Patient Admissions and Education Specialist

The information described in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Other information:

Job Summary
This position acts as an advocate to improve access to HNW care. Furthers the mission of Hospice of the Northwest by providing the highest level of customer service and education. Responsible for supporting all aspects of organization's educational activities, including patients, families, facilities, and employees. Responsible for facilitating patient registration activities. The information described in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Essential Functions
Provides timely information about Hospice services for referred individuals and their family/durable power of attorney/others with the goal of informed admission to hospice for end of life care. Demonstrates knowledge of hospice services, regulations, payment sources in a manner that a patient/family can understand and make informed choices about. Facilitates communication and collaboration with all parties to enhance patient care and optimize outcomes. Meets established goals for visit quantity, quality and conversion statistics. Verifies and gathers additional demographic information. Error rate is zero on Election/Consent form. Assists Manager and other team members with process analysis, statistical reporting and program operations. Create and maintain positive working relationships with referral sources, with special emphasis on providers, which results in referrals to HNW. Collaborate and coordinate education plan with HNW physicians and managers Obtain patient data and verify accuracy. Perform patient registration data input in electronic medical record (EMR) in an accurate and timely manner. Document all authorizations in EMR in an accurate and timely manner. Follow up on all insurance pre-authorizations, reauthorizations and ongoing billing needs. Collect referral data in an accurate and timely manner. Log and distribute complete registration referrals. Verify insurance eligibility and identify insurance co-pay information. Document all authorizations in the EMR in an accurate and timely manner. Perform data extraction as requested. Ensure integrity of all information requests. Assist in monitoring provider schedules. Maintain ability to effectively utilize Microsoft Office (Outlook) and department specific software applications to perform work. Communicate effectively and cooperatively in the workplace. Actively contribute to the achievement of Quality Improvement and Lean Process Improvement activities. Attend and actively participate in all department, team and/or committee meetings. Comply with all Skagit Regional Health, department and location specific policies and procedures.

Education
High school graduate, or equivalent, required. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Education or similarly applicable area of study highly preferred.

Experience/Training
Minimum two (2) years patient registration or health care business office experience preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License/Certifications
None.

Other Skills
Demonstrated ability to support professional, volunteer and administrative personnel in their work which improves efficiencies and excellence. Proven ability to communicate effectively and warmly in stressful, customer-focused environments. Effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills required. Must be able to effectively utilize Microsoft Office applications to perform work. Well-developed problem solving and analytical skills required. Must be able to effectively prioritize workload amongst frequent interruptions with competing priorities. Knowledge of medical terminology and payer insurance benefits required. Demonstrated ability to maintain a level of confidence and calmness in an episodic stressful environment secondary to the reception of terminally ill patients' and families' needs. Demonstrated ability to work as a team member, sensitive to the needs of the other members of the work team. Ability to coordinate work schedule with requirements of position (may include overtime and weekend work).

Physical Demands and Work Environment
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; when working in office. Repetitive tasks such as typing, sitting, answering phones, and interacting with computers and computer systems most of the day is a function of the position. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus. This position requires working in an indoor, environmentally controlled environment when in the office. The employee may occasionally be required to lift, transport or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds This position may require driving and working in various outdoor venues and locations such as hospitals, clinics, and patient homes for which there is control little over environmental conditions.Skagit Regional Health offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, 457b/401a (retirement), long term disability, and paid time off to all employees holding an FTE of 20 or more hours per week. Eligible employees also receive sick time pay.