Access Specialist I ED-Saratoga Hospital

Albany Medical Center•Saratoga Springs, NY

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Department Access Specialist I is a hybrid position combining the Access Representative and Health Unit Coordinator roles, requiring the ability to manage a 'pressure cooker' environment. This role involves rotating assignments within the Emergency Department, including Triage of walk-in patients, ED Zone Support, Bedside Registration, and managing the EMS Desk. The position demands accurate patient identification, collection of demographic and financial information, verification of insurance, and adherence to regulatory requirements and clinical measures.

Requirements

High School Diploma/G.E.D.
Ability to keep composure in a high-stress environment.
Ability to multi-task in stressful and high patient volume unit; must be able to manage pressure of high intensity situations.
Good judgement and ability to be resourceful to problem solve; escalate issues as needed.
Ability to manage contained blood, urine and other bodily fluids.
Ability to handle a multi-line telephone system; paging required.
Ability to push 35- 50 lb WOW.
Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Associate's Degree
1-3 years in customer service experience, or a hospital or clinic setting

Responsibilities

Triage of walk-in patients, including quick data collection, entering information into the ADT System, placing patient wristbands, and acquiring regulatory signatures.
Complete full registration for patients seen by a provider, including General Consent and collection of financial responsibility.
Accurately identify patients in the ADT system, which can be challenging when patients lack identification.
Answer a multi-line (10) telephone system and manage all inquiries.
Transfer telephone calls.
Discharge patients via the patient medical record.
Verify all laboratory specimens are placed in a hazardous bag for accurate labeling by a nurse or provider.
Perform Bedside Registration, collecting demographic information, insurance details, regulatory consent forms, and financial responsibility.
Shadow and answer EMS Radio calls, providing a brief description of patient age, complaint, Vital Signs, and ambulance agency capture.
Accurately identify patients at the EMS Desk, often with no identification present, and manage the UNKNOWN Patient policy and procedure.
Accurate patient identification in a highly stressful situation as a Patient Safety measure.
Collect Medicare patients' regulatory mandate of the MSPQ information during bedside registration.
Identify and verify insurance at the bedside, obtaining additional information for No Fault or Worker’s Compensation cases.
Ensure Access expectations of key clinical measures are executed and timeframes met (e.g., Chest pain – Door to EKG notification).
Review, assess, and assign the appropriate health insurance plan and collect copayment, if applicable, at bedside.
Interact effectively with external agency personnel: EMS Agencies, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Correction Facilities.
Capture patient’s pharmacy information to support expedited discharge.
Manage all calls in a calm, courteous, and respectful manner.
Capture brief information via Ambulance Radio including patient description, age, chief complaint, and Vital Signs.
Manage the ED Patient Tracker and complete Access Specialists tasks.
Laboratory specimen verification and assurance of timely send to laboratory.
Manage daily workflow during scheduled and unscheduled SYSTEM downtimes, following downtime procedures.
Responsible for downtime flow in the ED during system downtimes.
Ensure EMTALA Regulations are maintained.