Covenant Health

Patient Registration Specialist, Thompson Oncology

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift 

Primary location is at Regional TOG clinic; Travel to other clinic sites required.

Position Summary: Coordinates the centralized scheduling of all out patient diagnostic and surgical procedures. Accurate collection and data entry of the required financial and demographic information for all patients registered to our facility. Ensuring verification of benefits and pre-certification requirements are met prior to scheduled appointment/admission. Follow up as necessary on all urgent or unscheduled registrations for consistency in the process. Establishes controls so unscheduled patients understand and receive accurate information on their patient liability. 

If you have any questions please contact Recruiter: Kimberlin Woods || 865-374-5403 || kwoods8@covhlth.com

Integrity

• Collects co-payments/deposits based on verification information obtained, generates receipts to the payer, and delivers all cash transactions to the cashier for proper posting to the patient account.
• Maintain strict confidentially of patient information.
• Does not promote or participate in solicitation during working hours within the department.
• Recommends to the Coordinator updates to existing policies and procedures that support our values and are intended to increase efficiency and promote data integrity.
• Notifies the Financial Counselor immediately upon scheduling or registering any potential self pay, worker’s compensation patient, or any non-covered procedures.
• Makes patient type changes based on information given from Medical Records Staff and/or Care Coordinators, ensuring documentation is present in the medical record to support the change.
• Ensures all reservations are properly documented to support departmental statistics. Enters faxed reservations into the scheduling system.

Quality

• Schedules procedures utilizing the scheduling system. Documents each scheduled procedure/event with detailed information.  Notifies departments of any special resources required for procedure/event.
• Efficiently gathers all demographic, medical and financial information for scheduling, registration, and verification of patient accounts utilizing the computer system to record data.
• Participates with clinical and care management areas to address opportunities to improve overall collections and cash flow.
• Reports pertinent procedural changes/updates to appropriate leadership.
• Demonstrates continued education and skills necessary to support job duties.
• Professionally deals with patients, physicians, visitors, and other hospital staff members.
• Demonstrates ability to keep abreast of regulatory and insurance requirements ensuring that changes are incorporated in daily job functions.

Serving the Customer

• Assures the registration process is handled in a professional manner, maintaining registration accuracy rate of 95 to 100 percent.
• Explains a variety of necessary information to the patient/family member, such as: consent for treatment, advance directives, medical/financial release, deposit requirements, billing and payment polices and advanced beneficiary notices.
• Recognizes situations that necessitate supervision, seeking appropriate resources.
• Directs the patient upon completion of the registration process to the appropriate department.
• Demonstrates motivation necessary for acceptable productivity.
• Understands goals and objectives for the department that take into consideration the mission and values of Covenant Health.   
• Performs pre-registration process by utilization of phone and mail techniques.

Caring For and Developing Our People

• Promotes good public relations for the department and the Center.
• Attends monthly staff meetings and participates in discussions regarding work performance and departmental/Center updates.
• Displays competence in use of all Information Computer Systems that supply information regarding patient registration and scheduling.
• Update schedules daily of unexpected procedures, cancellations or changes and communicates with all individuals affected by revisions.
• Shows initiative to cross-train in all duties related to; Scheduling, Registration, Verification and Pre-Certification.

Using the Community’s Resources Wisely

• Prepares the patient account folder by verifying all documents have been authenticated and insurance cards are copied. Examples of documents:  Insurance cards, financial agreements, Pre-Certification letters, physician orders, etc. 
• Demonstrates promptness in reporting for and completing work, ensuring follow-through on assigned task.
• Attends required In-Service training as scheduled.
• Demonstrates initiative in increasing skills, and attends training programs as available.
• Demonstrates the ability to handle varying tasks and setting priorities.
• Adheres to established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, process improvement initiates, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Utilizes resources available appropriately, i.e. use of Center equipment and/or supplies.
• Activates manual systems for computer network downtime, printing schedules in advance when necessary.  Notifies leadership of unscheduled downtime occurrences
• Coordinates scheduling of classrooms for meetings, conferences, etc, ensuring confirmation is provided for the correct date and time.

Minimum Education: Non specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a Bachelor’s degree in a directly-related field from an accredited college or university.

Minimum Experience: Experience in hospital setting or financial area required.  Strong knowledge of medical terminology preferred.  Must be familiar with insurance plans and requirements.Customer service experience preferred

Licensure Requirement: None. 

Job Relationships: Interactions With: Physician practices, Insurance companies, patients/family members, all diagnostic testing areas, all clinical units, surgery, Case Management, DHS staff, Med Assist staff and environmental services.   

Interpersonal Skills, Personal Traits, Abilities, and Interests: Extensive contact with patient/families, physician practices and insurance companies during scheduling, pre-registration and verification process.   Constant communication with testing areas and surgery regarding proper scheduling. Much communication with the Director of Registration/Financial Services for guidance and to ensure polices and procedures