Patient Access Coordinator - Per Diem

South Shore Health•Weymouth, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Coordinator is the initial point of contact for patients entering South Shore Health for care. Under the guidance and direction of Patient Access Supervisors, the role provides professional, culturally sensitive customer service and performs technical tasks to identify, register, and schedule patients. This per diem position is in Patient Access Services in the Emergency Room. The work schedule is determined by supervisors and includes at least four shifts per month, including two weekend shifts, as well as a rotating holiday schedule. The coordinator works across Patient Access functions, including scheduling and registration, bed placement, emergency department and floor management, and death-processing procedures. The role requires accurate use of the health system’s EHR and other computer systems, attention to regulatory and compliance requirements, and coordination with clinical and administrative teams to support patient care and patient flow.

Requirements

At least one year of admitting experience to become proficient.
Computer experience.
Strong telephone and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated customer service skills.
Knowledge of medical insurance.
Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Ability to meet the department’s 98% accuracy standard for identifying, scheduling, and registering patients.
Ability to collect 30% of eligible copayments.
Ability to work at least four shifts per month, including two weekend shifts, and participate in a rotating holiday schedule.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma preferred.
Two years of college preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, schedule, and register patients, meeting department accuracy standards and maintaining regulatory and compliance requirements.
Collect eligible copayments and monitor and manage workflow in the health system’s EHR.
Address patients’ cultural needs and provide professional, customer-focused service.
Coordinate bed placement with Patient Flow Facilitators, nursing leadership, case managers, the ACC, and emergency department leadership, considering patient precautions, infections, acuity, level of care, and nursing capacity.
Monitor hospital bed occupancy and bed requests, and support placement of pediatric, elective pre-operative, chemotherapy, and other patients.
Review elective surgical schedules and coordinate placement on appropriate specialty nursing floors.
Serve as a contact for physicians and nursing staff regarding patient information and placement.
Support floor and emergency department operations by assembling required federal and state paperwork, enforcing the physician suspension list, and supporting patient arrival, identification, registration, and regulatory needs.
Support patient flow during system downtimes using manual processes.
Complete death certificate worksheets, ensure death certificates are accurate, review death charts for date, time, and medical-legal status, contact the State Medical Examiner for emergency department deaths, coordinate with the New England Organ Bank, and release patients to funeral directors as required by law.
Use department computer programs and internal and external websites; understand downtime procedures; review and act on insurance eligibility responses; and manage the employee API timecard system.
Follow patient identification policies, understand responsibilities during hospital codes, follow universal precautions and respiratory etiquette, and complete NIMS 100 training.
Manage scheduling requests and accurately schedule, cancel, reschedule, and maintain waitlists for designated areas.
Complete daily assignments independently and accurately check patients in for elective, emergency, and urgent care.
Complete registration items, including demographic information, patient identification, scanning and photographing required information, and using insurance eligibility systems; involve financial counseling teams as needed.