Intake Specialist

Intake Advocate

OSF HealthCare is dedicated to provide Mission Partners with a comprehensive and market-competitive total rewards package that includes benefits, compensation, recognition and well-being offerings that focus on the whole person and engage with their current stage of life and career. Expected pay for this position is $20.21 - $23.77/hour. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. This is an Hourly position.

Overview

Candidates with Behavioral Health background are encouraged to apply. Hybrid position-must reside within 60 miles of OSF Peoria location. Initial training onsite in Peoria.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Intake Advocate serves as the first point of contact for patients, families, and providers seeking access to specialty, virtual, and destination care services across OSF HealthCare. This role supports intake, referral coordination, scheduling, and patient navigation activities for designated specialty programs and service lines, including Destination OSF and telespecialty services. The Intake Advocate manages inbound referrals, reviews information for accuracy and completeness, coordinates patient intake, and schedules appointments in alignment with department guidelines, provider protocols, and clinical workflows. They support multiple specialties and leverage knowledge of scheduling requirements, referral pathways, insurance considerations, and prioritization and escalation processes to ensure timely access to appropriate care. The Intake Advocate delivers a compassionate, seamless patient experience by guiding patients through the access process, connecting them to appropriate services, and collaborating with providers, clinical teams, referral sources, and external partners to reduce barriers, support continuity of care, and advance operational and growth initiatives as part of the OSF OnCall and Digital Experience teams.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: High School Diploma/ GED

Experience: 2 years of experience in a healthcare setting (patient access, scheduling, referral coordination, contact center, or direct patient care) required. Equivalent experience with CNA, MOA, or related healthcare certification may be considered.

Other Skills/ Knowledge: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Solid computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft software. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to be detail oriented. Ability to manage scheduling workflows, referral processes, and patient interactions in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and professionalism. Knowledge of patient access, scheduling, insurance, referral, and healthcare operations workflows. Proven ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered service and effectively manage challenging or escalated situations through strong verbal and written communication skills. Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Associate degree in a healthcare, business, or related field.

Experience: Experience in specialty scheduling, referral coordination, patient navigation, contact center operations, virtual care, or telespecialty services. Prior experience working with electronic health record EPIC. Experience supporting multiple specialties or complex scheduling workflows. Completion of medical terminology coursework or equivalent experience.

Other Skills/ Knowledge: Knowledge of specialty care workflows, patient access operations, and healthcare scheduling best practices.

OSF HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer.