Pulmonary Specialty Access Specialist - 141499

UC San Diego Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 83,527,000 - 110,202,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is seeking a front desk and patient services specialist to support the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center. The role involves greeting patients, checking in/out, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance, and handling co-pays within a busy clinical setting at Hillcrest.

The position requires experience with EPIC/Cadence, strong record-keeping, and excellent communication. This 80% appointment percentage role entails daily shifts Monday through Friday and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Three (3) years previous related experience in a large complex healthcare or clinic setting.
• Experience with scheduling appointments.
• Knowledge of EPIC/Cadence for use in obtaining insurance authorizations. Required
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records. Required
• Demonstrated knowledge of various insurance types and the authorization process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology, preferably pulmonary medicine and Cystic Fibrosis.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients, check in and check out procedures; schedule appointments.
• Verify insurance and authorizations; DME authorization.
• Update patient demographics; audit billing documents; disposition appointments; collect co-pays.
• Manage petty cash and coordinate with physicians, nurses and staff.
• Interpret policies and procedures and extract, compile, and present pertinent information.

Job description

Payroll Title

HOSP BLANK AST 3

Department

OPC ADULT SPCL CLINIC

Hiring Pay Scale

$29.15 - $38.46 / Hour

Worksite

Hillcrest

Appointment Type

Career

Appointment Percent

80%

Union

EX Contract

Total Openings

1

Work Schedule

Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

Filing Deadline

Mon 10/5/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 9/22/26 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Description

Under supervision within the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center, this position provides front desk support by performing a variety of clerical and receptionist duties in support of daily patient services within clinical areas. Responsibilities include greeting patients, checking in and checking out procedures, appointment scheduling, insurance, and authorization verification, DME authorization, updating patient demographics, audit billing documents, disposition appointments, co-pay collection, managing/monitoring petty cash drawer and working closely with physicians, nurses, staff and other UCSD departments. Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of three (3) years previous related experience in a large complex healthcare or clinic setting.
• Experience with scheduling appointments.
• Knowledge of EPIC/Cadence for use in obtaining insurance authorizations. Required
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records. Required
• Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity with various insurance types and the authorization process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology, preferably pulmonary medicine and Cystic Fibrosis.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment and make decisions with regard to patient needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of general office operations and principles.
• Demonstrated computer skills and data entry experience, especially with charge entry and scheduling.
• Demonstrated ability to determine importance of calls and proper area of referral.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate in a professional manner, both in person and by telephone when dealing with diverse groups of people.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to process a high volume of work in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to interpret policies and procedures and apply them. Ability to extract, compile, analyze and effectively present pertinent information.
• Outstanding communication skills, both interpersonal oral and written, including strong writing and editing skills for preparation of grammatically correct, logical and concise correspondence.
• Ability to communicate ideas and issues clearly, concisely and accurately. Ability to deal effectively with high-level contacts.
• Proven administrative skills using a high level of proficiency and competency, including record-keeping, policy and data analysis, management of complex calendars, coordination of complex meetings, travel arrangements and planning skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision with ability to analyze situations and develop options and recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UCSD telephone systems.
• Familiarity with UCSD/Thorton Hospital policies and procedures, facilities, forms and documents.

Special Conditions

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $60,865 - $80,304 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $29.15 - $38.46

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace