Referral Coordinator

Central City Concern; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 4 weeks per year

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer

Job summary

Central City Concern's Old Town Clinic in Portland seeks a Referral Coordinator to streamline external referrals and equipment requests. You will coordinate scheduling, authorizations, and documentation, acting as a liaison between clinic and specialty providers.

The role requires strong communication, medical terminology understanding, and EMR proficiency; Spanish fluency is preferred and CPR is required before start.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree preferred in health or related field.
• At least 1 year of experience in referrals or outreach in a medical setting.
• Ability to communicate effectively, understand medical terminology, and use computer software.
• Spanish language fluency is preferred; CPR certification required prior to start date.
• Must pass pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check.

Responsibilities

• Process patient referrals to specialty services and durable medical equipment.
• Obtain authorizations for referrals, diagnostic testing, and DME; advise if denied.
• Coordinate referrals and financial assistance for uninsured clients.
• Assemble clinical background information and provide documentation to specialists.
• Ensure timely referrals, prioritizing urgent items.
• Input and track all referrals in the EMR system and review monthly reports.
• Assist patients in scheduling appointments and educate about referral processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Computer skills

Multitasking

Spanish (preferred)

CPR certification

Team collaboration

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

EMR/EHR systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Referral Coordinator | Old Town Clinic | Central City Concern

Located in the heart of the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, Old Town Clinic supports compassionate providers and treatment for acute and chronic health concerns, primary care, mental health support, care for substance use disorders and an on-site pharmacy.

The Referral Coordinator is responsible for coordinating specialty care for patients in need of external consultation and/or medical equipment devices as requested by the primary care provider. They are responsible for scheduling, tracking, and reporting on referrals. The Referral Coordinator will provide referral case management while exercising utmost discretion, diplomacy, and tact in patient interactions. They will act as liaison between Old Town Clinic and specialty clinics

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am- 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday Off)

Location: Old Town Clinic (727 W Burnside St. Portland, OR 97209)

Compensation: $25.80 - $34.24/hr

*Final comp will be determined based on relevant experience, education, credentials/licensure, and internal equity. External candidates: Offer max is $29.94/hr per our Union contract.

AFSCME Union This role is a Union Represented position through; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). You can find more information about your representation here www.afscme.org. This position could be subject to Recall Rights: This applies to employees who were previously laid off from a CCC union-represented position. The previous employee may have recall rights to be considered for rehire before internal or external candidates are considered.

Seniority Bid Window Opens: 9/29/2026

Seniority Bid Window Closes: 10/07/2026

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED required. Prefer Bachelor’s Degree or higher in health or social service related field of study.
• One year of experience in referrals or outreach in a medical setting.
• Has the competencies necessary to:
  • Communicate effectively orally and in writing
  • Understand medical related terminology
  • Perform confidently with computer software
• Spanish language fluency preferred.
• Must have a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.
• Must have current CPR certification prior to start date.
• Must generally have the ability to walk, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull and lift heavy objects, and climb stairs with reasonable or no accommodation.
• Ability to adhere to Central City Concern’s drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Work Place Ace of 1988. An employee shall not, in the workplace, unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess or use a controlled substance or alcohol.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check. This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
• Must adhere to agency’s non-discrimination policies.
• Must be able to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliation, cultural backgrounds, life-styles and sexual orientations and treat individuals with respect and dignity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Process patient referrals to specialty services and for durable medical devices.
• Obtain authorizations for patient referrals to specialist, diagnostic testing, procedures, and DME (durable medical equipment). Advise primary care provider if request is denied.
• Coordinate specialty referrals and financial assistance for uninsured clients.
• Assemble information concerning patient’s clinical background and referral needs, providing appropriate clinical documentation and authorizations to specialist prior to patient’s appointment.
• Ensure that referrals are addressed in a timely manner, prioritizing urgent items immediately.
• Process insurance authorizations for Acupuncture and Occupational Therapy services offered internally in collaboration with the billing department.
• Coordinate the usage of community-sponsored grants for exceptional patient services as they are offered.
• Assist patients in scheduling appointments with specialty providers or services.
• Review details and expectations about the referral with patients.
• Act as point of contact and provide direct access to patients and providers with questions or concerns around specialty referrals or durable medical equipment.
• Assist patients in problem solving potential issues related specialty appointments such as transportation or rescheduling appointments.
• Establish and maintain relationships with identified specialty providers and services.
• Input and track all referrals in EMR system.
• Review and maintain monthly referral tracking report to ensure referrals have been completed and consult reports have been received, reviewed by primary care provider and entered into patient’s EMR.
• Outreach and follow up on any incomplete referrals
• Utilize EMR/EHR online portals to local hospital systems in order to track referral progress and retrieve consult reports.
• Communicate with clinical care teams to keep them abreast of specific patients and changes in processes to referrals.
• Educate clients, support staff and providers about referral processes and updates.
• Participate in compliance, quality assurance and quality improvement activities.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access. This includes immediately reporting any breach of protected health information or personal identification information of any person receiving CCC services by CCC or an outside provider to the CCC Compliance Department, as well as to your supervisor or their designee.
• Attend all mandatory CCC trainings in a timely manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to effectively interact with populations of patients with an understanding of their needs for self-respect and dignity.
• Ability to effectively calm patients and deal with distressed and/or agitated patients.
• Ability to be highly motivated, work independently as well as a member of the team, make decisions, and work in a fast-paced, stressful environment.
• Excellent organization skills with strong attention to details.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and medical insurances
• Strong computer skills and ability to quickly learn new software/programs
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with patients, providers, co-workers and outside specialty services
• Demonstrate a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.

BENEFITS:

Central City Concern offers incredible benefits to our employees. We offer an extensive total rewards package to include base wages, medical, dental, vision, and voluntary plans. Central City Concern also takes employees’ financial wellness into consideration and provides a rich retirement match.

• Generous paid time off plan beginning at 4 weeks of PTO accrual per year! Accrual amount/rate increases with longevity.
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with an employer match of 4.25% in your 1st year, 6% in the 2nd year, and 8% in your 3rd year!
• Up to 11 recognized Holidays and 2 personal holidays (dependent on work shift schedule).
• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance coverage.
• Employer Paid Life, Short-Term Disability, AND Long-Term Disability Insurance!
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the position.

As an agency deeply rooted in recovery, part of our policy and commitment to a drug and alcohol-free workplace includes post-offer, and pre-employment drug screens. Please note we follow Federal Guidelines regarding prohibited substances, even for those legal at the state level.

Central City Concern is a second-chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding the consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this particular job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.