Access Specialist I ED-Saratoga Hospital

Albany Medical Center•Saratoga Springs, NY

12d•$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, designed to function effectively in a high-pressure 'pressure cooker' environment. This role involves rotating assignments across multiple disciplines within the Emergency Department, including patient triage, ED zone support, bedside registration, and managing the EMS desk. The position requires quick data collection, patient identification, registration, handling inquiries, specimen verification, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Triage of walk-in patients, including data collection, ADT system entry, patient wristband placement, and acquiring regulatory signatures.
Complete full patient registration, including consent and financial responsibility collection, if the patient is seen by a provider.
Accurately identify patients in the ADT system, even when patients lack identification.
Answer a multi-line telephone system (10 lines) and manage all inquiries, transferring calls as needed.
Discharge patients via the patient medical record.
Verify that 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 the patient's age, complaint, and vital signs.
Responsible for accurate patient identification in a highly stressful situation as a patient safety measure.
Collect Medicare patients' regulatory mandate of MSPQ information.
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 at bedside.
Interact effectively with external agency personnel, including 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 identified Access Specialist tasks.
Verify laboratory specimens and ensure timely submission to the laboratory.
Manage daily workflow during scheduled and unscheduled system downtimes, following downtime procedures.
Ensure EMTALA Regulations are maintained.