Medical Secretary - Hospice Intake Department

Variable (United States of America)

Medical Secretary - Hospice Intake Department

This individual will perform medical secretarial duties which include typing, data entry, answering telephone, making calls, taking messages and various administrative duties, as assigned by Supervisor or Manager.

- High School Diploma or GED equivalent required
- Prior medical office/front desk experience preferred
- Excellent organizational and communication skills  
- Assist in the coverage of absent co-workers.
- Assist in obtaining, copying, and/or scanning medical records as needed.
- Maintains knowledge of scheduling criteria for all procedures within department.
- Works at a fast pace and maintains accuracy of details.
- Schedules patient visits in a timely manner, ensuring that appointments along with all information are complete and accurate.  Coordinate appointments as needed with other locations.
- Answers phone and provides excellent customer service. 
- Follows through with any problems or questions in a timely manner, by understanding and using resources available for problem solving in a diplomatic and tactful manner.
- Accurately answers questions by maintaining a good knowledge base and utilizing other resources as needed.
- Communicates identified problems to appropriate supervisory personnel and participates in corrective action.
- Ensures and adheres to strict confidentiality when handling patient charts, records, and scheduling information.
- Attends all in-service programs and all departmental meetings as required.
- Utilizes the scheduling system to the fullest potential, using established procedures, and guidelines.
- Maintains up-to-date knowledge and stays abreast of changes and updates as they occur.
- Assists with data collection.
- Creates accounts for new patients and updates accounts for previous patients in the registration system to ensure accurate services and account processing.
- Accurately enters data into the system.
- Utilizes appropriate strategies, including phone calls and online databases, to verify the insurance coverage of scheduled patients, obtaining benefit information such as deductibles, co-payment, and co-insurance amounts.
- Collaborates with patients, staff, clinical departments, and referring physician offices to ensure that all necessary information is obtained from patients before their scheduled services.
- Documents all information obtained during pre-registration activities to ensure patients’ accounts are complete for forwarding to other departments.
- Documents charts and/or system with activity comments to ensure appropriate account follow-up.
- Collects self-pay balances per department guidelines and posts collections to system.
- Ensures that all monies collected are secured or turned over to appropriate associates and cash drawers are balanced before closing.
- Refers patients to for in-depth financial counseling when needed.
- Maintains a safe environment of care.
- Recognizes and addresses safety hazards.
- Reports any dissatisfied patients/family to management or police/security if necessary.
- Participates in professional development.
- Actively participates in educational in-services and eLearning courses as offered.