Patient Service Representative (PSR) I, Cardiology

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation • Germantown, WI

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Service Representative (PSR) I in Cardiology is responsible for creating the initial electronic health record, which serves as the foundation for the patient's medical record used by the entire healthcare team. This role is crucial for preventing duplicate medical records, which can lead to treatment safety issues and billing problems. The PSR ensures patient safety by following organizational mandates to positively identify patients before care delivery. They also handle patient check-in and registration, verifying demographic, guarantor, and insurance information, and collecting co-pays and other patient financial responsibilities. Accurate registration information is vital for timely payment and preventing billing issues. The PSR must maintain strict confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA. They need a solid understanding of insurance basics, recognizing commercial and government plans, and knowing which plans Advocate Health contracts with. Financial information and obligations are discussed with patients, with referrals to Financial Advocates when necessary. Compliance with government regulations such as HIPAA, EMTALA, Consent for Treatment, Patient Rights and Responsibilities, and various Medicare notices is essential. The role may involve scheduling appointments (including virtual and procedural), coordinating cancellations and reschedules, and managing waitlists. Providing detailed information about test preparations, arrival times, medication guidelines, check-in procedures, and directions is also part of the role. Additionally, the PSR may perform visit closure, schedule follow-up appointments, and provide after-visit summaries. Educating and supporting patients with the patient portal/app is another responsibility. The PSR is expected to create a welcoming and professional environment, demonstrating excellent customer service by greeting patients, responding to requests, answering the telephone, and screening calls. Maintaining positive public relations and collaborating effectively with others for efficient information flow is key. Proactive communication of customer service issues and process improvement opportunities to management is encouraged. Assistance may be offered for transportation needs, directions, wheelchairs, and interpreter services. The role may also include e-scanning documents, managing faxes, handling in-basket messages, and following clinical team directions for emergent needs. Monitoring and working assigned electronic health record work queues according to approved processes is required. The PSR may also assist with orientation and training of new staff.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Demonstrate the Advocate Health purpose, values and behaviors.
• Ability to work in a high profile and high stress area, working independently to set and meet deadlines, multitask and prioritize work.
• Must be able to manage high-volume workloads with many interruptions in a fast-paced environment without direct supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent customer service skills in a variety of situations.
• Must have excellent service recovery skills.
• Demonstrated independent thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to exercise judgment to triage issues and concerns.
• Excellent communication (written & verbal), customer service and interpersonal skills, ability to effectively communicate with a variety of patients, visitors, staff and physicians in a pleasant professional demeanor.
• Educate patients on the insurance coverage aspect of their care including managing the discussion for services that will not or may not be paid by their health plan.
• Interact with physicians and their staff to resolve issues related to the patient care.
• Collect and manage payments including cash payments, if applicable, and follow security related to cash handling.
• Strong understanding and comfort level with computer systems and proficient typing skills.
• Demonstrated technical proficiency including experience with electronic email, Microsoft Office, internet browser and phone technology.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information according to internal policies.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively act as a resource to other teammates.

Nice To Haves

• May be cross-trained across various specialties and provide staffing support as needed.

Responsibilities

• Creates the initial electronic health record that serves as the foundation of the patient medical record that is utilized by all members of the healthcare team.
• Prevents creation of duplicate medical records that can cause treatment safety issues and billing problems.
• Follows and ensures compliance with the mandate of the organization’s accrediting bodies to use identifiers to positively identify a patient prior to the delivery of patient care to ensure patient safety.
• Checks in and registers patients; obtains and verifies complete demographic, guarantor, and insurance information; discusses and collects co-pays and other out-of-pocket patient responsibilities.
• Maintains complete confidentiality regarding patient personal/financial information and medical records in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Knows insurance basics and recognizes commercial and government plans.
• Understands which plans AAH contracts with and when a statement of financial responsibility is needed.
• Understands and discusses financial information and obligations with patients.
• Knows how and when to refer patients to Financial Advocates.
• Has knowledge of which rules, forms and questions must be enforced to make sure AAH remains compliant with government agencies and regulations.
• Obtains patient or guarantor signatures as required.
• May schedule patient appointments, including virtual and procedural; may also coordinate cancellations, reschedules, wait list requests, and recall requests.
• May provide accurate, detailed information regarding test preparations, patient arrival time, medication/food/beverage consumption guidelines, check-in procedures, directions to facility, etc.
• May perform visit closure, including checking out patients after their visit, scheduling follow-up appointment(s), and providing patients with the after-visit summary.
• May educate and support patients with the patient portal/app.
• Creates a welcoming and professional environment for our patients and visitors by demonstrating extraordinary customer service.
• Greets patients and visitors and responds to routine requests for information.
• Answers telephone, screens calls, and takes messages.
• Maintains excellent public relations with patients, families, and clinical staff as well as demonstrates a willingness and ability to work collaboratively with others for concise and timely flow of information.
• Proactively communicates issues involving customer service and process improvement opportunities to management.
• Offers various assistance to patients to include: arranging transportation needs, providing directions, locating a wheelchair, coordinating interpreter services, etc.
• May be responsible for e-scanning documents to Health Information Management (HIM), addressing incoming/outgoing fax, addressing inbasket messages via the electronic health record, and following direction from the clinical team for emergent needs.
• Monitors and works assigned electronic health record work queues, following the department’s approved process.
• May assist department leadership with orientation and training.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs
• medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

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