PATIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE - PRIMARY CARE

Independence Health System; Greensburg (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System is seeking an administrative professional to support our Physician Practice. The role involves greeting patients, collecting demographics and insurance details, scheduling appointments and procedures, and coordinating referrals and authorizations.

You will input data into billing systems, ensure accurate coding, and help maximize reimbursement while maintaining a positive, compliant reception area. Travel between system locations is possible.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED or higher level of education.
• Strong leadership ability and organizational skills.
• Independent and critical thinking with sound judgment.
• Legal aspects and liability knowledge for nursing practice.
• Ability to communicate complex topics to a diverse audience.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and secretarial support to the Physician Practice.
• Handle patient scheduling, demographics, and insurance information.
• Manage referrals, authorizations, and patient flow.
• Enter information into billing systems and code visits per policy.
• Assist in maintaining a clean, safe, and compliant work environment.
• Support revenue objectives and collect payments when possible.
• Pre-register patients and act as patient advocate.

Skills

High school diploma

Leadership

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Legal liability knowledge

Communication of complex topics

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary/Overall Objectives

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/Experience

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

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• 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.
• Experience in Healthcare setting.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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.

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

Physical Demands

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.

Physical Condition

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 (company)
x

Operates Heavy Equipment
x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices
x

Rotates All Shifts
x

8 Hours Shifts
x

10-12 Hours Shifts
x

On-Call
x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hr/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

Additional Physical Condition Details

Bending (Stooping)
x

Sitting
x

Walking
x

Climbing Stairs
x

Climbing Ladders
x

Standing
x

Kneeling
x

Squatting (Crouching)
x

Twisting/Turning
x

Keyboard/Computer Operation
x

Gross Grasp
x

Fine Finger Manipulation
x

Hand/Arm Coordination
x

Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)
x

X<10#
x
Carry
x
X<10#

Transfer/Push/Pull Patients
x

Seeing Near w/Acuity
x

Feeling (Sensation)
x

Color Vision
x

Hearing Clearly
x

Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead
x

Reaching Above Shoulder Level
x

Reaching Forward
x

Lifting Floor to Knuckle
###
x
10#

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle
###
x
10#

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder
###
x
10#

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead
###
x
10#