PATIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE - ORTHOPEDICS

Independence Health System Inc.; Butler (Butler County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System Inc. is seeking an administrative specialist to support the physician practice. You will handle patient intake, scheduling, billing, coding, and referrals, ensuring accurate information flow and patient access to care.

The role emphasizes professional communication, adherence to policies, and collaboration with internal/external customers to optimize reimbursement and patient experience.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; associates or higher preferred.
• Strong leadership, organization, independent thinking, and sound judgment.
• Ability to convey complex topics clearly to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Process telephone calls and messages promptly, accurately, courteously, and efficiently.
• Follow department guidelines for triage and scheduling of patients.
• Enter patient information into the billing system per policies.
• Code visits accurately based on diagnosis.
• Identify coding discrepancies and seek clarification to maximize reimbursement.
• Assist patients in meeting insurance requirements for continued care.
• Process referrals promptly; coordinate and submit necessary information for authorizations.
• Support patient access to care and facilitate referrals and scheduling.

Skills

Leadership ability

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Perform administrative and secretarial functions in direct support of the Physician Practice. Position has direct customer contact to obtain accurate demographic and insurance information and to facilitate scheduling the patient for appointments and procedures. Communicate with internal and external customers. Facilitate referrals, authorizations, scheduling, and patient flow through the process.

Essential Job Functions

• Ensure positive customer service atmosphere and interaction in reception area.
• Interact with co-workers and internal customers in a respectful and professional manner.
• Process telephone calls and messages promptly, accurately, courteously, and efficiently.
• Follow recommended department guidelines for triage and scheduling of patients.
• Process patient information.
• Interview and pre-register patients at the time of or prior to the visit date.
• Enter all information into the billing system per established policies and procedures.
• Accurately code visit based on diagnosis given.
• Identify coding discrepancies and seek clarification to maximize reimbursement/minimize rejections.
• Enter all charges/codes into billing system accurately.
• Support financial objectives.
• Make every effort to collect payment at the time of visit.
• Accurately complete cash sheets.
• Deliver cash and cash sheets daily to appropriate place.
• Assist in maintaining/decreasing organization/departmental costs.
• Facilitate patient access to care.
• Schedule patients for appropriate intervals and provider based on protocols.
• Assist patient to access specialty care and testing per physician order where applicable by office location.
• Provide instructions and directions based on protocols and physician order.
• Assist the patient to meet insurance requirements for continued care.
• Process referrals in a timely manner.
• Coordinate and submit necessary information to obtain timely authorizations.
• Demonstrate accountability for professional development.
• Act as a patient advocate.
• Perform effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve problems and seek assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
• Assist in department’s compliance with preparing for annual surveys and/or other regulatory agencies.
• Participate in continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
• Support performance improvement initiatives within the physician practice.
• Assist in data collection as directed by the manager/physician.
• Incorporate into practice performance improvement initiatives that have been implemented.
• Maintain the environment of care.
• Ensure that supplies are replenished daily.
• Consistently maintain a clean safe environment.
• Cognitive ability to function and concentrate on the essential and specialty functions of the job at a high level.
• Achieves thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing an essential or specialty function of the job.
• Ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED or next level of higher education.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, and sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous outpatient office experience. Two years’ experience in a medical/billing/fiscal or customer service function strongly preferred.
• Medical terminology and third-party health care coverage experience preferred.

License, Certification & Clearances

• PA Act 34 Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Clearance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Regular, consistent, on‑site and timely attendance.
• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on‑call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between IHS locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to IHS’s missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Independence Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Independence Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Independence Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle

x

Operates Heavy Equipment

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

x

Rotates All Shifts

8 Hours Shifts

x

10-12 Hours Shifts

x

On-Call

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk)

x

Travel Between Sites

x

Direct Patient Care

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

Eye Protection

x

Head Protection (hard hat)

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

Latex Exposure

x

Solvent Exposure

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

x

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

x

Mist Exposure

x

Wax Stripper (direct use)

x

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Laser Exposure

x

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle

x

Operates Heavy Equipment

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

x

Rotates All Shifts

8 Hours Shifts

x

10-12 Hours Shifts

x

On-Call

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk)

x

Travel Between Sites

x

Direct Patient Care

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

Eye Protection

x

Head Protection (hard hat)

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

Latex Exposure

x

Solvent Exposure

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

x

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

x

Mist Exposure

x

Wax Stripper (direct use)

x

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Laser Exposure

x

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required