Patient Service Specialist- Internal Medicine-Full Time

Guthrie Enterprise•Ithaca, NY

About The Position

The Patient Service Specialist provides direct, daily operational front-office support for Guthrie Medical Group’s Internal Medicine practice in Hanshaw, serving as a welcoming first point of contact for patients. The role supports smooth patient flow, accurate registration, and exceptional customer service while assisting clinical teams and maintaining accurate patient information. It offers the opportunity to build ongoing relationships with adult patients, support preventive care, and help coordinate care for routine and complex health conditions. The successful candidate demonstrates patient-centeredness, teamwork, and excellence, and is self-motivated, flexible, punctual, detail-oriented, organized, and an effective communicator. This is a full-time position with a Monday-through-Friday schedule; typical hours fall between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pay ranges from $17.34 to $23.96, based on experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Demonstrated customer-service commitment in a fast-paced environment; at least one year of experience in a customer-service-related field is preferred.
Comfort with computers and learning new applications.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, changing work environment.
Ability to maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA.

Nice To Haves

Graduation from a Medical Office Assistant school.
Medical office experience.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
At least one year of experience in a customer-service-related field.

Responsibilities

Greet patients courteously, professionally, and promptly.
Answer telephone calls in accordance with Guthrie’s telephone standards; screen calls, take messages, and provide information.
Schedule and maintain patient appointments electronically, verify patient information when scheduling, assign B# / MRN to new patients, and edit appointment schedules at the direction of practice management.
Register patients and review, verify, and correct demographic and insurance information; scan current insurance cards into confidential medical records.
Verify eligibility for major insurance carriers, including New York and Pennsylvania Medical Assistance, and complete insurance forms, pre-certifications, and referrals.
Inform patients about and collect copayments, insurance deductibles, deposits, and unpaid balances at registration, according to organizational policies and guidelines.
Complete daily cash-out and balancing in accordance with the Patient Cash Control Policy.
Serve as a liaison among patients, physicians, hospital staff, and organizational departments, sharing necessary information and keeping patients informed of delays.
Follow departmental and organizational policies and attend required meetings and huddles.
Prioritize simultaneous daily tasks in a fast-paced, changing environment while working within a team structure.
Maintain strict confidentiality of patient health information in accordance with HIPAA.
Assist with and complete other assigned projects and duties, including participation in organizational quality initiatives.