Medical Secretary - Hospice Intake Department

Variable (United States of America)Medical Secretary - Hospice Intake DepartmentThis 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.