Join to apply for the Rehab Patient Access Representative role at Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Job Summary
Shift: 40 HOURS, Day Shift.
The Patient Access Representative is responsible for admitting in-patients, out-patients, emergency patients, and clinic patients. Duties include cashiering, pre-certification verification, custodial responsibilities for patient valuables, petty cash management, resolving admission, billing, or other problems related to account balances, and maintaining Patient Access Services Department records and statistics. The position reports to the Patient Access Services Supervisor and operates within established departmental policies and procedures.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- 1–3 years of administrative and in‑person customer service experience, preferably in a health care setting; patient access services experience preferred.
- Familiarity with hospital admissions, patient account systems, and major health insurers and general coverage issues is preferred.
- Previous cashiering experience preferred.
- Typing proficiency, computer (CRT) experience required; Enterprise Scheduling System experience preferred.
- Demonstrated interpersonal, oral and written communication skills required.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Interview incoming patients or their representatives to obtain all pertinent and financial information; obtain required signatures on the financial agreements form.
- Perform admitting duties and register patients via the hospital computer system; enter daily orders/charges via the Order Entry System.
- Assign patients to a room based on diagnosis, precautions, and accommodation availability; escort or arrange transport to the appropriate room; transfer and discharge patients as requested.
- Perform scheduling duties; receive referral information and schedule patients accordingly; track cancellations and no‑shows.
- Interact effectively with medical and nursing staff in the Emergency Department to gather complete data; follow manual procedures when computer systems are unavailable.
- Accept pre-admission orders and schedule pre-admission testing in accordance with hospital regulations.
- Schedule all elective admissions; notify physician’s office of insurance guideline issues; obtain prior approval when required.
- Call patients at home to verify information; call physician's office if a patient misses pre-admission appointments; visit patients or families as necessary.
- Stay current with insurance regulations such as Medicare pre-admission approval guidelines and Master Health Plus prior approval policies.
- Recognize and act when a patient is scheduled inappropriately; contact insurance plans for authorization as needed.
- Explain hospital and insurance regulations to patients over the phone and in person.
- Transmit required information to appropriate departments; use phone system, fax, and imaging systems as necessary.
- Provide patient information in accordance with confidentiality regulations.
- Distribute federal and state-mandated information to patients.
- Verify benefits and assist with pre-certifications; notify patients and medical personnel of outcomes.
- Notify insurance carriers of admissions, observations, or other visits as required.
- Receive payments from patients or representatives; assist with short form Free Care applications.
- Post and total all hospital receipts; balance cash against receipts; prepare bank deposits; maintain petty cash; act as custodian of patients’ valuables.
- Maintain confidentiality of all patients’ records and data; interface with the medical records department as needed.
- Maintain census statistics and bed indexes.
- Requisition office supplies and forms when necessary.
- Prioritize admitting needs when the triage nurse is not on duty; alert medical personnel of patients requiring immediate attention.
- Provide coverage for extra shifts and unplanned absences; work a flexible schedule and be willing to work at satellite facilities such as Amherst.
- Maintain hospital and departmental policies, objectives, confidentiality, quality improvement, safety, compliance, and environmental standards.
- Meet annual competency and retraining requirements.
- Attend required meetings.
- Perform other functions and duties as requested.
Remote Type
Onsite
Work Location
4 West Street
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
Pay Range
$19.42 - $27.74/Hourly
EEO Statement
Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will provide reasonable accommodation for all individuals with a disability as required by law.