Patient Care Associate - Schenectady

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York • Schenectady, NY

1d

About The Position

The Patient Care Associate (PCA) works as part of a multidisciplinary medical care team, supporting patient intake at the clinic and front desk. The role includes collecting complete medical histories, documenting patient information, providing education on human sexuality, family planning, abortion, colposcopy, LEEP, and general health, and helping maintain efficient, patient-centered health center operations.

The PCA supports front desk reception and visit flow, appointment scheduling, phone triage, billing and revenue cycle activities, and the upkeep of office and waiting areas. Clinical duties include reviewing and documenting health histories, assisting with reproductive and sexual health care, performing ordered laboratory tests, supporting abortion services as needed, and following quality assurance, infection control, and safety procedures. The role also involves maintaining clinical competencies, helping orient new clinic staff when indicated, and providing compassionate, culturally responsive, non-judgmental care.

The position operates in a professional office and health center environment, with potential exposure to communicable diseases. Travel to other health centers may be required, sometimes in inclement weather. The schedule may be flexible or extended, including evenings and weekends as operational demands require; during peak periods, work may exceed 7.5 hours per day or 37.5 hours per week. Compensation is $23.86 per hour.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Excellent customer service, communication, interpersonal, oral, and written skills.
• Ability to remain focused and calm in stressful situations and work effectively as part of a team.
• Comfort using electronic health records.
• Keen attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment with changing or competing priorities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making, and to produce reliable, high-quality work with minimal direct supervision.
• Ability to follow HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Ability to work a flexible or extended schedule, including evenings and weekends, as operational demands require.
• Demonstrated commitment to PPGNY’s mission related to bodily autonomy, health equity, gender justice, and racial justice, and to learning about and enhancing practices related to racial equity in healthcare.
• Ability to build relationships and trust across cultural differences and to provide compassionate, non-judgmental, culturally responsive care to patients across diverse identities and backgrounds.
• Ability to meet the role’s physical demands, including prolonged sitting and computer use, frequent standing, walking and bending, stair use, lifting or moving patients, supplies or equipment, and reaching, grasping, pushing and pulling.
• Ability to meet immunization or immunity requirements for certain communicable diseases, including influenza during flu season and COVID-19, and tuberculosis testing requirements.
• Ability to hear and communicate orally with others and perform frequent computer-screen and printed-material review.

Nice To Haves

• Valid New York State driver’s license.
• Previous experience working with electronic health records.
• Proficiency in other languages.
• Prior employment with Planned Parenthood.
• Prior healthcare employment.
• Previous experience in a high-volume customer service role.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Responsibilities

• Monitor health screenings at the front desk; greet patients and visitors, collect demographic and billing information, verify insurance, update electronic health record demographics, initiate superbills and visits, obtain required consents and forms, and manage walk-in clients based on schedule availability.
• Answer and triage patient phone calls, manage appointments, review schedules, and prepare charts for next-day services based on visit type and requested services.
• Process supply requests and patient payments and co-pays, reconcile audit reports, prepare deposits, and screen patients for eligibility for in-state assisted insurance programs while helping complete applications when applicable.
• Open and close the front desk area and maintain welcoming, private, and professional waiting and office areas.
• Respond to patient requests, follow safety and security procedures, and contribute to productivity and revenue-cycle goals while following professionalism, wait-time, and client-complaint policies.
• Review patient health histories for completeness, document findings, and alert the APC to critical information, including the chief complaint and history of present illness.
• Document accurately in the electronic medical record using the appropriate templates and forms, and complete charge-capture and financial reporting data, including CVR information for medical and counseling services.
• Support efficient patient flow and excellent patient service, help orient and train new clinic staff as indicated, and ensure access to interpreter services for patients with communication barriers.
• Provide sexual and reproductive health education and care that is accurate, patient-centered, and non-judgmental; follow applicable standards and guidelines and obtain informed consent related to the visit.
• Perform ordered laboratory tests, complete requisitions, package labs for transport, run daily controls, and follow laboratory and quality assurance protocols, including use of PPE and infection-control precautions.
• Perform clinic opening and closing duties, clean clinic areas and equipment, restock supplies, and report facility or equipment issues.
• Assist with abortion services as needed, including abortion counseling, the Products of Conception room, infection-prevention float duties, and surgical-room assistance.
• Attend monthly didactics and maintain clinical skills and competencies required by PPGNY, PPFA, and the New York State Department of Health; participate in annual competency checks and training for new services, tests, and skills.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options for the employee and eligible dependents.
• Flexible spending account, health savings account, and commuter pre-tax reimbursement funds.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Free basic life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with Safe Harbor contributions after one year of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED