The UPMC Vision Institute is seeking a Patient Access Specialist I to support our team at 1622 Locust Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. This temporary, part‑time position (24 hours per week) plays a key role in helping patients navigate essential social and financial resources. The specialist will assist patients with applying for PA Medical Assistance, UPMC Financial Assistance, Energy Assistance Programs, homeless shelters, and housing applications, while also tracking patient progress and conducting follow‑up outreach to ensure continuity of support. Based on patient needs, this role may also require occasional travel. We’re looking for someone compassionate, organized, and committed to removing barriers so patients can access the care and stability they deserve.
Responsibilities:
- Review, verify and enter the patient's demographic information to ensure data integrity.
- Schedule appointments according to the physician templates for similar types of physicians, generally at one office or multiple session timeshares (single specialty phone room or front desk environment).
- Schedule appointments according to the templates/departmental scripts while meeting business unit scheduling accuracy requirements.
- Obtain chief complaints in order to schedule appropriately.
- Take incoming calls demonstrating the essential skills documented in the Telephone Courtesy Standards.
- Understand UPMC 72-hour appointment requirement and work to ensure guidelines are met.
- Appropriately distribute/triage phone calls to other areas and/or clinical providers (billing, nurse, operations lead, etc.).
- Treat all patients with respect and demonstrates the behaviors learned in the Patient Ambassador Program.
- Routinely attend department meetings and on-going in-service and training programs, to present and exchange pertinent information.
- Work the overflow call list and Audiocare report.
- Review and verify the patient's insurance information.
- Coordinate access to care for patients within own department or location.
- Monitor patient wait list report.
- Compile and send new patient packets or flags patient if needs to be completed upon arrival.
- Knowledgeable about various reasons for patient calls such as prescription refills, how to triage clinical issues, participating insurances, questions about physicians, etc.
- Take responsibility to escalate to appropriate clinical or supervisory personnel when needed, including thorough and accurate documentation of telephone encounter for messaging.
- Function at multiple sites as requested by supervisor.
- Answer multi-line telephone system. The number of calls taken must be within 90% of the daily average calls per day per agent.
- Give basic information to patients (directions, parking information, and required preparation for appointment).
- Completion of HS Diploma/equivalent and 1 year of experience in a medical office, customer service, inbound call center (preferred), or other relevant health care setting will be considered.
- Associates degree and 6 months of experience in a medical office, customer service, inbound call center (preferred), or other relevant health care setting preferred
- Must have experience with personal computer based applications, including email and experience with other various office equipment.
- Must be able to multitask at a high level.
- Able to interact with a variety of external and internal constituents, including patients, patients' families, internal physicians, referring physicians or their clinical/office staff, insurance companies, nurses.
- Experience with/knowledge of medical terminology and multi-line telephone systems is preferred.
- Electronic scheduling system experience is preferred.
- Must be able to learn and apply third party payer guidelines and reimbursement practices.
- Basic knowledge of health insurance preferred.
- Must be able to maintain confidential information.
- Must have strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills and be able to remain professional and courteous when dealing with sensitive issues and stressful circumstances.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran