Job Description
Join UChicago Medicine as a Patient Access Specialist in our Cancer Service Line.
As an Patient Access Specialist, you will be responsible for guiding patients through cancer center services at UCM. The Patient Access Specialist ensures that the patient and their caregivers are able to access appropriate services in a timely manner with a high degree of compassion and efficiency. This position is responsible for coordinating services and related appointments for all new patients among multiple providers and ancillary departments before and until their first visit.
Essential Job Functions
- Responsible for overseeing the scheduling of the new Cancer patient’s initial appointment with the appropriate provider and will coordinate complex joint appointments and referrals for lab testing and imaging procedures prior to the first visit in communication with program liaisons and providers.
- Anticipates patients’ frequently asked questions and concerns by assuming a proactive approach prior to the initial visit. Directs patient and caregiver questions and concerns to appropriate UCM clinicians, administrative staff, and providers.
- Obtains patients’ authorization and verifies that all medical records, pathology slides and specimens, faxes, and other items necessary for the initial visit have arrived. Collaborates with the pre-visit team to obtain prior insurance authorizations and communicates with patient/caregiver as needed throughout the process.
- If socioeconomic issues exist, the coordinator will take point in putting the patient in touch with services; financial, social work, transportation, etc.
- Builds relationships and effectively collaborates with internal physicians, nursing staff, and other hospital staff involved in the care of cancer patients and with members of the referring community with whom UCM has strategic partnerships.
- Provides information on appropriate clinical trials and information regarding disease diagnosis (via web or printed materials). Maintains statistics and generates reports for managers and others to identify new patient needs, trends, referral patterns, access barriers, and to track outcomes related to the Support Coordinator role to ensure continuous improvements to service and access.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent from an accredited institution.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a high-volume healthcare environment.
- Excellent organizational skills, well-developed written telephone, and personal communication skills are required.
- Must have the ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy and tact, excellent customer service, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work with diverse people groups.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize is crucial to success in this position.
- Compassionate listening skills are required for patient and family distress related to new diagnosis and issues related to the course of disease.
- Records acquisition experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- Various Microsoft-based computer software programs for Office programs.
- Knowledge of scheduling templates, insurance verification, hospital billing practices, and HIPAA regulations.
Position Details
- Job Type/FTE: Part-Time.
- Shift: Day, 8:00 am-5:00 pm, 20 hours per week.
- Work Location: Hybrid.
- Unit/Department: Cancer Service Line.
- CBA Code: Non-Union.
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