Access Specialist I - ED

Albany Medical Center•Saratoga Springs, NY

About The Position

The Emergency Department Access Specialist I is a hybrid role combining Access Representative and Health Unit Coordinator responsibilities. The position works in a high-pressure environment and rotates among assignments in multiple Emergency Department disciplines as needed. Assignments include triaging walk-in patients by collecting and entering initial information in the ADT system, applying patient wristbands, obtaining HIXNY consent, and completing full registration when a patient is seen by a provider. The role also provides ED zone support by managing a multi-line telephone, discharging patients through the medical record, and verifying laboratory specimens for accurate labeling. Bedside registration involves collecting demographic and insurance information, obtaining regulatory consent forms and signatures, and collecting financial responsibility. At the EMS desk, the specialist receives ambulance radio information and helps identify patients, including those without identification, in accordance with the UNKNOWN Patient policy and procedure. The role supports patient safety through accurate identification, timely execution of clinical access measures, insurance verification, patient tracking, specimen handling, and workflow management during system downtimes. It requires effective communication with patients, families, and external agencies in a diverse and often stressful clinical environment. The position must also maintain EMTALA requirements and follow information privacy and security policies, including HIPAA and applicable federal and New York State requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to remain composed in a high-stress environment and manage multiple tasks in a high-volume unit.
Good judgment and resourcefulness in problem solving, including escalating issues as needed.
Ability to manage contained blood, urine, and other bodily fluids.
Ability to use a multi-line telephone system; paging is required.
Ability to push a 35–50 lb WOW.
Ability to stand for long periods of time.
Ability to work with a diverse population, including critically injured, mentally disturbed, and belligerent patients.
Patient-centered customer service, conflict management, teamwork, adaptability, and excellent communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree.
1–3 years of customer service experience or experience in a hospital or clinic setting.

Responsibilities

Accurately identify patients in the ADT system, including patients who lack identification, as a patient safety measure.
Perform bedside registration by collecting demographic and insurance information, obtaining regulatory forms and electronic signatures, and collecting financial responsibility.
Collect Medicare MSPQ information and obtain additional details for No Fault or Worker’s Compensation cases, including motor vehicle accident patients and employees injured at work.
Review and assign the appropriate health insurance plan and collect applicable copayments at bedside.
Meet Access expectations for key clinical measures and timeframes, including chest-pain Door-to-EKG notification.
Interact effectively with EMS agencies, law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities.
Capture patients’ pharmacy information to support timely discharge by nurses and physicians.
Answer and manage multi-line telephone calls in a calm, courteous, and respectful manner; transfer calls and provide paging as required.
Receive ambulance radio information, including patient description, age, chief complaint, vital signs, and ambulance agency.
Manage the ED Patient Tracker and complete assigned Access Specialist tasks.
Verify laboratory specimens and ensure they are labeled accurately and sent to the laboratory in a timely manner.
Manage daily workflow during scheduled and unscheduled system downtimes by following downtime procedures and coordinating ED downtime flow.
Maintain EMTALA regulations.
Rotate among ED assignments, including walk-in triage, ED zone support, bedside registration, and EMS desk coverage.
Follow privacy and security requirements for sensitive patient and organizational information, including minimum-necessary access and protection against unauthorized access or modification.