Patient Access Specialist - Medical

Community Health Center of Snohomish County offers competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package designed to address health, time off, retirement and career-advancement needs. Benefits available include health insurance (medical/dental/vision), up to 120 hours of vacation time pro-rated by FTE every 12 months, paid sick leave, 10-paid holidays, 403(b) Safe Harbor retirement plan with employer match, disability and life insurance, and more! We also offer $0.75/hour for those who test proficiently in a second language.

• This position is eligible for remote work following completion of required onsite training. Candidates must reside in Washington State to participate in training and attend occasional in-person meetings as needed.

Job Summary

The Patient Access Specialist-Medical acts as the first point of contact with Community Health Center. The Specialist answers telephones in a centralized call center environment and performs a variety of clerical, reception and administrative tasks: transcribes messages, schedules appointments, pre-registers patients, and verifies insurance coverage. The Specialist may also document compliments, complaints and update patient demographics as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Reads, speaks, understands and writes proficiently in English.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Works independently and is self-directed.
• Works effectively in a team environment.
• Problem-solves with creativity and ingenuity.
• Organizes, prioritizes, and coordinates multiple activities and tasks.
• Works with initiative, energy and effectiveness in a fast-paced environment.
• Produces work in high quantity and quality.
• Remains calm and effective in high pressure and emergency situations.
• Use of multi-line telephones and other office machines.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications; Word, Excel and Outlook.

Preferred:

• Bilingual skills.
• Knowledge of dental terminology.

Education

• High school graduate or equivalent.

Preferred:

• Graduate of an accredited Office Skills Certification Program or related field.
• Graduate of an accredited Medical Administrative Assistant Certification program or related field.

Experience

• Customer service related experience working with the general public or a combination of equivalent education and work experience (1 year).

Preferred:

• Clerical reception, medical assisting, administrative or secretarial experience in a medical/dental setting or healthcare insurance organization (1 year).
• Call Center experience (1 year).
• Working with insurance/billing in a healthcare setting/insurance organization.
• Experience in a multiple provider medical practice.
• Digital imaging familiarity.
• Healthcare information systems, such as electronic health record and practice management systems experience.
• Working with low income, multi-ethnic populations.

Job Specific Functions/Performance:

• Pre-registers patients in a computerized practice management system.
• Schedules patients in a computerized practice management system. Maintains appointment schedule and follows office scheduling policies.
• Helps contact and reschedule patients when providers' schedules change.
• Directs phone calls to proper destination or takes messages within the electronic health record.
• Assists with insurance eligibility verification and advises non-insured patients of insurance enrollment and sliding fee discount.
• Answers or appropriately refers billing questions.
• Assists in confirming appointments.
• Orders interpreter services and interfaces with other outside organizations regarding patient services.
• Documents compliments and complaints.
• Accurately documents and routes task communications within the electronic health record.
• Logs into and out of the telephone system daily as scheduled.
• Meets the established Call Center daily and monthly goals for call standards (statistics).
• Meets the customer service call quality standards.
• Updates patient demographics as needed.
• Adheres to attendance standards in order to perform the job functions for daily operations and/or continuity of patient care.

CHC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (EEO/AA)/At-will employer.