Patient Access Specialist-7a-7p w. rotating weekends - Admitting

Entry-level role focused on accurate and efficient patient admitting, registration, bed placement, and financial analysis for all patients entering the healthcare system. Responsibilities include compliance with managed care contracts and CMS regulations, professional patient interactions, financial responsibility notifications, and collections. Requires empathy, professionalism, confidentiality, and strong communication skills tailored to diverse patient needs. Must work effectively with third-party payers, other departments, and handle stressful situations in a fast-paced clinical environment.

Responsibilities

• Register and activate scheduled, walk-in, add-on, and emergency room patients by gathering all demographic, financial, and regulatory information required for billing.
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for outpatient and inpatient patients, including pre-certification validation.
• Calculate patient liability at the point of registration and communicate financial responsibilities.
• Collect patient financial liabilities and review prior bad debts to request payment of outstanding balances.
• Alert Financial Advocates of accounts with financial clearance issues and document patient liability status for timely processing.
• Coordinate with financial counseling services to facilitate applications for State Agency or Charity for accounts with inadequate coverage.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills to patients, physicians, and visitors through verbal and action-oriented interactions.
• Support departmental pre-collections goals as defined by revenue cycle management.
• Maintain comprehensive understanding of healthcare system patient access policies and enforce established processes.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required).
• Graduate of Medical Secretary Program (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, perform arithmetic, multiplication/division, including fractions and decimals.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with computers, fax machines, copiers, and multiline telephones.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal communication, and telephone etiquette.
• Ability to multitask and manage high volumes in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of basic registration and third-party payers (preferred).
• Work experience in a physician front office, insurance/healthcare call center, or familiarity with medical terminology, CPT, ICD-9 codes, and insurance coding/billing (preferred).
• Certified Healthcare Access Associate from NAHAM (preferred).

Skills

• Empathy and professionalism in patient interactions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to tailor communications to diverse patient age groups and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Commitment to teamwork and adaptability in a clinical setting.
• Moderate physical requirements: sitting, standing, stooping, bending, and use of portable computers.

Schedule

• 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM with rotating weekends.

Location: Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga, TN