workflow.

Qualifications

• Prior customer-related service experience.
• Six months’ experience in outpatient setting as a Medical Office Receptionist or equivalent in high-volume environment.
• Experience with multi-line phones.

Responsibilities

• Manage phone-based patient interactions and overall front-desk communications.
• Handle patient demographics, insurance verification, appointments, and scheduling.
• Process referrals, authorizations, pre-registrations, and other clerical tasks.
• Maintain patient privacy and secure handling of sensitive information.
• Provide proactive, courteous service to support clinic goals.

Skills

Customer service

Phone handling

Communication

Attention to detail

Tools

Multi-line phone system

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Patient Services Professional, you will be the welcoming voice and central administrative support, ensuring seamless patient experiences and efficient clinic operations through diverse engagements. Every day, you will expertly manage phone customer service, distribute communications, and handle patient information like demographics, insurance verification, and appointment scheduling. You'll also process referrals, authorizations, pre-registrations, and other clerical tasks, adapting to clinic needs while responsibly handling sensitive data. To be successful in this role, you will possess exceptional communication, meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and system proficiency. Your proactive service, adaptability, and responsible handling of information are crucial for patient care and clinic goals.

• Consistently demonstrates customer service expectations.
• Uses scripted closing at every interaction. 'Is there anything else I can do for you' Over the phone and as patients leave the clinic.
• Engages in professional business related conversations in patient areas and avoids personal conversations where patients may hear them.
• Keeps patient informed about appointment delays and offers solutions every 10 minutes.
• Consistently demonstrates competence as outlined in the job description.
• Meets or exceeds telephone performance expectations consistently by answering within 3 rings and keeping abandonment rates below 5%.

Job Requirements

Required

• Prior customer related service experience

Preferred

• Six (6) months' experience in an outpatient setting as a Medical Office Receptionist or
• Equivalent amount ofexperience in a high-volume customer service role in another industry/environment.
• Experience with multi-line phones.

Where You'll Work

Dignity Health's Pacific Central Coast Health Centers (PHC) is a non-profit Community clinic organization comprised of more than 40 health centers located primarily from Ventura to Templeton, spanning the coast. Our experienced physicians and advanced practice providers offer a wide range of primary and specialty care services. PHC is a part of Dignity Health Central Coast's award-winning network of outstanding hospitals, imaging centers, laboratories, and post-acute services.

One Community. One Mission. One California