What are the responsibilities and job description for the Patient Access Associate position at Eastern Connecticut Health Network?
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Patient Access Associate performs registration of inpatients and outpatients, chooses the correct Medical Record and obtains accurate demographic and financial data. Establishes patient account for the purpose of producing a timely and accurate bill and an accurate medical record. Verifies insurance, and refers self-pay patients to the Financial Counselor. Identifies and collects time of service dollars.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION
- A High School degree or GED equivalent is required.
EXPERIENCE
- Should have a basic familiarity with the use of personal computers and keyboards, some basic skill in Microsoft Word and Outlook is desirable but not required..
- Knowledge of medical insurance is helpful.
COMPETENCIES
- Able to multi task.
- Exemplary Customer Service and English communication skills are a must.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
Disclaimer: Job descriptions are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of the principal duties and responsibilities of this position. These responsibilities and competencies listed below may change from time to time.
Job-Specific Competency
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1. Accurately establishes patient account in a timely fashion, eliminating duplication of medical record numbers by linking the correct patient and Unit number. |
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2. Completes demographic and financial information accurately in conjunction with Patient Access Department expectations while accurately determining the appropriate flow type in the Admissions registration system. |
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3. Obtains signature on authorization form for all types of registrations including Observations and Inpatients and explains all components of the form to the person signing. |
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4. Completes registration process by producing registration form, admission plate and bracelet for registrant based on registration type. |
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5. Completes registration by assigning the correct physician(s), admit source and admit priority, as well as HIPAA specific information as evaluated through the auditing process. |
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6. Operates department specific equipment such as fax, copier, printer, addressograph and credit/debit machine. |
Job-Specific Competency – Cont'd
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7. Pre-registers patients for scheduled appointments by responding to pre-registration phone promptly, returning messages in a timely fashion, printing scheduled lists and initiating phone calls as evidenced by weekly audits. |
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8. Accurately performs the discharge function by entering an accurate diagnosis, disposition, referring out physician, discharge time, including time seen by triage, time placed in room, and time see by physician. |
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9. Releases Emergency Department records to the coding vendor via FedEX to establish a 24 to 48 hr turnaround. |
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10. Reconciles charges for the ED professional and facility component provided to ECHN by the coding vendor and closes out month without delay. |
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11. Reports discrepancies and/or issues immediately to the Manager of Patient Access such as accumulative missing records as evidenced by the weekly suspend report and works collaboratively with the Vendor, HIM, ED/PC physicians and nursing to resolve. |
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12. Creates a spreadsheet of missing charges and works collaboratively with the Coding Vendor to resolve issues of records held for review to insure a timely turnaround of charges. |
