PATIENT ASSOCIATE

About the role

Apicha Community Health Center aims to improve community health by providing access to comprehensive primary care, preventive health services, mental health, and supportive services. The center is dedicated to delivering high-quality, culturally competent services that enhance the quality of life. It also advocates for and offers a welcoming environment for underserved and vulnerable populations. We are seeking a Patient Associate for our Jackson Heights location. Position Summary: The Patient Associate registers patients, collects co-pays and payments for services and enters registration information in EMR.

Responsibilities

• Customer Service: Receive persons presenting to clinic reception area.
• Patient registration: Collect co-pays and payments for services from patients; collect and enter registration information in EMR.
• Telephone: Receive incoming telephone calls, redirects those calls and/or records messages.
• Patient flow: Assist with patient flow; schedule patients efficiently, follow up with patients for missed appointments.
• Administration: Verify patient insurance eligibility prior to appointments; obtain pre-authorization to provide medical services to patients who have a non-participating insurance; confirm appointments, follow up for missed or cancelled appointments; perform light bookkeeping, filing, maintenance of an appropriate office environment.
• Compliance: Ensure that patient records are accurate and complete, and that patient confidentiality is strictly maintained; comply with agency policies and procedures and regulatory requirements; represent agency and its services.
• QA/QI: Participate in Quality Improvement activities.
• Collaboration: Participate in patient recruitment and retention activities; assist with referrals to external agencies/services.

Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED with 2 years of working experience required.
• Some college education with 1 year of working experience preferred.
• Excellent customer service skills required.
• Experience in outpatient clinic reception preferred.
• Written and verbal communication skills in English required.
• Proficiency in common office software (Word, Excel), and ability to enter data accurately required.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Ability to sit in front of computer long hours required.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development.
• Experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS preferred.
• Able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to speak Spanish language preferred.
• Knowledge of eClinicalWorks EMR preferred.