Front Office Assistant - Atlanta Rheumatology

RESPONSIBLE FOR:
Compliance: Complies with all HIPAA policies specifically relating to patient confidentiality and release of information; maintains strict confidentiality on all patient information and practice matters; remains current on HIPAA, OSHA, Infection Control, patient safety, and other mandatory regulations, standards, and organizational policies and procedures. Reception: Greets patients, visitors, and vendors in a prompt, courteous, and helpful manner; screens visitors, and responds to routine requests for directions, paperwork completion assistance, and other similar requests; announces emergencies according to specified procedures; pages staff and makes general announcements as requested; assists patients having ambulatory difficulties and may assist clinical staff under the direction of licensed staff as needed. Front Office Duties: Checks in patients by verifying and/or updating demographic, insurance, and registration information in accordance with established policies and procedures; facilitates the scheduling, canceling, and rescheduling of patient appointments and communicates changes to staff as needed; coordinates with back office staff to ensure for the timely and efficient flow of patients to the providers; reviews and edits patient bills generated by providers through the electronic medical record and/or enters charges and payments from fee tickets; coordinates referrals and/or hospital admission arrangements as directed; demonstrates basic knowledge of managed care plans, CPT, and ICD-9 coding.
Cash Management: Checks out patients at the time of service and collects appropriate payment, including any past due balances owed, in accordance with patients medical plan coverage and provides receipt for services; maintains balances and reconciles a cash drawer and records daily receipts at the end of each day; prepares balances and bank deposits in accordance with established close-out procedure. Telephone Management: Answers, screens, and directs office telephone calls in accordance with office procedures and provides general office information to callers; immediately advises physician and/or other licensed staff of patients requiring emergency assistance; refers calls regarding prescription drug medications, treatments, etc., to appropriate clinical staff; records telephone messages in accordance with office policy; may place return calls as requested. Clerical Support: Maintains records appropriate to area and function; maintains physician on-call schedule, updating as necessary, notifying answering service of changes; assists other sections with miscellaneous paperwork; files charts, coordinates lab work, physicians report, etc.; may type correspondence and provide secretarial and/or clerical support for special projects as assigned; sorts and delivers mail, medical records, and other correspondence. Safety: Follows all practice protocols and established standards that promote a safe and productive work environment; supports practices procedures and policies for proper cleaning and routine maintenance; maintains work area and lobby in neat and orderly manner; promptly reports equipment malfunctions to the practice manager or designee. Communications: Communicates in a professional manner; demonstrates effective and appropriate oral and written communication skills with patients, staff, and healthcare providers. Professional Development: Attends required meetings, in-services and participates in committees as required; participates in office meetings and Piedmont Heart Institute educational programs as required and needed for continued growth and development; begins to assumes greater responsibility for own professional growth by participating in continuing education activities and/or professional organizations. Leadership: Demonstrates an understanding of leadership principals through interactions with staff and healthcare providers; complies with standards of care policies and procedures and may participate in their development; may assist with the orientation of new and temporary staff. Materials Management: Maintains office supplies and materials; requests supplies as needed; may order and maintain a supplies and equipment inventory for assigned area or office and issue supplies and equipment as required.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED:
High school graduate or G.E.D. equivalent.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
One (1) year related experience, preferably a medical office setting. Associates degree can substituted in lieu of experience requirement.

MINIMUM LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY LAW:
None.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Previous exposure to electronic patient management systems