Patient Access Specialist ED Services - Full-Time Day M-F 9am - 6:30pm

Wellstar Health System•Roswell, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist is typically the first point of contact for patients presenting to the Emergency Department and is responsible for providing a pleasant, professional experience to patients and visitors. The role follows EMTALA protocols before registering emergency room patients; verifies patient identity and demographics; screens Medicare, Medicaid, and managed-care patients for network status and coordination of benefits; and obtains required consents and attestations. The specialist responds to customer requests and questions about services and accounts, accesses and updates records, resolves concerns using established procedures, collects and posts patient payments, and processes receipts and documents. The role also provides hospital information and directions and establishes financial arrangements to help reduce financial risk and ensure reimbursement. The specialist maintains confidentiality, follows hospital policies, supports quality improvement, and coordinates with clinical and financial teams. This is a full-time, day-shift position scheduled Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required; an associate degree in another or related field is preferred.
At least 1 year of experience in a healthcare or institutional (corporate) work setting.
Computer and data-entry experience.
Ability to communicate with various members of the healthcare team.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, self-direction, and a positive attitude.
Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Nice To Haves

Epic experience.
Working knowledge of patient registration systems.
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Associate degree in another or related field.

Responsibilities

Interview patients or their representatives to obtain complete and accurate demographic, financial, and insurance information.
Enter, update, and correct patient information in registration systems, and obtain new medical record numbers for newborn admissions and other new patients.
Follow EMTALA protocols before registering emergency room patients.
Obtain required signatures and understand special forms required by third-party payers.
Read physicians’ orders to determine requested procedures and instruct patients accordingly.
Escort patients or arrange for their escort to assigned rooms.
Document explanatory notes about non-routine account circumstances and special billing processes.
Maintain knowledge of information system capabilities and complete required system applications.
Apply hospital and Patient Access Services policies and procedures to admission, outpatient, and emergency registration processes.
Maintain confidentiality of patient information in accordance with hospital policy and HIPAA regulations.
Organize and prioritize work, complete it productively, and maintain data-entry proficiency.
Resolve applicable errors and Claim, DNB, and Patient WorkQueues, and identify and resolve payor denials as indicated.
Greet guests positively and professionally, answer incoming calls, and follow through on requests.
Receive patients’ valuables for safekeeping in the hospital safe.
Maintain courteous working relationships and tactfully handle difficult situations.
Present a well-groomed, professional image consistent with department and hospital dress codes.
Collect estimated self-pay balances for inpatient, outpatient, and emergency accounts at the earliest appropriate collection point.
Complete financial evaluation forms documenting guarantors’ income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
Identify patients without adequate insurance and assess ability to pay non-covered charges and potential eligibility for financial assistance, including Medicaid.
Maintain information about health care financial assistance programs and eligibility requirements, and refer patients or guarantors to outside funding sources as needed.
Work accurately within designated time frames to support continuity of information and cash flow.
Document self-pay collection activity, patient or guarantor interactions, collection efforts, and Medicaid referrals.
Coordinate financial counseling activities with the PAS Financial Counselor, Registration, Utilization Review, Nursing, Social Services, and Patient Financial Services.
Verify insurance coverage and benefits.
Exceed the monthly collection quota consistently and report self-pay collection results to the direct supervisor as required.
Provide feedback to PAS management regarding self-pay collection and data-integrity issues.
Observe work hours and provide proper notice of absences, tardiness, or schedule changes.
Attend selected departmental meetings at management’s request and complete required monthly, quarterly, and annual training.
Comply with WellStar policies, work standards, and code of conduct, and perform other duties as assigned.