Patient Access Associate

Kent Hospital•Warwick, RI

About The Position

The Patient Access Associate obtains patients’ personal health information in a timely, professional, and caring manner and enters demographic and financial information into the hospital’s information and clinical systems. The role supports the hospital’s financial integrity by verifying insurance information, collecting applicable patient payments, and managing daily patient bed assignments. The associate welcomes and assists patients, visitors, families, physicians’ offices, and emergency personnel; completes patient registration and required authorizations; communicates financial and regulatory requirements; and organizes documents for medical records. The position also supports scheduling reports, insurance-document imaging, hospital census accuracy, and coordination of patient bed assignments across hospital services.

Requirements

High school diploma.
At least two years of job-related experience or equivalent.
Minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute.
Working knowledge of personal computers and the ability to use multiple applications.

Nice To Haves

Certificate in Medical Terminology.
Strong oral communication skills.
Experience in a medical office or customer service.

Responsibilities

Greet and receive patients and visitors, assist patients and their families, and communicate with police and rescue personnel when applicable.
Obtain complete and accurate patient health information and register patients in the hospital’s Patcom and Affinity systems in a timely manner.
Explain financial requirements and regulatory mandates professionally and compassionately.
Communicate with physicians’ offices to confirm information needed to schedule and register patients accurately.
Obtain signatures for consent to surgery or treatment, financial responsibility, and other required authorizations.
Collect applicable insurance co-payments, deposits, and deductibles during registration for Emergency Department visits and Out-Patient Services.
Organize test results, registration materials, and medical forms for inclusion in the patient’s permanent medical record.
Create daily reports identifying registration schedules and distribute them to appropriate areas.
Verify patient insurance information through online payer communications using the SSI system.
Scan insurance cards, physician orders, and important documents into the SSI Optical Imaging System.
Explain and issue required information, including the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, Important Message to Medicare Patients, Medicare Advance Beneficiary Notice, and Advance Directive Information.
Manage daily patient bed assignments using the Electronic Bedboard and Bed Tracking system, including determining appropriate nursing units for post-operative patients, Emergency Department transfers, and direct admissions.
Coordinate bed assignments to help avoid operating-room interruptions and Emergency Department diversion due to bed unavailability.
Serve as a liaison to physicians, Nursing, the Emergency Department, and Outpatient Surgery to resolve bed-assignment issues.
Coordinate the daily Bed Management meeting.
Monitor transactions in the Patcom and Affinity systems to maintain an accurate daily hospital census.
Maintain a courteous, helpful, and professional manner with staff, patients, and families, promoting customer service in daily interactions.
Perform other related duties as assigned.