Patient Access Representative - Admitting

CHRISTUS Health•Alamogordo, NM

About The Position

Patient Access Representatives facilitate a welcoming and accessible experience and establish encounters for patients who meet the guidelines for hospital services. They ensure accurate demographic and financial data entry and complete procedural requirements such as insurance verification, service authorization, and collection of patient portions, including prior balances. The role contributes to the successful financial outcomes of patient services and helps ensure hospital compliance with Federal regulations, JCAHO, and Department of Health and Hospital standards. Representatives communicate with patients and families, physicians, nurses, insurance companies, and third-party payers. The position calls for professional appearance and behavior, strong communication and organizational skills, dependability, flexibility, and teamwork. The role supports registration and scheduling workflows, financial assessment and assistance processes, patient documentation, departmental performance targets, and established standard processes. Representatives may be assigned to other departmental areas or have their shift changed to accommodate patient volumes, and must assist the hospital in an internal or external disaster. They also support team workflow, workplace organization, training, and compliance while protecting patient confidentiality and adapting services to the needs of the population served.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent experience preferred.
1–3 years of experience preferred.
No licenses, registrations, or certifications required.
Professional appearance and behavior, good communication skills, and effective organizational skills.
Dependability, flexibility, and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent experience.
1–3 years of experience.

Responsibilities

Meet expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
Accurately enter required scheduling and registration data, including demographic, financial, and guarantor information and relevant encounter notes.
Verify insurance eligibility and obtain necessary authorizations for services.
Calculate and collect estimated patient portions based on benefits and contract reimbursement, as well as prior balances.
Perform financial assessments for appropriate program assistance.
Explain the purpose of hospital documents and obtain required patient or legal guardian signatures.
Represent the Patient Access department professionally and courteously.
Assist the hospital in the event of an internal or external disaster.
Support departmental flexibility to accommodate patient volume, including assignments to other areas and shift changes.
Support the department in achieving established performance targets and complete required training.
Follow all elements of established standard processes.
Work with High Performance Work Teams to maintain an efficient, clean, and orderly workplace using 5S principles and practices once implemented in the work unit.
Coordinate, communicate, and assist in monitoring workflow and tasks to manage fluctuating volumes.
Provide feedback to the team about educational and mediation needs by reporting issues, problems, and opportunities (IPOs).
Perform assigned responsibilities competently and adapt assessment, treatment, or service methods to meet members' physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific, and developmental needs.
Comply with policies, procedures, and standards established by state and federal agencies, the hospital, and other regulatory entities.
Protect patient confidentiality and disclose confidential information only when necessary to perform assigned duties.
Perform other duties as assigned.