Our Patient Access Associate will assist in providing access to services provided at the hospital and/or other service area. Knowledge of all tasks performed in the various Patient Access Service areas is necessary to provide optimum internal and external customer satisfaction and provide the opportunity for accurate reimbursement.

This position is primarily responsible for the pre-registration and registration of patients at Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

This position is primarily responsible for the registration information of the patient visit, obtaining patient demographics, third party information with a high degree of accuracy, and may perform financial collections.

Other key roles include serving as the switchboard for the hospital and dispatchers for all emergent situations.

Serve as a liaison between ancillary departments and other Patient Access Services areas. 

Education:

High School Graduate or GED equivalent preferred.

Experience:

• 2 years of customer service experience preferred.

Medical terminology, medical office, registration or billing experience strongly preferred.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Outstanding interpersonal and customer relation skills required. Must demonstrate ability to work successfully with internal and external customers.
• Excellent computer skills, critical thinking and multitasking skills required.
• Must be flexible, organized and able to function well in stressful situations.
• Must demonstrate detail orientation, critical thinking, and problem solving ability.
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication and customer service skills, with ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanor in high stress situations.
• Demonstrated ability to remain flexible, and consistently exercise sound judgment and initiative in very stressful situations.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities and work independently in a rapidly changing environment.

Familiarity with state and federal regulations, insurance requirements/guidelines, and hospital, department and Joint Commission policies and procedures must be obtained within 1 year of hire and maintained throughout employment.

• Responsible for completing all steps of pre-registration/registration including patient interview, collecting insurance information, obtaining picture identification and signatures for consents, providing Advance Directive information and distributing required patient information.
• Coordinate accurate patient data collection to verify insurance eligibility and determine financial obligation, which may include collection of copayments.
• Act as the communication hub for the hospital and demonstrate ability to function well in stressful situations. Monitor alarms and weather information. Call and process all codes as needed, and provide ongoing communication support during all code and disaster situations according to policies and procedures.
• Dispatch calls to all call staff including: Administrator on Call, nurse managers, house supervisors, surgery staff, respiratory therapy, and Plant Operations. Maintain records of current on call staff. Answer incoming calls to main hospital switchboard.
• Answer incoming calls for emergency line (56700) and process timely and correctly.
• Answer Stat Code and Rapid Response calls and process timely and correctly.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, willing to work alternative shifts and cover call-ins as needed. May be required to work night or weekend shifts.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable HIPAA, Joint Commission, CDC, LMH, and state and federal statues, providing required associated literature to patients at all PAS access points.
• Coordinate security efforts for LMH through monitoring of security cameras and coordination of necessary actions with Plant Operations and/or police as needed, according to policy and procedure. Check in and log visitors entering the building after normal business hours.
• Responsible for patient flow in the ED, Diagnostic Center, Acute Care Unit, Obstetrics, and Special Procedures Area. Enters patient information into department whiteboards for tracking purposes.
• Monitors the patient volumes and flow throughout the day, adjusting Patient Access staff as needed. Work with staff and leaders in other areas in order to coordinate timely patient flow and services.
• Coordinate admission and patient placement in collaboration with the Case Management Team, Nursing Leadership, and Environmental services. Consult with other departments to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to patient’s needs.
• Conducts daily audits of accounts for quality assurance and performs necessary action to correct patient accounts. Distributes corrections as appropriate.
• Conduct insurance verification tasks, including referrals and authorization for elective and emergent patients. Check eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, etc.
• Demonstrates ability to be organized and perform daily tasks including reporting and closeout duties. Verify census information and patient data at the end of each day to ensure accurate patient accounts.
• Monitor the patient safe, recording and securing patient valuables as needed.
• Maintain petty cash and service recovery funds. Perform daily closing duties associated with the cash drawer.
• Orients and cross-trains others within assigned area of responsibility as directed and defined by management. May assist other areas within the unit or department, as necessary, during times of special needs or staff absences.
• Greet visitors and patients; answer patient questions (via telephone/ in person) and provide directional information as requested. Contribute to the positive customer relations and work to address any issues that arise when patients are present in order to maintain the positive experience.