What are the responsibilities and job description for the Front Desk position at Florida Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers?
PURPOSE: This position is responsible for assisting in maintaining patient files and statistics; responds to requests for medical records; performs clerical duties; provides excellent customer service and serves as the first point of contact for all patients; and schedules appointments and answer phone calls.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assure the readiness of the reception area of each working day; open the building at the designated time and have all front desk activities fully operational at the start of business hours.
- Greet patients and agency visitors in a pleasant, helpful manner and announce them appropriately.
- Register patients according to office protocols
- Keep patient appointments on schedule by notifying provider of patient’s arrival; reminding provider of service delays.
- Provide general administrative and clerical support such as maintaining faxes.
- Determine the financial status of patients and their insurance eligibility; collect co-pays before they see a Provider.
- Assist patients in accurately completing appropriate forms and document all information according to office protocols
- Comfort patients by anticipating patient’s anxieties; answering patient’s questions.
- Collect fees according to office protocols; prepare and balance daily financial registers and submit all forms and fees to billing department
- Schedule patient appointments - Optimize patient’s satisfaction, provider time, and treatment room utilization by scheduling appointments in person or by telephone.
- Maintain forms and office supplies required for front desk operations
- Secure the building at the close of each working day according to office protocols and lock all entrances
- Obtain revenue by recording and updating financial information; recording and collecting charges for co-pays and uninsured visits.
- Respect and maintain privacy and dignity of patients; assure patient confidentiality at all times; adheres to all HIPAA guidelines/regulations
- Participate in staff and educational meetings
- Maintains patient files and retrieves files for scheduled appointments; files all patient data upon receipt of information; prepares file labels
- Responds to requests for medical records; processes letters and reports; answers and directs telephone calls
- Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Obtain authorizations and referrals.
- May photocopy records and documents for billing and/or legal services; sends and receives information via facsimile machine
- Keeps supervisor informed of problem or issues
- Performs other related work as required
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/training:
- High school graduate or GED and current certification, if applicable.
Experience:
- One-year medical experience in a physician’s office or equivalent combination of training and experience preferred; will train a highly motivated new graduate
Skills:
- Knowledge of modern office equipment
- Basic knowledge of medical billing/collection practices
- Ability to operate a multi-line telephone system and skill in answering a telephone in a pleasant and helpful manner
- Ability to maintain records and files
- Ability to operate personal computer
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to exert physical effort maintaining and distributing files
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, coworkers and the public.
- Ability to read, write and communicate effectively orally in writing
- Knowledge of basic arithmetic
Physical Abilities:
- Ability to sit and/or stand as associated with a normal office environment
- Manual dexterity for using a calculator and computer keyboard
- Maintain and current and valid driver’s license
Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be used to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work of this position is performed in an environmentally controlled office environment. The position requires the ability to work under pressure and with a diverse population, including staff, physicians, clients, patients, insurance companies and other members of the public on a regular basis. Occasional overtime may be required and/or hours may be shortened as business needs dictate.
