Patient Access Specialist I - Switchboard -Scheduling

St. Peter's Health Regional Medical Center•Helena, MT

23h

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist (PAS) serves as the first point of contact for patients, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and patient-centered experience when accessing services at St. Peter’s Health Medical Group Clinics and Regional Medical Center. This role requires strong customer service and communication skills to interact effectively with patients, families, providers, and staff both in person and over the phone. The PAS is responsible for patient registration, scheduling, and maintaining accurate demographic, insurance, and payment information to support proper billing and reimbursement. Duties include answering incoming calls, verifying insurance benefits, collecting copays, reviewing schedules for accuracy, and coordinating timely patient flow to keep clinic operations running smoothly. Additionally, the PAS uses electronic health systems to schedule appointments, document patient information, and provide essential visit instructions such as preparation guidelines, arrival times, and payment expectations. Acting as a liaison between patients, clinics, and care teams, the PAS ensures clear communication and timely access to care. This role also requires knowledge of healthcare policies and regulations, including HIPAA, patient rights, insurance requirements, and organizational procedures, while upholding professional standards and supporting general office operations as needed.

Requirements

Strong customer service skills.
Strong communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a courteous and considerate manner.
Impeccable personal honesty, integrity, and confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to communicate in a professional and courteous manner with customers.
Demonstrated ability to complete assigned work effectively while experiencing multiple interruptions.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex and multiple tasks within assigned timeframe.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction.
Demonstrated ability to perform detailed assignments.
Demonstrated ability to compile information with accuracy.
Knowledge of healthcare policies and regulations, including HIPAA, patient rights, insurance requirements, and organizational procedures.

Nice To Haves

1-2 years of hospital admissions or provider’s office experience.
Experience in customer service or scheduling departments in a healthcare setting.
Medical terminology.

Responsibilities

Serve as the first point of contact for patients.
Ensure a seamless, efficient, and patient-centered experience when accessing services.
Interact effectively with patients, families, providers, and staff both in person and over the phone.
Perform patient registration.
Schedule appointments.
Maintain accurate demographic, insurance, and payment information.
Answer incoming calls.
Verify insurance benefits.
Collect copays.
Review schedules for accuracy.
Coordinate timely patient flow.
Use electronic health systems to schedule appointments.
Document patient information.
Provide essential visit instructions (preparation guidelines, arrival times, payment expectations).
Act as a liaison between patients, clinics, and care teams.
Uphold professional standards.
Support general office operations as needed.