Access Specialist II - ED

Albany Medical Center • Hudson, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Access Specialist II - ED position is a per diem role within the Admitting Operations department, specifically supporting the Emergency Department. This role encompasses all responsibilities of an Access Specialist I, with the added crucial duty of onboarding and precepting new hires or colleagues requiring frequent at-the-elbow support. The position may require adjusted hours and operates in a high-pressure environment. It is a hybrid role, combining aspects of an Access Representative and a Health Unit Coordinator, requiring flexibility to rotate assignments across multiple disciplines within the Emergency Department. These disciplines include Triage of walk-in patients, ED Zone Support, Bedside Registration, and managing the EMS Desk.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/G.E.D. - required
• Ability to keep composure in a high-stress environment
• Ability to train peers and new hires
• Ability to multi-task in stressful and high patient volume unit; must be able to manage pressure of high intensity situations
• Demonstrated ability to train the adult learner – on the job – post successful completion of The Academy.
• Ability to assess adult learner progress following the formal Training Manual; providing constructive feedback
• 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. (Sneakers are permitted)
• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Associate's Degree - preferred
• 3- 5 years’ experience in hospital or clinic registration, Emergency Department setting - preferred
• CHAA - preferred

Responsibilities

• Onboarding/precepting all new hires or colleagues needing additional at-the-elbow support on a frequent basis.
• Triage of walk-in patients – encompasses a quick data collection and entering in ADT System; placing of patient wristband for patient safety; acquiring a regulatory signature on the HIXNY Consent. If patient is seen by a provider, complete a full registration including General Consent and collection of financial responsibility.
• Accurately identify patient in the ADT system to ensure correct patient is selected, especially when patients do not have identification.
• ED Zone Support – includes answering of multi-line (10) telephone and managing all inquiries, transferring of telephone calls; discharging of patients via the patient medical record; verifying all laboratory specimens placed in a hazardous bag for accurate labeling by nurse or provider.
• Bedside Registration – Collection of demographic information, insurance, regulatory consent forms and collection of financial responsibility at patient's bedside.
• EMS Desk – shadow answer EMS Radio (Ambulance Agency calls from the field) and provides a brief description of patient age, complaint, Vital Signs, ambulance agency capture.
• Responsible for the accurate identification of the patient with quite often no identification, EMS inaccuracy of capture of information and management of UNKNOWN Patient policy and procedure.
• Ability to train job specific responsibilities post successful completion of The Academy, including all respective disciplines within the Emergency Department and providing constructive feedback to the new hire or colleague based on performance per the Training Manual.
• Responsible for the accurate patient identification in a highly stressful situation; this responsibility is a Patient Safety measure.
• Bedside registration including the need to work from a WOW; collecting patient demographic information; insurance information and obtain signatures for regulatory forms via Document Management/electronic signature; the collection includes Medicare patients collecting the regulatory mandate of the MSPQ information.
• Ensure Access’ expectations of key clinical measures are executed and timeframes met ie: Chest pain – Door to EKG notification.
• Responsible for identifying and verifying insurance at bedside; obtaining additional information if No Fault or Worker’s Compensation for MVA patients and employee’s hurt at work.
• Ability to review, assess and assign the appropriate health insurance plan and collect copayment, if applicable at bedside.
• Ability to interact effectively with external agency personnel: EMS Agencies, Law Enforcement Agencies and Correction Facilities.
• Capture of patient’s pharmacy in support of expediate discharge by nurse and physician.
• Answering multi-line telephone and managing all calls in calm, courteous, respectful manner.
• Capture brief information via Ambulance Radio including patient description, age, chief complaint and Vital Signs.
• Managing the ED Patient Tracker and completing the Access Specialists tasks as identified.
• Laboratory specimen verification and assurance of timely send to laboratory.
• Responsible to 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.

Benefits

• Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties.
• Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose.
• Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Medical Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees