Patient Care Technician

The Kroger Co. • Oak Ridge, TN

8d • $18 - $18

About The Position

Under the day-to-day direction of the on-duty nurse practitioner or physician assistant, the Patient Care Technician helps maximize patient flow through the clinic while providing a strong patient experience. The role performs administrative work, including electronic health record (EHR) documentation, in accordance with company policy, and demonstrates the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Patient Care Technicians support a safe, quality-based, survey-ready clinic environment; welcome and assist patients; maintain clinic cleanliness; manage registration, scheduling, payments, and patient flow; and answer calls and questions in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. In designated clinics, technicians with completed competencies obtain vital signs and patient histories and enter them in the EHR. Advanced technicians who have completed required competencies may assist providers with obtaining ordered specimens and report negative lab results to patients as directed by the provider. Float technicians travel to designated clinics within a specified geographic area.

The Little Clinic is part of a healthcare team that includes board-certified nurse practitioners or physician assistants, licensed practical nurses, and patient care technicians. The team provides healthcare in convenient retail settings, focusing on health and wellness through diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, preventative medicine, and individualized patient education.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Basic computer skills.
• Excellent administrative, communication, and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Basic math skills, including counting, addition, and subtraction.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Excellent customer service, organizational, and task-management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in retail, customer service, or healthcare.
• Knowledge of infection control practices.

Responsibilities

• Help maintain a safe, quality-based, survey-ready healthcare environment as required for Joint Commission Accreditation.
• Greet customers and potential patients in the front area or near the clinic.
• Clean and organize the clinic daily, including taking out trash, handling supply orders, cleaning floors and examination rooms, and disinfecting equipment.
• Answer questions in the front area while following HIPAA guidelines, and consult providers about questions concerning the scope of services.
• Use the Patient Queue, Appointment Tool, and Patient Kiosk systems to manage waiting-room flow.
• Complete patient registration and place patients under the appropriate scheduler book for the provider on duty.
• Verify the identity of patients or responsible parties using a government-issued source.
• Explain available payment methods, determine the method of payment, collect payments, and record them in the EHR.
• Collect insurance information when applicable and record relevant information in the EHR.
• Scan appropriate documents or alert the provider if scanning must be completed by the provider.
• Escort patients to examination rooms and determine their chief complaints.
• In designated clinics and after completing competencies, obtain vital signs and patient histories and enter the information in the EHR.
• Continue processing patients in the waiting area according to clinic flow.
• Guide waiting patients and potential patients on registration, wait times, available services, and payment methods.
• Answer phones, respond to questions, return patient and provider calls, and complete daily patient callbacks according to policy.
• Participate in and prepare for off-site events as needed.
• Prepare weekly supply orders for provider approval and prepare packages, laboratory specimens, and mail for shipping.
• If assigned as a float, travel to designated clinics within a specified geographic area.
• If an advanced Patient Care Technician who has completed required competencies, assist the provider with obtaining ordered specimens within company protocols and report negative lab results to patients as directed by the provider.
• Perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, through company or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles.
• Paid time off, including holiday and sick pay, based on eligibility and length of service.
• Free counseling through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Free, confidential financial tools and coaching through Goldman Sachs Ayco.
• Associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, and technology.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over the course of a career through the Continuing Education program.
• Training programs and career pathways offering opportunities for growth.

What This Job Offers

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