Patient Access Specialist I | Rapid City Hospital

Monument Health•Rapid City, SD

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist I is responsible for the integrity of front-end patient access and registration functions, supporting patient care and the revenue cycle. As an initial point of contact for patients entering the facility or department, the specialist provides service to patients, families, physicians, clinicians, and internal departments. The role emphasizes compassionate, patient-focused care, teamwork, professionalism, mutual respect, and service excellence. The position performs registration, financial clearance, scheduling, patient communication, and business office duties across supported patient settings. It follows Revenue Cycle guidelines and Monument Health policies, participates in quality assurance and improvement activities, attends mandatory education, compliance, and safety sessions, and reports directly to the supervisor. Individuals may be required to work beyond normal scheduled shifts and must comply with the Attendance Policy.

Requirements

Ability to work assigned schedules and hours as determined by the department.
Ability to work beyond normal scheduled shifts when required.
Ability to comply with Monument Health's Attendance Policy and applicable current and future policies and procedures.
Physical capacity for medium work: exert up to 10 pounds of force constantly, up to 25 pounds frequently, and up to 50 pounds occasionally or seldomly to move objects.
Possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least 1 year of customer service experience.
At least 1 year of patient relations experience.
At least 1 year of medical patient accounts or financial services experience.

Responsibilities

Collect and accurately verify patient demographics, identity, guarantor assignments, coverage information, and required check-in or admission documents using phone, letters, face-to-face, bedside, and other communication methods.
Follow Revenue Cycle guidelines and participate in quality assurance and improvement activities.
Apply knowledge of payer information and benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, commercial payers, and third-party liability payers.
Collect prepayments, outstanding balances, copayments, and coinsurance; reconcile the cash drawer daily and provide basic account reconciliation for patients.
Initiate financial clearance by providing cost estimates for scheduled services and appropriately escalating financial clearance needs.
Review authorization and referral records to confirm financial clearance.
Educate patients and maintain regulatory compliance by distributing and obtaining required forms and signatures, including treatment consents, financial agreements, ABNs, waivers, and other regulatory forms.
Perform business office duties, including handling calls and messages, in-basket and patient communications, intra-departmental communications, scanning and faxing, taxi vouchers, mail distribution, lost and found, and safekeeping of valuables.
Provide reception, way-finding, and attentive, friendly service that addresses patients’ emotional and physical needs and maintains communication throughout their experience.
Obtain referrals and order transcription when applicable to the service area.
Schedule patients and complete check-out, including pre-arrival management for upcoming services, and manage and monitor wait lists and recall lists according to protocols.
Maintain registration-related work queues and resolve errors on an ongoing basis.
Use the electronic medical record for tasks such as advanced directives, release of information, and patient portal proxy forms; educate patients about the patient portal’s basic purpose and regulations.
Address account inquiries and resolve or escalate them as appropriate.
Perform patient movement activities in the electronic medical record when needed.
Arrange patient transportation and other enabling services when needed.
Assist the clinical care team as needed, including providing transport under clinical team direction.
Attend mandatory education, compliance, and safety program sessions; comply with current and future policies and procedures; report directly to the supervisor.
Perform other duties as assigned.