Patient Access Specialist I

Hospital for Special Surgery•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is consistently among the top-ranked hospitals for orthopedics and rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report, and a recipient of the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence. HSS is seeking a Patient Access Specialist I to join their team. This role is crucial for candidates who align with HSS's unique workplace culture and are committed to its mission. The position involves performing patient scheduling, pre-registration, and registration, both in person and by phone, using the Epic system, and completing core patient access tasks while meeting productivity and quality standards. The specialist will also handle patient interviews, documentation, insurance verification, co-payment collection, appointment scheduling, and support various patient access functions.

Requirements

Associate’s degree required
0-1 years experience in admitting and/or ambulatory setting or patient registration in an outpatient setting
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong customer service orientation
Strong computer skills, with proficiency in office automated tools: e-mail, outlook and data entry
Effective communicator with all levels of staff, patients and customers
Ability to respond positively to fluctuations in patient flow
Heavy phones, able to triage phone calls and respond professionally to fluctuations in call volume
Knowledge of front-end role in revenue cycle: insurance benefits collection, verification, authorization, pre-certification, etc.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred
Healthcare/Medical - Admissions as well as Patient Access experience in a hospital and/or ambulatory care setting or Patient Registration in an Outpatient setting
Working knowledge of medical terminology
Self-directed, motivated, resourceful, demonstrates initiative
Working knowledge of MS Office Suite applications: Word, Excel, Outlook

Responsibilities

Perform patient scheduling, pre-registration, and registration both in person and by phone using the Epic system
Complete core patient access tasks in a designated functional area while meeting productivity and quality standards
Interview patients and/or their representatives to gather and accurately enter demographic information
Collect and process required documentation, including legal IDs, insurance cards, consent forms, third-party liability documents, and advance care plans
Verify benefits electronically or by phone, coordinate insurance coverage, and determine participating/non-participating status
Collect co-payments and other patient financial obligations at the time of service
Resolve patient checklists and pre-reg workqueue encounters to support smooth care delivery
Schedule appointments, follow-up tests, procedures, and transcribe physician orders
Prepare patient visit itineraries and assist with sign-in, admission, and check-out procedures
Support chart preparation, bed planning, and other patient access functions as appropriate
Makes bed board assignments based on patient preference, condition, and diagnosis, as required.