Center Discharge Specialist

Ohio Gastroenterology Group•Columbus, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Center Discharge Specialist tracks pathology results and signatures, reviews patient checkouts and recall orders, coordinates follow-up tasks with providers and laboratory staff, and closes orders after completion or review. The role also supports patient scheduling, correspondence, chart processing, records auditing, daily schedule preparation, and quality assurance of patient charts before appointments. Additional responsibilities include maintaining office supplies and arranging toner or machine maintenance as needed. As a secondary duty, the specialist provides receptionist coverage during center hours. This includes checking in patients through the electronic medical records system, updating demographic information, helping patients complete forms, verifying insurance and identification, collecting patient balances when needed, notifying center staff of arrivals, handling calls, and maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. The position may assist with other office tasks as time allows and performs other duties as assigned by the nurse manager or designee, practice manager, or human resource manager.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience working in a medical office or medical environment.
Fluent in English.
Ability to communicate with patients, staff members, external providers, and agencies at diverse levels.
Knowledge of modern office procedures and methods, including telephone communications, office systems, and record keeping.
Knowledge of modern business communication, including the style and format of letters, memoranda, minutes, and reports.
Skill using a personal computer and various software packages.
Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives with little supervision.
Ability to handle and resolve problems.
Ability to organize work materials and charts to ensure accuracy of patient records.
Neat appearance and professional demeanor.
Willingness to learn new tasks, cross-train within the office, and be flexible with workload to support office flow and coworkers.
Flexibility in working hours and willingness to work occasional overtime.
Ability to independently lift 25 pounds occasionally.
Physical ability to retrieve and file records in a six- to seven-shelf file cabinet frequently.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, bend over, and type on a keyboard frequently.
Ability to communicate in person and by phone frequently.

Responsibilities

Track pathology results for receipt dates and provider signatures; task doctors when signatures are needed and contact the laboratory department when reports are overdue under policy time frames.
Review patient checkouts, enter recalls, and task provider teams about additional tests or appointments ordered by doctors.
Close orders and recalls after completion or review, including duplicate recalls, completed colonoscopy orders, and open referral recalls when referrals have been scheduled.
Assist with calling patients to move appointments earlier when schedule gaps occur.
Mail letters to patients when discharge papers are inadvertently left behind.
Review the PVL for changes to recall orders and verify recalls were entered correctly after pathology results return.
Make patient education copies for nurses to attach to discharge paperwork when supplies are low.
Order toner and request machine maintenance when equipment produces error codes or prints incorrectly.
Maintain the office supply list and order supplies for the center and front desk.
Enter performed dates for colonoscopy orders for patients who have completed the procedure.
Break down charts and scan them to medical records for chart entry; audit records to verify scans were entered correctly.
Run daily schedules for center teams and providers.
Prepare patient prep packets with labels and consent forms; conduct a chart-readiness quality assurance check one week before appointments and make insurance verification calls as needed.
Provide backup receptionist coverage during center hours, including patient check-in through the EMR, demographic updates, form assistance, insurance verification, scanning insurance cards, photo ID verification, collecting balances when needed, issuing receipts, and notifying the center when patients are checked in.
Enter and scan kiosk form information.
Answer and screen incoming telephone calls, page the appropriate person, or take messages as warranted.
Maintain confidentiality of personal and financial information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines and regulations.
Assist with other center tasks as time allows and perform other miscellaneous duties assigned by the nurse manager or designee, practice manager, or human resource manager.