Patient Care Coordinator, Ophthalmology

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Coordinator in the Department of Ophthalmology helps ensure a seamless, patient-centered experience across the healthcare continuum. Working closely with physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and administrative staff, this position coordinates appointments, referrals, authorizations, insurance verification, and transitions of care. The role also communicates with patients and families to provide education, resolve concerns, and facilitate access to care, supporting operational efficiency and patient satisfaction through timely, accurate, and compassionate service. The position is based in Austin, Texas, is scheduled for 40 hours per week, and is expected to continue. The role requires standard office equipment and repetitive keyboard use. It may involve exposure to communicable diseases, blood-borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications, and disoriented or combative patients. The salary starts at $45,000, depending on qualifications.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 2 years of experience in a healthcare or patient-facing administrative role. Relevant education or experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, or a related field.
3 years of experience in patient coordination, scheduling, or care navigation.
Experience using electronic medical record systems such as Epic.
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).
Certified Patient Care Coordinator (CPCC).
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Responsibilities

Schedule appointments across multiple specialties and services, confirm upcoming visits, provide pre-visit instructions, coordinate follow-up care and procedures, collaborate with clinical teams to optimize scheduling, and maintain accurate scheduling-system information.
Initiate and track internal and external referrals; obtain prior authorizations; communicate referral status to patients and providers; process referrals in a timely manner; and maintain accurate referral documentation.
Collaborate with care teams on discharge planning, coordinate post-visit services such as home health or rehabilitation, communicate care plans to patients and families, support continuity of care, and track patient progress and follow-up needs.
Verify insurance coverage and eligibility, communicate financial responsibilities, work with billing teams to resolve coverage issues, update insurance information in the electronic medical record, and assist patients with financial assistance resources.
Respond to patient inquiries by phone, portal, or in person; educate patients about care processes and expectations; escalate clinical concerns to appropriate staff; maintain confidentiality and professionalism; and support a positive patient experience.
Enter accurate information into the EMR and scheduling systems, scan and upload documents, comply with HIPAA and organizational policies, audit records for completeness and accuracy, and support data collection for reporting.