Practice Assistant (40 hr, Day)

Beth Israel Lahey Health; Needham (MA); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Beth Israel Lahey Health in Needham, MA is seeking a Practice Assistant who combines administrative support with medical assistant duties in our outpatient clinics. You will handle scheduling, check-in/out, referrals and chart prep, ensuring smooth clinic operations and patient readiness.

The role demands strong communication, problem solving, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks while maintaining confidentiality and a patient-first approach.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance multi-tasks.
• Understanding of medical terminology and ability to handle a heavy and diverse workload.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a liaison between patients, referring physicians, other hospital services, external customers and the physicians.
• Patient scheduling, check-in, check-out, co pay collection, patient follow-up, phone call management, billing, medical records, and other administrative activities.
• Manages referrals, and submits Prior Authorizations for imaging studies as needed.
• Ensures the effectiveness of clinic operations and maintains a professional appearance and environment.
• Responds to patient inquiries and resolves issues by working with providers and staff.
• Assists with chart preparation in advance of patients’ visits, in collaboration with co-workers.
• Greets and escorts patients to exam room; completes vital signs and weights as needed.
• Calls in prescriptions to pharmacies as ordered by physician.
• Organizes daily schedules for the department and inventories orders.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Problem solving

Multitasking

Professionalism

Medical terminology

Education

High School Diploma

Medical assisting certification preferred

Tools

Meditech

Outlook

Caretracker

Job description

When you join the growing BILH team, you’re not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Reports to The Director of Outpatient Clinics or Practice Manager, the Practice Assistant encompasses both administrative support and medical assistant support to the outpatient clinics. This position is responsible for delivering the highest quality service to patients while contributing to the smooth functioning of practice operations including some or all of the following responsibilities:

• Requires problem-solving skills, a positive approach to teamwork, strong communication skills, the ability to handle multiple priorities, attention to detail and a focus on customer service.
• Assists in maintaining an organized, clean and
  professional physical environment in the clinic.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, referring physicians, other hospital services, external customers and the physicians.
• Assists with the patient preparation for patient’s office visit and ensures the highest quality care for patients seen in the outpatient clinics, by supporting the physicians and by supporting the operational needs of the department.

Job Description:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Acts as a liaison between patients, referring physicians, other hospital services, external customers and the physicians.
• Patient scheduling, check-in, check-out, co pay collection, patient follow-up, phone call management, billing, medical records, and other administrative activities such as supply management and correspondence.
• Manages referrals, and submit Prior Authorizations for imaging studies as needed
• Ensures the effectiveness of the clinic operations and maintains a professional appearance and environment.
• Ensures that patient’s needs are met. Responds to patient inquiries and resolves issues by working with providers and staff in a professional manner. Ensures patient satisfaction is a priority.
• Reports on-going problems to the director.
• Assists with chart preparation in advance of patients’ visits, in collaboration with co-workers.
• Greets and escorts patients to exam room.
• Completes vital signs and weights, as necessary.
• Call in prescriptions to pharmacies as ordered by physician.
• Problem-solves patient issues such as referrals, appointments, and test questions.
• Checks voice mail messages throughout day and communicates unresolved issues to appropriate staff member. Checks mail and operates fax, copier and printer daily.
• Assists patient as needed, i.e. wheelchairs, changing, bathroom, etc.
• Keeps exam rooms clean and insures supplies are stocked as needed.
• Organizes daily schedules for the department.
• Assists physician with EKG’s, EMG’s, casting, urine dipstick as needed per specialty.
• Enters billing charges into Meditech and CCC.
• Compiles reports, tests, etc and scans needed information into electronic medical record.
• Inventories and orders office and clinic supplies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• High School Diploma
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance multi-tasks
• Ability to maintain high level of professionalism and strict confidentiality
• Understanding of medical terminology and ability to handle, in a professional manner, a heavy and diverse work load in an active healthcare environment
• Computer skills required. (ie Outlook/Meditech, Caretracker, etc.)
• 1 year of Medical Assisting as well as one year of medical clerical support preferred
• Medical assisting certification preferred

Written Communications:

Ability to read, and write in English in order to understand basic safety instructions and take direction from supervisors; communicate effectively with patients, families and other medical center staff; and respond to basic questions.

Oral Communications:

Ability to understand spoken English in order to follow basic safety instructions and take direction from supervisors; communicate effectively in basic English with patients, families and medical center staff in response to routine questions.

Knowledge:

Ability to demonstrate basic knowledge of fundamental concepts, practices and procedures with the ability to use them in routine situations. Specialized knowledge not required.

Team Work:

Ability to interact respectfully with other employees, professional staff and/or external contacts to offer ideas, identify issues, obtain information or deliver services.

Customer Service:

Ability to provide a high level of customer service to patients, visitors, staff and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Physical Nature of the Job:

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally in carrying, lifting, pushing, pulling objects. Sitting most of the time, with walking and standing required only occasionally

Pay Range:

$21.00 - $28.26

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geographyof work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients’ lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled