PAS Specialist

at  Oregon Health Science University

Department Overview:
The Department of Neurological Surgery provides care to patients of all ages who have experienced neurological symptoms, neuro-trauma, or disorders of the nervous system requiring medical or surgical intervention. Diagnostic groups commonly cared for include: brain tumor, spinal tumor, brain injury, spinal cord injury, vertebral and/or spinal cord abnormalities, hydrocephalus, intracranial hemorrhage, craniovertebral junction abnormalities (CVJ), transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson disease, seizures, headaches, episodic disorders, mental status changes, meningitis, encephalopathy, congenital disorders of the skull/spine/nervous system, and neurological problems involving respiratory compromise.
he PAS Specialist for the Department of Neurological Surgery supports a broad range of administrative and clinical support functions for the Department. The PAS Specialist gathers and records required information about patients; provides specific customer services which include screening for financial eligibility, confirming health insurance coverage and individual’s obligations, obtaining necessary authorizations for care, scheduling appointments and diagnostic tests, and assisting patients in an office and clinic setting. Duties also include handling incoming calls, processing new patient referrals, return visit requests, provider inquiries, as well as reviewing outpatient instructions with the patient and triaging phone calls related to patient care. This position also includes front desk and check out services in the ambulatory care clinic setting.
Pay Range: $23.63 - $31.98 per hour

Function/Duties of Position:

• Customer Service: Provides high quality customer service to both external customers (patient, referring providers, and insurance carriers) and internal customers (OHSU health care providers and staff) that meets or exceeds the service standards of the health care industry. This duty includes prompt and professional communication, face-to-face customer contact skills, crisis management, facility with available information technology, standard complaint processing, flexible coverage of internal service needs, and the continuous application of process improvement methods and skills.
• Point of Service Operations: Front desk duties include greeting patients and confirming that an appointment has been kept. Inspects insurance cards and/or authorization notices. Identifies and collects deductible payments, co-payments, and deposits on services; provides receipts and completes necessary accounting procedures. Verifies and updates the common data set on-line. Explains and satisfies any necessary patient signature requirements. Validates parking. Checks out patients to ensure all appointments for follow up are appropriately scheduled and communicated properly. Coordinating any necessary studies, scans, testing, or combined department visits as necessary. Opening/Closing duties may include wiping down the patient lobby, emptying recycling, scanning documentation into EPIC, removing papers from clinic areas (HIPAA), cleaning up work spaces and other administrative duties as assigned.
• Arranged Care: Schedules new patient appointments on line and manually if necessary. Obtains prior medical records and studies if appropriate. Creates a medical record if needed. Arranges stretchers, wheelchairs, and interpreters when necessary, and accommodates other special needs whenever possible. Mails information packets. Provides personal reminders to patients about upcoming appointments. Obtains and prepares OHSU medical records before scheduled appointments.
• 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.
• Integrated Care. Arranges and orders associated clinical, diagnostic, or laboratory services; obtains authorizations when necessary. Directs patients to appropriate providers for other health care issues. Completes and routes direct referrals to other clinical services. Contacts primary care physicians or their designees to obtain authorizations for urgent care. Schedules return appointments on line, and manually if necessary; initiates authorization requests for subsequent care.
• Telecommunications. Triages and documents accurately telephone calls from patients including requests for medication refills, complaints, general information inquiries, and urgent health care concerns. Delivers such information or requests promptly to the appropriate providers or their designees.
• Training and Competency. Successfully completes the required PAS initial training and core competency assessment before or during the trial service period. Completes all required update modules. Maintains core competencies, and demonstrates continuous application of these skills throughout the period of employment.
• Other tasks as assigned. Including, department Meetings, Process Improvement work, training/onboarding new staff.

Required Qualifications:

• Six months of work experience in a medical office setting, including high volume direct patient contact OR one year of work experience in a high volume direct public contact position
• Applicants must have a positive attitude and compassion for patients experiencing difficult emotions arising from health care situations.
• Requires a self directed and organized individual who can excel in a busy environment.
• Applicants must work effectively with providers, managers, and peers and exhibit excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Excellent verbal and composition skills and ability to convey detailed and complex medical information.
• Excellent proficiency in computer programs including MS Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc) and medical based computer programs.
• Typing skills of at least 45 words per minute.
• Thorough knowledge and experience with multi-line phones.
• Proven excellent work attendance record.
• Ability to perform the job duties with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma
• Medical office experience in a neurological surgery department
• Knowledge of neurosurgery terminology.
• Formal customer service training.
• Front desk and cash handling experience.

All are welcome: Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu

• Customer Service: Provides high quality customer service to both external customers (patient, referring providers, and insurance carriers) and internal customers (OHSU health care providers and staff) that meets or exceeds the service standards of the health care industry. This duty includes prompt and professional communication, face-to-face customer contact skills, crisis management, facility with available information technology, standard complaint processing, flexible coverage of internal service needs, and the continuous application of process improvement methods and skills.
• Point of Service Operations: Front desk duties include greeting patients and confirming that an appointment has been kept. Inspects insurance cards and/or authorization notices. Identifies and collects deductible payments, co-payments, and deposits on services; provides receipts and completes necessary accounting procedures. Verifies and updates the common data set on-line. Explains and satisfies any necessary patient signature requirements. Validates parking. Checks out patients to ensure all appointments for follow up are appropriately scheduled and communicated properly. Coordinating any necessary studies, scans, testing, or combined department visits as necessary. Opening/Closing duties may include wiping down the patient lobby, emptying recycling, scanning documentation into EPIC, removing papers from clinic areas (HIPAA), cleaning up work spaces and other administrative duties as assigned.
• Arranged Care: Schedules new patient appointments on line and manually if necessary. Obtains prior medical records and studies if appropriate. Creates a medical record if needed. Arranges stretchers, wheelchairs, and interpreters when necessary, and accommodates other special needs whenever possible. Mails information packets. Provides personal reminders to patients about upcoming appointments. Obtains and prepares OHSU medical records before scheduled appointments.
• 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.
• Integrated Care. Arranges and orders associated clinical, diagnostic, or laboratory services; obtains authorizations when necessary. Directs patients to appropriate providers for other health care issues. Completes and routes direct referrals to other clinical services. Contacts primary care physicians or their designees to obtain authorizations for urgent care. Schedules return appointments on line, and manually if necessary; initiates authorization requests for subsequent care.
• Telecommunications. Triages and documents accurately telephone calls from patients including requests for medication refills, complaints, general information inquiries, and urgent health care concerns. Delivers such information or requests promptly to the appropriate providers or their designees.
• Training and Competency. Successfully completes the required PAS initial training and core competency assessment before or during the trial service period. Completes all required update modules. Maintains core competencies, and demonstrates continuous application of these skills throughout the period of employment.
• Other tasks as assigned. Including, department Meetings, Process Improvement work, training/onboarding new staff