Behavioral Health Receptionist / Patient Support Associate
About The Position
The Patient Services Associate supports clinicians by providing clerical and appointment coordination services, including pre-registration, financial eligibility determination, appointment scheduling, and front-office and registration functions for one or more clinical teams. The role communicates relevant information and actions to clinicians and serves as a liaison among clinical teams, patients, external agencies, and internal departments to support efficient workflows and quality patient care. The position also supports patient financial processes and enrollment applications, maintains accurate patient demographic and financial information, protects the confidentiality of medical records and patient information, and helps prepare the clinic for the following day. This is a full-time position. Duties listed are principal functions and do not represent every task that may be required.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Basic computer literacy and basic arithmetic skills.
- Ability to maintain a calm, professional, courteous, and helpful demeanor under pressure and stress.
- Skill in making appropriate decisions that benefit patients and meet company objectives.
- Ability to prioritize work and complete it on time with minimal supervision.
- Ability to work well in a team and independently when needed.
- Ability to follow procedures.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and record keeping.
- Ability to deal with change and seek opportunities to promote patient care.
- Strong customer-service approach to problem solving.
- Ability to read, write, understand, and spell English and Spanish correctly.
- Experience working with common health care programs.
- Flexibility and adaptability to shifting priorities and fast-paced environments.
- Ability to multitask while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
- Ability to identify and escalate issues appropriately to support quality patient care.
- Experience with patient registration procedures.
- Basic knowledge of medical or dental terminology.
- Experience with EMR/EHR systems.
Nice To Haves
- Spanish speaking preferred.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate with triage nurses to help ensure patients are seen promptly.
- Schedule appointments for assigned clinicians accurately and use clinical hours effectively.
- Monitor no-shows and cancellations for appointment slots that may be filled by walk-ins or add-ons.
- Pre-register patients and record answers to pre-registration questions.
- Delete the day’s cancellations from the computer.
- Greet patients and visitors promptly, courteously, and helpfully.
- Attach appropriate paperwork, including financial assistance forms and point-of-service reports, to encounter forms.
- Collect co-payments, record unpaid amounts, and perform other financial transactions at the time of visits.
- Assist patients in obtaining records from other facilities, including obtaining signatures on medical records release forms.
- Close out the day accurately and balance the cash bag.
- Answer telephone calls, handle calls as needed, and take messages when appropriate.
- Refer calls outside routine appointments, refill requests, or test-result messages to the triage nurse; maintain appropriate boundaries regarding medical advice, triage, and communication priority.
- Evaluate patients’ financial status, assist with enrollment applications, determine eligibility for appropriate programs, and follow up on pending applications.
- Educate patients about financial responsibility and SCHC payment policies.
- Assist with training as needed.
- Communicate with the clinical team regarding patient requests, scheduling issues, and other work matters.
- Protect the confidentiality of medical records and patient information, report safety hazards, and comply with HIPAA and other relevant privacy laws.
- Attend seminars and trainings to maintain current knowledge of financial programs.
- Maintain accurate patient demographic and financial information in the PMS.
- Prepare for the next day’s clinic and alert the Lead Visit Coordinator or designated person about needed supplies or equipment.
- Perform other duties as assigned by executive leadership and administration.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
