Access Specialist I - ED

Albany Medical Center • Hudson, NY

1d • 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 Triage, ED Zone Support, Bedside Registration, and the EMS Desk. The position demands accurate patient identification, efficient data collection, and adherence to regulatory requirements, often under challenging circumstances.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/G.E.D. - required
• 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 - preferred
• 1-3 years in customer service experience, or a hospital or clinic setting - preferred

Responsibilities

• Accurate patient identification in a highly stressful situation as a patient safety measure.
• Bedside registration, including collecting demographic and insurance information, obtaining signatures for regulatory forms, and collecting MSPQ information for Medicare patients.
• Identifying and verifying insurance at bedside, including obtaining additional information for No Fault, Worker’s Compensation, MVA patients, and employees hurt at work.
• Ensuring Access expectations of key clinical measures and timeframes are met (e.g., Chest pain – Door to EKG notification).
• Reviewing, assessing, and assigning the appropriate health insurance plan and collecting copayment, if applicable, at bedside.
• Interacting effectively with external agency personnel: EMS Agencies, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Correction Facilities.
• Capturing patient’s pharmacy information to support expedited discharge.
• Answering multi-line telephone and managing all calls in a calm, courteous, and respectful manner.
• Capturing brief information via Ambulance Radio including patient description, age, chief complaint, and Vital Signs.
• Managing the ED Patient Tracker and completing Access Specialist tasks.
• Laboratory specimen verification and ensuring timely submission to the laboratory.
• Managing daily workflow during scheduled and unscheduled system downtimes, following downtime procedures.
• Managing the ED patient flow during system downtimes.
• Ensuring EMTALA Regulations are maintained.
• Triage of walk-in patients: quick data collection, entering in ADT System, placing patient wristband, acquiring regulatory signature on HIXNY Consent. If seen by a provider, complete full registration including General Consent and collection of financial responsibility.
• ED Zone Support: answering multi-line (10) telephone, managing inquiries, transferring calls, discharging patients via the patient medical record, verifying laboratory specimens for accurate labeling.
• EMS Desk: answering EMS Radio (Ambulance Agency calls from the field) and providing a brief description of patient age, complaint, Vital Signs, and ambulance agency capture. Responsible for accurate patient identification, managing UNKNOWN Patient policy and procedure.

Benefits

• Excellent health care coverage with no copay at Albany Medical Center providers
• A wide array of services and programs to support emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED