Patient Advocate Representative

Tenet Healthcare Corporation•El Paso, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Advocate Representative works at The Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus, screening self-pay patients at the hospital bedside for eligibility in governmental and non-governmental programs. The role identifies potential payors—including auto insurance, Workers’ Compensation, commercial and private insurance, and third-party liability—and routes accounts appropriately within Patient Accounting. The representative obtains and completes Confidential Financial Statement forms and assists patients with applications for benefits for which they may be eligible. The position includes interviewing patients and families, documenting account activities, performing financial clearance and collections, following up on government applications, and communicating screening outcomes to hospital departments. It may also involve visits to patient homes for skip tracing or document assistance. The role requires Spanish speaking, a high school diploma or equivalent, and at least two years of experience in Social Services, Hospital Admitting, or a related area. Work is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in hospital and office settings with direct contact with patients and staff. Some travel may be required.

Requirements

Spanish speaking required.
High school diploma or equivalent.
At least two years of work experience in Social Services, Hospital Admitting, or a related area.
Working familiarity with rules and regulations pertaining to Federal, State, and County programs.
Computer literacy, including Windows and Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
Ability to work independently.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and clear understanding of the English language.
Detail oriented, with strengths in dealing with multiple facilities, supervisors, and hospital platforms.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
Ability to sit and work at a computer terminal for extended periods.
Ability to walk through a hospital environment, including broad campus settings and Emergency Department environments, and visit patients at bedside.
Ability to travel if required.
Must obtain and provide confirmation of required vaccinations and screenings before employment, as applicable and permitted by law.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability, including Spanish, is listed as preferred; Spanish speaking is also stated as required.

Responsibilities

Screen self-pay patients at the hospital bedside for eligibility in governmental and non-governmental programs.
Identify potential sources of payment, including auto insurance, Workers’ Compensation, commercial insurance, private insurance, and third-party liability, and route accounts appropriately.
Obtain and complete Confidential Financial Statement forms and assist patients with applying for eligible benefits.
Interview patients and/or family members.
Record and maintain complete documentation of activities performed on accounts while patients are in-house and during the Patient Accounting cycle.
Perform financial clearance, including collections; cancel accounts when patients have not cooperated and are ineligible for programs; and prepare accounts for Financial Assistance review.
Follow up on EES-assigned accounts to ensure follow-through on submitted government applications.
Develop working relationships with patients through effective communication to help process accounts quickly for government program eligibility.
Conduct field visits to patient homes for skip tracing and/or to assist patients with documents.
Notify hospital case management, social services, and admissions staff of case screening determinations and outcomes through verbal and written communication.