Medical Office Assistant

Medical Office Assistant

Job Location: Salem, OR (97301)

Duration: 12 weeks

Shift: Day 5x8-Hour (08:00 - 17:00)

Experience:

• Previous clerk, office and/or administrative assistant work preferred.
• Previous medical experience preferred.
• Previous experience in a multi-specialty clinic preferred

Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent - Or 5 years of experience in a healthcare setting

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Greets patients and visitors in a courteous manner, directing full attention to them immediately upon their entrance to the department. Directs patients and visitors to appropriate areas. Provides direction and information regarding various programs and services.
• Is knowledgeable in the operation of the hospital telephone and paging systems. Appropriately screens and directs calls, pages staff, accesses voice mail, takes and relays messages in a clear and concise manner. Demonstrates courteous and professional phone etiquette skills, establishing and maintaining a high level of rapport with referring physician offices and other staff members.
• Accurately and courteously schedules patients for visits and/or procedures in such a manner to allow for the department to run efficiently, with minimal patient wait time. Follows clinic procedure to manage no-show, late arrivals, discharges from practice, and payer-mix while maintaining excellent customer service.
• Follows established policies and procedures during patient registration and pre-registration with a high degree of accuracy, including the following: • patient search ensures correct patient identification (uses minimum of 2 identifiers) • assigns valid medical records number, ensuring only one medical record per patient • verifies correct and complete spelling of patient name • obtains accurate demographic information, including mailing and living addresses • obtains complete health insurance, third party liability, and/or other billing information • uses correct guarantor information
• Verifies written physician orders for accuracy as compared to the procedure scheduled. Adheres to department policies to follow-up on all verbal orders with written verification.
• Verifies insurance benefits, uses available systems and tools (HDX, PhTech, etc.) to determine eligibility, and completes MSPQ, as needed.
• Collects co-pays, co-insurance and payments on past due accounts, and utilizes credit card applications correctly. Maintains and updates co-pay/co-insurance fields in Epic. Balances cash drawer and prepares deposits according to department protocol. Works with Professional and/or Hospital Billing Services, Charity Care and other resources to assist patients with payment plans.
• Accurately obtains and/or verifies referrals and obtains pre-authorization or renewal of authorization as needed to ensure financial reimbursement for services provided by the department. Ensures diagnosis and ICD-9 codes are provided with the referral and accurately entered into Epic. Ensures authorization number, if needed, is accurately recorded in Epic.
• Assists patients in making physician ordered referrals to other services. Maintains tickler-file and follows up on services not performed within expected timeframe. Communicates to clinical staff on services not completed.

Accurately obtains patient information and records from EPIC or from other departments and/or facilities, as needed. Compiles and maintains patient paper charts prior to appointment. Photocopies chart notes as requested by billing department.

• Complies with HIPAA and Salem Health procedure in release of medical records, including maintaining EPIC log of release. Follows appropriate check out processes, informing patient of follow up activities and/or rescheduling, as needed.
• In a timely manner, accurately enters charges via charge router/charge entry as provided by each physician and/or provider. Utilizes Epic account processing functions properly and modifies entries as appropriate.
• Completes workque assignments within appropriate time frames and assists others in completing department workques as time allows.
• Maintains, edits and updates department Cadence templates to meet the changing needs of the department.
• Collects and compiles data, as requested, such as performance improvement activities, patient satisfaction survey responses, advanced access scheduling, panel size, staff schedule, etc. Refers unresolved issues to Manager.
• Maintains inventory and orders supplies with fiscal stewardship.