Patient Service Specialist

Patient Services Specialist IIThe Patient Services Specialist II has advanced Patient Services Specialist skills and is proficient in independently maintaining a positive patient experience by consistently exceeding expectations in customer service and patient care, by coordinating clerical and medical activities of a healthcare team, patient registration activities and facilitating access to UTMB services for new and returning patients.Required Education / ExperienceBachelor's degree and one year experience or High School or equivalent and three years clerical or customer service experience.Essential Job Functions / ResponsibilitiesAbility to function as a team leader.Provides peer guidance and leadership.Able to effectively triage problems.Understand clinic flow to maximize clinic usage to meet patient needs.Customer ServiceProvides high level customer service in all interactions with internal and external customers.Provides direct, professional, and knowledgeable interactions with patients, physicians, referral sources, and the treatment team.Answers calls accurately and with exceptional customer service.Ensures caller's needs are met and accurate information is obtained.Ensures calls are documented and triaged appropriately ensuring patient satisfaction and patient safety. Completes telephone encounter process if appropriate.Acts as patient advocate and liaisons with various departments to meet mutual goals.Maintains patient confidentiality regarding access to patient and other clinical information via email, computer, fax, and mailAddresses concerns of patients, provides service recovery, and escalates issues as needed.SchedulingApplies the policies of the clinical entity to schedule appointments.Coordinates financial counseling for day surgeryCompletes reminder calls to patients for scheduled appointmentsEducates patient/responsible parties regarding billing process and any additional financial responsibilities including third party benefits information.Provides out of pocket cost estimates to patientsCounsels' patients about unpaid bills.Obtains future appointments at time of service for clinic follow-up, referrals, and ancillary services.Patient Arrival / Registration / DispositionArrives patients and prepares paperwork/chart for visit.Appropriately receipts all monies collected, tokens distributed, and deferments authorized.Verifies, ensures eligibility, and pre-registers patients by obtaining patient demographics and third-party coverage(s) at every encounter.Obtains and documents information required for third party reimbursement.Ensures compliance with Medicare and third-party coverage.Communicates with patient, referral source, UTMB physician and clinical staff regarding any obstacle to access or authorization.Fully dispositions each patient within the designated timeline.Periodic Job FunctionsPerforms related duties as required.Reads all OSA Announcements and relevant communications relating to job duties.Successfully completes competency-based training and testing on an annual basis.Prioritizes and completes all work in an accurate, effective, and efficient manner.Adheres to internal controls established for department.Locks office and secures files containing money or confidential information when away from workstation. Properly disposes of printed patient information, logs off computer when leaving workstation and keeps passwords confidential.Participates in team meetings/activities and supports the philosophy and goals of the team/department.Equal Employment OpportunityUTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.Compensation