Patient Service Representative - Pediatrics

Patient Service Representative

Reports to: Front Office Coordinator

Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly $19 - $25)

Job purpose: A Patient Services Representative (PSR) at Heartland plays a vital role in the health center, ensuring that patients have a positive experience from their first point of contact to their final interaction. This position combines administrative and customer service duties, requiring excellent communication skills, empathy, and attention to detail. At Heartland, we are a people-centered environment dedicated to providing exceptional care and service to our patients. This role requires the ability to manage stress and maintain composure in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressure setting. This role will require the ability to handle difficult situations and calm distressed patients to ensure a safe and supportive atmosphere. A foundational understanding of medical or dental terms to effectively communicate with patients and healthcare professionals is highly preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Patient Interaction & Experience:
  • Greet patients and visitors in a friendly and professional manner.
  • Assist patients with check-in and check-out processes.
  • Answer phone calls and respond to patient inquiries regarding appointments, services, and general information.
  • Address and resolve patient complaints or concerns promptly and professionally.
  • Provide information about the healthcare facility's services, policies, and procedures.
  • Facilitate communication between patients and clinical staff to ensure a smooth experience.
  • Ensure that services are accessible to all patients.
  • Use de-escalation techniques to manage and resolve conflicts calmly and professionally.
  • May respond to crisis phone calls or interactions and will need to connect to crisis services.
  • Handle patient inquiries and tasks promptly and efficiently to minimize wait times.
  • Ensure that information provided to patients is accurate and complete.
• Appointment Scheduling:
  • Schedule and confirm patient appointments, ensuring optimal utilization of the provider's template.
  • Coordinate with clinical staff to accommodate urgent appointments, triage and walk-ins.
  • Coordinate with clinical staff to ensure appointment availability and manage scheduling conflicts.
• Patient Records Management:
  • Maintain and update patient records in the electronic health record (EHR) system upon patients arrival.
  • Ensure accuracy and confidentiality of patient information in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Insurance and Billing:
  • Verify patient insurance information and assist with pre-authorization processes.
  • Collect co-pays, deductibles, and other payments, providing receipts and handling financial transactions.
  • Assist patients with basic billing questions and connect with billing department to resolve any discrepancies.
• Administrative Duties:
  • Prepare and manage patient paperwork, including consent forms, medical histories, and insurance documentation.
  • Perform general office duties such as filing, faxing, scanning, and mail distribution.
  • Keep the waiting and reception areas clean and organized.

Confidentiality & Patient Privacy

• Adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. By protecting patients' rights by maintaining confidentiality of personal and financial information.
• Limit access to patient information to authorized personnel only.
• Shred or securely dispose of documents containing patient information when they are no longer needed.
• Conduct conversations involving patient information in private areas where they cannot be overheard by unauthorized individuals.
• Verify the identity of callers before discussing patient information over the phone.
• Verify patient identity before sharing information or discussing their appointment information.
• Use secure channels for electronic communication of patient information (e.g., encrypted emails, secure messaging systems).
• When scheduling appointments, avoid sharing unnecessary details that could reveal sensitive information to bystanders.
• Handle patient complaints and issues with empathy and professionalism.
• Escalate complex issues to the supervisor or appropriate department for resolution.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education or certification in healthcare administration or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience in a healthcare setting or patient service role preferred.
• Previous experience in a call center, customer service, or healthcare setting preferred.
• Completion of Mental Health First Aid Certificate within 90 days of hire.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent verbal communication and listening skills.
• Proficiency in using EHR systems and basic computer applications (e.g., MS Office, MS Teams).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Working Conditions

• Fast-paced medical office.
• Regular interaction with patients, medical staff, and insurance companies.
• This role may be exposed to infections and contagious diseases.
• This role is subject to interruptions.
• This role completes tasks that are performed in close physical proximity to other people.
• This role requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
• This role requires de-escalation skills.

Physical Requirements

• Sufficient visual acuity to be able to read and write and operate equipment common to this position.
• Ability to sit for extended periods.
• Manual dexterity to operate office equipment.
• Moves equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Moves throughout the building to meet with employees, patients, or visitors.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Frequent communication with patients about their experience at the health center. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as tablets, scanners, printers, and phones.
• Adhere to process protocol or procedures.

Details

• Hours M F from 7:30 am 6 pm as needed (average of 40 hours per week)
• Rotating Saturdays 7:30am - 12:00pm as needed
• Hours are approximate and may be altered by supervisor(s) as needed
• Location: Heartland Community Health Center or Heartland at Panda Pediatrics (1803 W. 6 th Street)
• Schedule may be altered by supervisor(s) as needed to allow for completion of expected duties of the position.