Patient Access Clerk

Job Purpose:

This position is accountable for the accurate and efficient registration of hospital patients, ensuring payments are properly posted to patient accounts in a timely and accurate manner, and verification of addresses for undeliverable mail. This position is responsible for greeting patients and routing to appropriate area, as well as answering the telephone for the facility.

Accountabilities:

• Understands the Hospital's charging and registration system.
• Collects payments from patients and reconciles monies each shift.
• Assists in maintaining patient's records to ensure patient confidentiality and accuracy.
• Accurately registers inpatients and outpatients into hospital's DSM patient registration system. Verifies existing patient information in registration system to ensure accurate billing.
• Collects patient insurance information and inputs into DSM patient registration system.
• Answers telephone for facility and routes to appropriate department.
• Run and verify the final census each night, before midnight.
• Admit, as well as discharge patients from the facility; transfers patients from bed to bed and/or change patient status.
• Greets incoming visitors to facility and routes to appropriate department.
• Each employee is evaluated and records are maintained on competency of performing their duties including the specific job; effective and safe use of equipment; prevention of contamination and transfer of infection when applicable; and CPR and other lifesaving interventions when applicable.
• Initiate emergency code announcements when necessary.
• Other duties as assigned by facility heads.

Major Work Activities:

• Communicates with hospital billing department to keep up with changes in registration/data processing procedures that affect claims.
• Navigates hospital patient registration system after proper training and inputs all required information.
• Collects patient payments and co-payments.
• Issues receipts for each patient payment collected.
• Maintains money drawer and reconciles monies each shift.
• Assists in retrieving medical records, as needed.
• Provides each emergency department patient with hospital armband to ensure correct identification.
• Ensures all contact with patients is performed in a manner compliant with HIPAA requirements.
• Receives ongoing information related to registration system changes and implements changes into daily practice.
• Provides feedback related to registration system problems and difficulties.
• Collects patient information with each visit to verify existing information as well as input new patient information.
• Attempts to collect insurance information for each patient and accurately inputs into DSM system.
• Reviews daily registrations for accuracy and completeness of patient insurance information.
• Corrections made as needed.
• Answers telephone for facility in professional manner and routes incoming calls to appropriate department.
• Receives feedback from data processing department related to patient charge input.
• Contacts patients with undeliverable mail to verify addresses. Any address changes are entered into DSM system.
• Incoming patients and families are greeted with a positive and caring attitude.
• Patients are routed to appropriate departments through established procedures.

Major Work Activities:

(Continued)

• Emergencies are reported to the emergency department charge nurse immediately.
• Compassionately responds to patient/family questions, request for information, or special assistance.
• Completes competency checklist annually or more often as required by department policy.

Job Specifications Minimum Level Qualifications Education :

High School Graduate Experience :

1. PC experience required. 2. Previous hospital or office experience preferred. Licensure, Certification, and/or

Registration :

None required.

Physical Demands :

1. Occasional lifting of heavy boxes. 2. Must be able to sit, reach, turn, twist, lift up to 20 pounds, carry, push, pull and handle all reasonable and customary objects at the level required to meet the demands of the job.

Skills and Qualifications :

1. Proficiency with personal computers. 2. Experience on DSM software or various personal computer software.

Other Special Characteristics :

1. Dealing with stress associated with emergency situations. 2. Effective communication skills and displays of a positive attitude toward physicians, nurses, emergency personnel, patients and family members. 3. Must be able to use good problem solving skills and practice professionalism at all times. 4. Must be dependable and reliable with the ability to make good and sound decisions. 5. Utilize the appropriate line of authority and maintain confidentiality at all times. 6. Occasionally subject to staying later than scheduled hours.

Pay:

$12.00 - $15.00 per hour

Work Location:

In person