Physical Therapist Support Specialist

Concentra; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Concentra in Chicago is seeking a Physical Therapy Support Specialist to assist the Center Therapy Director and therapists in referral management, scheduling, and front/back office tasks. You will help ensure timely authorizations, accurate documentation, and a welcoming patient experience.

The role supports patient flow, maintains equipment and supplies, and upholds HIPAA guidelines while coordinating with care teams to deliver quality therapy services.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• At least six months of referral management experience.
• Medical office experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of state-specific occupational medicine requirements preferred.

Responsibilities

• Obtain timely authorizations from clients and/or insurance carriers for therapy treatments as prescribed by clinicians.
• Maintain records for all active referrals using the referral module, including status and patient correspondence.
• Process referrals using company tools, ensuring conformity with state guidelines or client directions.
• Collaborate with medical and therapy leadership to follow the medical model for referrals.
• Report denials or delays to leadership when needed.
• Schedule authorized visits within the clinician's referral limits and dates.
• Contact patients who miss appointments and report misses to employers.
• Document cancelled/rescheduled appointments in the EMR and evaluate inactive cases with leadership.
• Perform front/back office clerical tasks related to patient care and record keeping.
• Cross-train to greet patients, obtain authorization, check in/out, and handle calls and paperwork.
• Manage daily therapy supply inventory, equipment maintenance logs, and rooming for rechecks.
• Maintain therapy equipment and complete maintenance logs.
• Support patient flow and inform patients of wait times during visits.

Skills

Referral management

Customer service

HIPAA knowledge

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Overview

Are you ready to take your career to new heights? At Concentra, you will be a vital member of our patient care team and play a crucial role in providing exceptional care to our patients. Our mission is to improve the health of America's workforce, one patient at a time. Join us at Concentra and see how your clinical competency and compassion can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the patients you serve.

The Physical Therapy Support Specialist (PTSS) works to support the Center Therapy Director (CTD) and Staff Therapists, allowing them to focus on providing excellent patient care. The PTSS is responsible for therapy referral management, patient scheduling, assisting with patient registration and check-out, supply ordering, maintaining cleanliness of the therapy department, and may assist with some medical back office duties as assigned. This position ensures that every patient is treated with quality clinical care and is provided a welcoming and respectful experience.

Responsibilities

• Obtain timely authorizations from clients and/or insurance carriers for therapy treatments as prescribed by clinicians


• Utilize the electronic referral module to maintain records for all active referrals of responsibility including detailing referral status, client/insurance/patient correspondence, etc.


• Responsible for processing referrals utilizing company tools and resources to ensure that referrals are processed appropriately based on state guidelines or client specific direction.


• Work with medical and therapy leadership to ensure our medical model is followed as it relates to therapy referrals.


• Report any denials or delays to leadership as needed


• Must ensure all authorized visits are scheduled according to the clinician's referral without going above the number of authorized visits or outside of authorized date range


• Contact patients who miss an appointment and/or report missed appointment to employer


• Document any cancelled or rescheduled appointments in the patient's EMR and partner with Center Operations Director (COD)/CTD to evaluate any cases that may be eligible for closure as an inactive case


• Responsible for clerical tasks in both the front and back office associated with patient care and proper record keeping. Ensure accuracy in documentation.


• Cross train to perform Front Office duties including greeting patients, obtaining authorization, check in/out, communicating wait times, answering multi-line telephone system, distributing employer results/paperwork, etc.


• Responsible for daily therapy supply inventory management, wiping down treatment tables and equipment, washing/folding therapy linens, documenting equipment daily logs, performing Human Performance Evaluations (HPE's), and rooming patients for recheck appointments


• Maintains therapy equipment including but not limited to hydrocollator, freezer, and paraffin and completes corresponding maintenance logs as applicable (daily/weekly/monthly/etc.)


• In partnership with center leadership, assist with patient flow and volume


• Keep patients informed of expected wait times during all aspects of the center visit


• Assist in maintaining a neat, clean, and orderly appearance throughout the facility.


• Facilitate maintenance and required service on all therapy equipment.


• Follow HIPPA guidelines and safety rules


• Complete reports/logs as assigned by center leadership


• Attend center staff meetings or huddles as required


• Participate in initial and ongoing training as required


• May also perform various back office tasks including but not limited to urine drug screens and breath alcohol tests


• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

• Education Level: High School Diploma or GED


• Job-Related Experience
  
  
  
  • Customarily has at least six months or more of referral management experience
  
  
  • Previous medical office experience preferred
  
  
  • Working knowledge of state-specific occupational medicine requirements preferred
  
  
  
  


• Job-Related Skills/Competencies
  
  
  
  • Concentra Core Competencies of Service Mentality, Attention to Detail, Sense of Urgency, Initiative and Flexibility
  
  
  • Ability to make decisions or solve problems by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
  
  
  • Outstanding customer service skills as well as the ability to deal with people in a manner which shows tact and professionalism
  
  
  • The ability to properly handle sensitive and confidential information (including HIPAA and PHI) in accordance with federal and state laws and company policies
  
  
  • Concentra Core Competencies of Service Mentality, Attention to Detail, Sense of Urgency, Initiative and Flexibility
  
  
  • Ability to make decisions or solve problems by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
  
  
  
  


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