Senior Clerk

Lake County, IL; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is seeking a Senior Clerk to support the clinical operations team with clerical duties and problem-solving. The role emphasizes patient check-in, accurate data entry, and coordination with the patient care team to ensure timely service and proper financial processing.

The Senior Clerk will lead small tasks and projects, assist in training staff, and help maintain smooth office operations across the clinic.

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or GED with two years of office experience, preferably in healthcare.
• Experience handling patient demographics and third-party coverage.
• Ability to train new clerical staff.

Responsibilities

• Check in patients for all providers and site services.
• Enter patient demographics and update changes.
• Verify third-party coverage at each visit following procedures.
• Explain discounts, fees and payment requirements; collect payments and issue receipts.
• Assist in training of new clerical staff and act as resource for staff.

Skills

Clerical duties

Patient check-in

Billing & payments

Documents review

Team leadership

Education

High School Diploma or GED

2 years office experience

Job description

The Senior Clerk is a valuable member of our Clinical Operations team who responsible for a variety of clerical duties utilizing a high degree of independent judgment, problem solving and initiative. Facilitates and supports patient in treatment and payment issues. Performs analysis and review of documentation including financial and medical records. Work is performed in accordance with prescribed methods and procedures. Responsibilities include performing at a proficient level and lending support to patient care team. Able to be a team leader on tasks and projects.

Scheduled Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• Monday - Friday, possible evenings and/or Saturdays

• Check in patients for all providers and appropriate site services.
• Enters patient demographic information and updates as changes occur.
• Enters Primary Care Provider (PCP) information in patient’s demographics.
• Verifies third party coverage at every visit following established procedures for each payer.
• Explains discounts, nominal fees and payment requirements.
• Calculates sliding fee eligibility based on client income according to established procedures.
• Collects payment for visits and makes receipts and balances cash bags following established procedures.
• Refers patients to navigators following written procedures.
• Assists in training of new clerical staff following established office procedures.
• Acts as a resource for clerical and program staff at assigned clinic.
• Prepares clinic daily deposits for bank in absence of Office Manager.
• Ensures effective, accurate and efficient office operations.
• Participates in and promotes efficient office function.
• Implements specific office or programmatic functions.
• Coordinates customer satisfaction surveys.
• Assists in training of all staff when policy or procedure changes are made.
• Participates and promotes efficient office function.
• Prepares complex reports.
• Interviews clients regarding financial arrangements for payment.
• Calculates sliding fee eligibility based on client income.
• Collects payment for visits, makes receipts and balances cash received.
• Makes, reschedules appointments and follows up on no-shows.
• Sets and follows up on patient recalls.
• Maintains medical records according to policies.
• Handles client inquiries and assists in making appropriate referrals or appointments to specific Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) programs or other agencies.
• Participates in Quality Improvement activities on an ongoing basis, with particular emphasis placed on customer satisfaction survey completion.
• Performs job duties in a manner to maximize clinic efficiency and productivity.
• Participates in staff meetings, in-service training and seminars, as appropriate.
• Provides direct clerical care to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate service.
• Develops and maintains a basic knowledge of services available at the LCHD/CHC.
• Develops and maintains a basic awareness of the Chronic Care Model Processes in order to reduce health disparities within our communities.
• Develops and maintains a working knowledge of individual Emergency Preparedness roles.
• Demonstrates adherence to National Patient Safety Goals.
• Participates in quality improvement activities to assess, monitor and improve program services.
• Participates in mandatory in-services and drills, attends staff meetings, and other trainings, including age-specific educational trainings offered on a regular basis for professional development.
• Reports all unusual occurrences that may involve the safety and well-being of the clients, patients and co-workers directly to the supervisor and/or Safety Officer.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Requires High School Diploma or GED, plus two years office experience, preferably in health care.
• Assist in bilingual translation as appropriate.

As the largest human service provider in Lake County, we believe that services must be available without barriers. No residents are turned away due to the inability to pay. We believe in providing services in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination or bias. Whether assuring accessible and effective care, impacting policy, or assessing and monitoring risks, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has been an essential part of the public health system in Lake County for 60 years. We are looking for passionate, qualified team members who can help make a difference in our agency and, most importantly, in our community.

Additional information about the Lake County Health Department, our culture, and why you should join our team can be found at https://lakecountyil.attract.neogov.com/health-department.

At this time, you must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department. You can find our salary grades at https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4515/Salary-Grades. For unionized positions, a list of our collective bargaining agreements can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2686/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements. This position is represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug and alcohol testing and may include a pre-employment medical exam.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.