Patient Service Associate Job Description
A patient services associate is usually the first person that a patient or family meets when visiting a hospital or a clinic.
The main work of a person working at this position is to make sure that patients and their families are properly greeted, and provided with the information that they are looking for.
In addition to this, it is their duty to handle appointments and schedules, and make sure that medical records management and cashiering duties are properly performed.
Position Requirements
To work as a patient services associate, one has to possess a high school diploma or a GED equivalent at the very least. Apart from this, the experience of working in an administrative capacity, specifically in the medical arena is considered a plus point.
It is important for people working as patient service associates to possess exceptional skills in creating and maintaining records, as a huge part of this work involves records management.
Moreover, patient service associates need to possess great patience, a pleasant attitude, and the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
Checking patients in and out, ensuring that their insurance coverage is in check, and providing information of out-of-pocket expenses and copays are all in a day’s work for a patient service associate.
If you want a detailed account of what an individual working at this position does, have a look at the following list of duties particular to this position:
Patient Service Associate Duties & Responsibilities
• Welcome patients and their families as they arrive at the hospital or clinic, and inquire into their purpose of visit.
• Provide patients with information on available services and facilities, and their access.
• Schedules patients over the telephone and in person, and follow up on appointments.
• Ascertain that all available appointment spaces are filled by patients on the waiting list or those with emergent problems.
• Explain billing systems to patients, providing information on timelines and collection policies.
• Obtain and verify insurance information, and calculate copays and out-of-pocket charges.
• Prepare patient encounter forms, and investigate and account for missing encounter forms.
• Schedule tests and procedures, and complete and distribute ancillary service requisitions.
• Take and record patients’ medical histories, and ensure that they are confidentially maintained and stored.
• Handle insurance verification work, and manage admissions and discharge procedures.
• Create and maintain patients’ files and records, and ensure that they are updated according to procedure.
• Prepare for clinic or hospital visits, by reviewing next-day patients, and following up on appointments.