Front Office Assistant - Primary Care

Description : RESPONSIBLE FOR :

RESPONSIBLE FOR :

Compliance : Complies with all HIPAA policies specifically relating to patient confidentiality and release of information;

maintains strict confidentiality on all patient information and practice matters; remains current on HIPAA, OSHA, Infection Control, patient safety, and other mandatory regulations, standards, and organizational policies and procedures.

Reception : Greets patients, visitors, and vendors in a prompt, courteous, and helpful manner; screens visitors, and responds to routine requests for directions, paperwork completion assistance, and other similar requests;

announces emergencies according to specified procedures; pages staff and makes general announcements as requested; assists patients having ambulatory difficulties and may assist clinical staff under the direction of licensed staff as needed.

• Front Office Duties : Checks in patients by verifying and / or updating demographic, insurance, and registration information in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• facilitates the scheduling, canceling, and rescheduling of patient appointments and communicates changes to staff as needed;
• coordinates with back office staff to ensure for the timely and efficient flow of patients to the providers; reviews and edits patient bills generated by providers through the electronic medical record and / or enters charges and payments from fee tickets;

coordinates referrals and / or hospital admission arrangements as directed; demonstrates basic knowledge of managed care plans, CPT, and ICD-9 coding.

Cash Management : Checks out patients at the time of service and collects appropriate payment, including any past due balances owed, in accordance with patients medical plan coverage and provides receipt for services;

maintains balances and reconciles a cash drawer and records daily receipts at the end of each day; prepares balances and bank deposits in accordance with established close-out procedure.

Telephone Management : Answers, screens, and directs office telephone calls in accordance with office procedures and provides general office information to callers;

immediately advises physician and / or other licensed staff of patients requiring emergency assistance; refers calls regarding prescription drug medications, treatments, etc.

to appropriate clinical staff; records telephone messages in accordance with office policy; may place return calls as requested.

• Clerical Support : Maintains records appropriate to area and function; maintains physician on-call schedule, updating as necessary, notifying answering service of changes;
• assists other sections with miscellaneous paperwork; files charts, coordinates lab work, physicians report, etc.; may type correspondence and provide secretarial and / or clerical support for special projects as assigned;
• sorts and delivers mail, medical records, and other correspondence. Safety : Follows all practice protocols and established standards that promote a safe and productive work environment;
• supports practices procedures and policies for proper cleaning and routine maintenance; maintains work area and lobby in neat and orderly manner;
• promptly reports equipment malfunctions to the practice manager or designee. Communications : Communicates in a professional manner;

demonstrates effective and appropriate oral and written communication skills with patients, staff, and healthcare providers.

Professional Development : Attends required meetings, in-services and participates in committees as required; participates in office meetings and Piedmont Heart Institute educational programs as required and needed for continued growth and development;

begins to assumes greater responsibility for own professional growth by participating in continuing education activities and / or professional organizations.

Leadership : Demonstrates an understanding of leadership principals through interactions with staff and healthcare providers;

complies with standards of care policies and procedures and may participate in their development; may assist with the orientation of new and temporary staff.

Materials Management : Maintains office supplies and materials; requests supplies as needed; may order and maintain a supplies and equipment inventory for assigned area or office and issue supplies and equipment as required.

Qualifications :

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED :

High school graduate or . equivalent.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED :

One (1) year related experience, preferably a medical office setting. Associates degree can substituted in lieu of experience requirement.

MINIMUM LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY LAW :

None.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS :

Previous exposure to electronic patient management systems