Patient Service Associate, Outpatient Psychiatry, Albany

Department/Unit:

Psychiatry General

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Salary Range:

$46,215.00 - $60,080.00

Patient Service Associate , Albany, NY
Outpatient Psychiatry
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday


We are seeking an Administrative Associate with excellent customer service skills and clerical experience to join our Outpatient Psychiatry team!

The Patient Service Associate provides advanced clerical support and fosters coordination of functions for effective operation and administration of office functions. Demonstrates a high degree of knowledge and competence in our electronic health record and scheduling system.

• Register patients, update insurance information, schedule visits, and other duties as assigned to coordinate patient appointment scheduling.
• Interact with a diverse patient population.
• Utilize the electronic medical record to maintain patient records via registration process and scan functionality.
• Be knowledgeable with state and government agencies to provide proper consents for patients who are wards of the state; work with facilities to obtain proper consents from patient proxies.
• Be knowledgeable of and adhere to payer requirements for referrals and authorization within the scope of the specialty they are assigned.
• Schedule follow up appointments, referrals and prior authorization for patient schedule visits as needed.
• Communicate professionally and timely with all parties, including providers, patients, clinical care team, and insurance company
• Answer incoming phone calls and direct appropriately to team members
• Conveys professional image by adhering to the established dress code.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for registration and scheduling process for complex patients.
• Responsible for updating the system with registration, scheduling and insurance information.
• Prepares patient disability and out of work / school paperwork.
• Responsible for discussing financial obligation and explaining regulatory forms, as well as answering any questions.
• Works in multiple systems during patient facing interactions and telephone call receipts to complete accurate registration and to support the clinical workflow.
• Understands the practice and hospital strategic plan.
• Supports plans, policy and procedures, and initiatives within scope of their departments expectations and role.
• Represents AMC and supports the ideals and principles of their department, the Practice, the Hospital and the Center.
• Exemplify Albany Med CARES guiding principles.
• Is a champion to ensure an optimal patient experience.
• Understands and promotes patient and employee safety as our top priority.
• Promotes a safe environment and promptly reports issues.
• Understands patient safety goals.
• Maintain strict adherence to the Albany Medical Center Confidentiality policy.
• Incorporate Albany Medical Center Behavioral Standards and Guiding Principles into daily activities.
• Comply with all Albany Medical Center Policies.
• Comply with behavioral expectations of the department.
• Maintain courteous and effective interactions with colleagues.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the job description, performance expectations, and competency assessment.
• Demonstrate a commitment toward meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and consistently adheres to Customer Service standards.
• Participate in departmental and/or interdepartmental quality improvement activities. 
• Participate in and successfully completes Mandatory Education.
• Perform all other duties as needed or directed to meet the needs of the department.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/G.E.D. - required
• 2-3 years office experience or one year of related experience in a medical practice - preferred
• Experience using an electronic health record and Microsoft Office a plus.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a high patient volume unit.
• Ability to learn and utilize resources.
• Strong time management skills.
• Ability to review information and draw appropriate conclusions.
• Good judgement and ability to problem solve; escalate issues as needed.
• Strong teamwork skills and work ethic.

Physical Requirements & Environment 

• The position requires periods of concentrated mental and visual attention.
• Nature of work requires lifting or moving light weight (up to 20 pounds).
• Flow of work and character of duties require high manual coordination.
• Duties require average range of motion.
• Performance of duties requires remaining in position for prolonged periods of time.
• Assignments require frequent repetitive motion.
• Working conditions include continuous exposure to elements such as odor, noise, dust, chemicals, temperature extremes or airborne pathogens.
• Performance of duties generally does not involve exposure to hazardous materials.
• Performance of duties requires the ability to discern and identify colors
• Position facilitates the process that may impact patient access to services.

Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!​

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.