Patient Coordinator

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Coordinator assists patients, families, and caregivers to navigate the many systems encountered during the treatment journey for patients cared for in the Center for Infectious Diseases, including but not limited to those enrolled in the OPAT and Chagas Programs in the Infectious Diseases Clinic. Provides culturally appropriate education and outreach to patients, families/caregivers, by meeting with them during clinic sessions, assisting in interactions with community agencies. Provides administrative support by performing general clerical work and by with collecting and managing clinical in a standardized format.

Requirements

Minimum of a High School Education.
Individual must have experience (paid or volunteer) working with families of various backgrounds.
Computer competency, inclusive of the ability to access and enter data.
Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, Power Point) a must.
Ability to work in a fast paced environment, inclusive of organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities.
Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with various members of the health care team, patients, and their families.
Demonstrated flexibility with client’s priorities, evolving needs, and goals.
Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; values; beliefs; and behaviors.
Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving ability.

Nice To Haves

Associates Degree /Bachelor’s Degree preferred
Some familiarity navigating community resources and systems preferred
Knowledge of community, social, and health resources preferred
Empathic understanding of ill patients and skilled in performing multicultural needs assessments and developing concrete service plans.
Expertise in establishing working relationships with patients, their family, professionals, and the community, including the ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary health care team.
Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitors patients’ progress via patient’s level of functioning, adherence to treatment plans, recovery/relapse process and/or service needs.
Schedules outpatient visits and follow-up as needed
Provides education, counsels, and supports clients.
Uses a variety of culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate strategies, in a variety of settings.
Coordinates with Interpreter Services, as needed.
Develops and maintains strong relationships with the community and resources to ensure patient access.
Collaborates and coordinates with health care team members to promote positive prevention, harm reduction.
Verifies eligibility and benefits with insurance companies prior to initial consult and communicates any potential issues to the patient.
Works cooperatively with providers to process referrals for patients.
Accurately documents approval number, number of visits authorized, and type of service approved in the hospital registration system.
Completes the paperwork for referral authorizations and submits to the appropriate managed care organization in a timely manner.
Prospectively identifies patients who require authorization and obtain appropriate provider approval prior to the appointment date.
Effectively communicates alternatives to patient if service is denied.
Refers self-pay patients or patients with insurance issues to Patient Financial Services, as appropriate.
Partners with Patient Financial Services to effectively communicate to the patient alternative payment options and/or insurance issues.
Documents patient encounters, resource development efforts, and other interventions for each patient, including date, time, and signature in the electronic medical record.
Complies with departmental, regulatory and contract requirements for documentation recording, and data collection, and submits department statistics and other records and reports within required time frames.
Create and maintain Chagas, OPAT, and other patient list as assigned , in EPIC by coordinating with IT, Identifies system deficiencies and seeks to fill those gaps in collaboration with the department manager.
Contributes to the development of new ideas that impact the program
Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and privacy
Utilizes hospital’s policies and standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.
Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures
Provides other administrative and special project assistance as required or assigned by Operations Manager
Remains knowledgeable of and follows appropriate policies, procedures, and work standards, including but not limited to, policy regarding hours of work, absenteeism, and tardiness.
Maintains competency in areas of responsibility to ensure quality of care.
Maintains strict protocols of all confidential or sensitive information
Attends hospital required and relevant training sessions or activities, as assigned by Operations Manager
Promotes a positive and collaborative work environment supportive of the hospital’s missions and goals.
Adapts to changing departmental needs, including but not limited to, offering assistance to other team members, adjusting assignments, and other functions as determined by Program Manager
Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.
Utilizes hospital’s cultural beliefs as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.