PAS Resource Specialist

at  Oregon Health Science University

Department Overview:
The Patient Access Resource Specialist (PASR) gathers and records required information about patients, provides customer services which includes confirming health insurance coverage, determining individual financial obligations, verifying that necessary authorizations for care have been obtained, scheduling physician office appointments, cancer treatment appointments, and ancillary appointments, and assisting patients in an office or practice setting.
This position may be responsible for scheduling a high volume of complicated patient procedures and clinic appointments. This position will serve as a liaison and information resources for physicians, nursing, other support staff and coworkers, referring physician offices, patients, and insurance companies. This role will be required to answer incoming calls to the clinic, to schedule, transfer, or triage to a clinical team.
This role will have responsibility to convey detailed, complicated information to patients and answer any patient questions or concerns within scope. Works closely with other clinics and treatment units for appointment coordination. Works reschedule and wait lists when necessary; Prepare and mail, fax, or email new patient information packets when necessary; Direct patients to appropriate providers for other health care issues; Complete and route direct referrals to other clinical services; Respond to patient messages in a variety of formats, including phone and electronic; Enter patient information accurately into the electronic medical record when necessary.
Function/Duties of Position:

Arranged Care:

• Coordinate high volume of complicated patient care appointments, procedures, and infusion treatments as directed by physician and/or nurse staff; Uses EMR and other systems as needed for scheduling. Creates a medical record if needed. Provides personal reminders to patients about upcoming appointments. Serves as a liaison and information resource for physicians, and nursing support staff; Return patients messages (phone and/or electronic);
• Prepare and mail patient information packets; Direct patients to appropriate providers for other health care issues; Complete and route direct referrals to other clinical services; Enter patient information accurately into the electronic medical record when necessary. Maintains a service-based working knowledge of oncology practice. Obtains prior medical records and studies if appropriate. Arranges for wheelchairs, interpreters, or other assisting devices as necessary to support safe, high-quality care. Other duties as assigned.

Enrollment & Authorization:

• Gathers and/or verifies patient information including demographics, insurance coverage, and financial status. Confirms patient eligibility for health care coverage and clarifies any managed care arrangements. Obtains authorizations for clinical care, procedures, and laboratory studies. Enters all information accurately into OHSU databases or into the medical record when necessary. Follows up on pending authorizations until they are obtained.

Telecommunications:

• Takes incoming/inbound calls and/or makes outgoing/outbound calls from/to patients, referring providers, or other stakeholders; Connects callers with the appropriate individual(s) to address their questions and/or progress their care; Create EMR telephone encounters that include accurate documentation of requests, such as medication refills, complaints, general inquiries or urgent health care concerns; Direct calls/messages to the appropriate staff for patient care /needs assessment; Process calls (answering, screening, routing, paging etc.) in a timely, polite, professional manner;
• Delivers information or requests promptly to the appropriate providers or their designees. Transfer calls as needed and engage nursing, physician, APP, or other care team personnel per circumstance; Provide information to callers, including directions, addresses and hours of operation; Use schedules and departmental procedures to locate appropriate on-call person for internal and external callers; Understand and process calls per departmental policy for each encounter type (i.e. refill, telephone, documentation, etc.)

Required Qualifications:

• One year of experience in a medical office setting, including high-volume direct patient contact, scheduling of appointment. OR
• One and a half years of work experience in a high volume direct public contact position and 6 months experience in a medical office setting.
• The candidate must have a thorough knowledge of PAS policies and procedures.
• Candidates will have demonstrated advanced PAS user skills as well as extensive knowledge of integrated care at OHSU.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Basic computer skills including word processing.
• Windows applications, on-line scheduling, and a preference for data-base skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in confrontational customer interactions.
• Basic computer keyboarding skills including typing of 40-50wpm.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, team-centered work environment and provide helpful support in a timely manner
• High level of integrity
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• HS Diploma or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in a medical and/or oncology office setting.
• Knowledge of Epic systems.
• Knowledge of OHSU network systems, including Outlook and Microsoft Office products.
• Knowledge of iQueue.

Additional Details:
Clinic operating hours. Occasional extended hours, to include but not limited to, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays may be occasionally required. Employee must have vehicle in order to travel between sites within the Community Hematology Oncology Unit.

Please refer the Job description for details