Access Specialist I - ED

Albany Medical Center•Hudson, NY

2d•$46,215 - $60,080•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 work in a high-pressure environment. This role involves rotating assignments within the Emergency Department, including patient triage, ED zone support, bedside registration, and managing the EMS desk. The position demands accurate patient identification, efficient data collection, and effective communication in stressful situations.

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 units; must be able to manage the pressure of high intensity situations.
Good judgment 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

Accurate patient identification in a highly stressful situation as a patient safety measure.
Bedside registration, including collecting demographic information, insurance details, and obtaining signatures for regulatory forms via Document Management/electronic signature. This includes collecting Medicare MSPQ information.
Identifying and verifying insurance at bedside, obtaining additional information for No Fault or Worker’s Compensation cases.
Ensuring Access expectations of key clinical measures are met, such as Door to EKG notification for chest pain patients.
Reviewing, assessing, and assigning the appropriate health insurance plan and collecting copayments at bedside.
Interacting effectively with external agency personnel, including EMS, Law Enforcement, and Correction Facilities.
Capturing patient pharmacy information to expedite discharge.
Answering a multi-line telephone system and managing all calls in a calm, courteous, and respectful manner.
Capturing brief patient information via Ambulance Radio, including description, age, chief complaint, and Vital Signs.
Managing the ED Patient Tracker and completing assigned Access Specialist tasks.
Verifying laboratory specimens and ensuring timely submission to the laboratory.
Managing daily workflow during system downtimes, following downtime procedures.
Ensuring EMTALA Regulations are maintained.
Triage of walk-in patients, including quick data collection, entering information into the ADT System, placing patient wristbands, and acquiring regulatory signatures.
Completing full patient registration, including General Consent and collection of financial responsibility, if the patient is seen by a provider.
Accurately identifying patients in the ADT system, especially when patients lack identification.
Answering a multi-line (10) telephone and managing all inquiries, transferring calls.
Discharging patients via the patient medical record.
Verifying all laboratory specimens are placed in a hazardous bag for accurate labeling by a nurse or provider.
Shadowing and answering EMS Radio calls, providing a brief description of patient age, complaint, Vital Signs, and ambulance agency capture.
Managing the UNKNOWN Patient policy and procedure.