Patient Care Associate - Newburgh

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York • Newburgh, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Associate (PCA) works as part of a multidisciplinary team providing medical care. The role supports patients throughout their visits, including front-desk intake, collecting medical histories, providing sexual and reproductive health education, and assisting with clinical and administrative operations. The PCA may support services related to family planning, abortion, colposcopy, LEEP, and general health education, as applicable.

The PCA manages reception and visit flow, appointments and phone triage, billing and revenue-cycle tasks, patient records, laboratory activities, and the upkeep of clinical and waiting areas. In clinical services, the PCA reviews health histories, alerts the APC to critical information, documents care in the electronic health record, supports patient flow, facilitates interpreter access, and helps ensure accurate charge capture. The role also includes patient education and, as needed, assisting with abortion services in a variety of functions.

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 role requires a flexible schedule and may involve work exceeding 7.5 hours per day or 37.5 hours per week during peak periods. Candidates must provide proof of immunization or immunity to certain communicable diseases and tuberculosis testing as required by applicable health and safety rules.

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.
• Commitment to PPGNY’s mission relating to bodily autonomy, health equity, gender justice, and racial justice, and to learning about and improving practices related to racial equity in healthcare.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to build trust across cultural differences, with humility and accountability to patient experience.
• Ability to provide compassionate, non-judgmental, culturally responsive care across differences in race, class, age, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or ability.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including prolonged sitting and computer work, frequent standing, walking and bending, stair use, and lifting or moving patients, supplies, or equipment.
• Ability to use standard office and medical equipment and to reach, grasp, push, and pull; sufficient visual acuity for computer and printed-material review and ability to hear and communicate orally.
• Proof of immunization or immunity to certain communicable diseases, including influenza during flu season and COVID-19, and tuberculosis testing, as required.

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 and collect demographic, billing, and insurance information in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Update patient demographics in the electronic health record, initiate visit and billing records, activate records for visits, and obtain required consents and reception forms.
• Manage walk-in clients based on schedule availability.
• Answer and triage patient phone calls, including appointment management; review schedules and prepare charts for the next day's services.
• Process supply requests and payments, collect co-pays, reconcile audit reports, prepare deposits, and screen patients for eligibility for in-state assisted insurance programs, helping with applications when applicable.
• Open and close the front desk and maintain welcoming, private, and professional waiting and office areas.
• Respond to patient requests; follow safety and security procedures; and support productivity, revenue-cycle, professionalism, wait-time, and complaint-resolution goals and policies.
• Review patient health histories for completeness, record findings, and alert the APC to critical information about the chief complaint, history of present illness, and other patient information.
• Document accurately in the electronic medical record using appropriate templates and forms; complete CVR data and support charge capture and financial reporting for medical and counseling services.
• Help maintain efficient patient flow and minimize waiting times; assist with orientation and training of new clinic staff as indicated.
• Provide accurate, patient-centered, non-judgmental education and care related to sexual and reproductive health, and obtain informed consent according to applicable standards and guidelines.
• Ensure access to interpreter services for patients with communication barriers.
• Perform ordered laboratory tests, complete requisitions, package laboratory specimens for transport, and run daily controls.
• Perform clinic opening and closing duties, clean clinic areas and equipment, restock supplies, and report facility or equipment issues.
• Follow laboratory and quality-assurance protocols, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and observe infection-control precautions.
• Assist with abortion services in functions as needed, including abortion counseling, the Products of Conception room, infection-prevention float, and the surgical room.
• 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 employees 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 AD&D insurance.
• 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