Patient Services Assistant II - Spanish-Speaking Preferred (Open & Promotional)

Patient Services Assistant

County of San Mateo is looking for customer service-oriented individuals to join our team. Patient Services Assistants perform a variety of duties, which may include interviewing and registering patients, managing patient appointments, explaining available coverage plans, financial screening, verifying insurance, using a computer to enter and retrieve data, assigning appropriate codes and processing billing documents, receiving payments for medical services, maintaining accurate records, and acting as receptionist to assist and respond to patient inquiries. Patient Services Assistant positions are located in the various divisions of the Health System, including San Mateo Medical Center and Clinics, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Family Health, and Public Health. Specific positions may require evening, weekend, holiday, or rotating shift work. Some positions may require bilingual skills. Fluency in both English and Spanish is required to be considered for a bilingual position. NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Answering and keeping detailed records of a high volume of incoming calls, completing reminder calls, and scheduling appointments over the phone.
• Educating and assisting incoming patients with registration, appointment information, insurance, and wait times.
• Registering/pre-registering new and existing patients.
• Adding and removing patient charges and diagnoses.
• Verifying patient eligibility.
• Documenting, recording, and entering patient appointments, billing information, insurance plans, and other confidential information in Electronic Medical Records and billing programs.
• Collecting payments from patients in person and through online billing services.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records in Electronic Medical Records, billing programs, and onsite filing system.
• Generating detailed confidential reports and filling out authorization forms.
• Assisting Patient Services Supervisor and Clinic Manager with assorted clerical office duties.

Knowledge of: policies and procedures related to medical patient services, insurance and billing area to which assigned; medical terminology as related to office support work; office practices and procedures, including filing, reception and the operation of standard office equipment; basic business data processing principles and the use of word processing or computing equipment; business arithmetic; and basic recordkeeping principles and practices. Skill/Ability to: perform accurate and detailed patient services office clerical work; prioritize work and coordinate several activities; operate standard office equipment, including a word processor and computer terminal; use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines; work effectively with difficult people, including very sick or uncooperative patients; organize and maintain accurate files and records; make accurate arithmetic calculations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; and understand and carry out oral and written instructions. Note: Specific positions may require the ability to type at a rate of 40 net words per minute from printed copy. Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Patient Services Assistant II: One year of office support experience which involved direct patient contact in a medical setting.

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. The examination process will consist of a auto-scored relevant Training and Experience (T&E) evaluation (weight: pass/fail) based solely on the candidate's responses to the supplemental questions, followed by a standard, multiple-choice Civil Service Computer-Based Written Examination (weight:100%). Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the next phase of the examination process. Qualified applicants will be notified via email, which will include the link to take the computer-based Written Exam. Please make sure to read your notices carefully. Accommodations for special medical conditions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date. Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process. TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Final Filing Date: Continuous