Medical Secretary

Position Summary:

In this role, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing essential services and support for our interdisciplinary medical teams and patients. They will work directly with patients and their families to schedule patient visits, treatments, and procedures in collaboration with other areas within the Health System. With pleasant and professional service, our Medical Secretaries have the opportunity to make a positive impact each day by creating connections with our patients; making them feel comfortable and putting them at ease. Join our team and play an important role in the fight against cancer.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides reception assistance (i.e. greet patients, answer calls, requests for assistance are directed to proper individual, etc.) Screens telephone callers in pleasant and a professional manner; handles call; take messages or directs caller to appropriate person or area.
• Schedules routine appointments and follow ups for visits and procedures that do not require/or have already been pre-authorized. Prepares the daily schedule. Refers all inquiries regarding pre-authorizations/certifications to the Medical Secretary.
• Responsible for patient check-in and check-out. Gathers all patient demographic related data and materials from patients and/or their representatives. Obtains insurance information (ID card, member/group #s, etc.), verifies insurance eligibility electronically, takes their picture and asks them to use Patient Secure. On subsequent visits, asks them to verify demographic info and makes any necessary edits. Collect and ask patients to sign patient related documents including HIPAA, MSPQ, ABN, etc. Follow up with patients and/or their representatives, physician offices, etc to gather missing data and materials in order to complete the intake process, or refers to more senior level staff.
• Scan all necessary documents (insurance cards, lab requisitions, etc) into the intake system.
• Monitors intake work queue for timely intake completion.
• Refers patients who have a question regarding insurance coverage or are in need of counsel on financial matters based on established criteria (e.g., denial of electronic insurance eligibility, ABN questions/concerns, questions regarding insurance or pay-or restrictions, making payment, multi plan determinations, any and all issues/questions/concerns relating to financial matters) to the Business Office Associate.
• Maintains cooperative and professional relationships with physicians, nurses and office and clinical staff.
• Types routine material such as forms and letters, envelopes, etc. Types materials neatly, accurately and according to instructions. Writes materials clearly and legibly.
• Answers patient questions to ensure understanding and patient satisfaction, or refers them to more senior level staff. Maintains confidentiality on matters to which they are privileged.
• Maintains and receives files for area. Maintains files in organized and up-to-date manner in order to facilitate their retrieval. Completes filing in accordance with departmental procedures. Sorts and distributes documents and forms for area section. Distributes materials according to content of communications and departmental procedures. Logs in materials with respect to time and data when applicable. Processes incoming and outgoing documents. Completes forms neatly. Secures appropriate signatures and forwards documents/forms to correct destination based on pertinent Medical Center procedures. Maintains copy for files. Faxes documents in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Maintains supplies and cleanliness of space, restocks supplies as needed. Notifies supervisor of any shortage of supplies.
• May assist, provide guidance and/or train less senior staff with completing intake related duties.
• Prepares simple, routine memoranda letters, labels, routine manuscripts, correspondence and other documents as needed. Reviews work for accuracy and completeness. May maintain routine calendar, assist in basic preparing for conferences and the related duties.
• Maintains workload statistics and other data for departmental records. Records statistics in established time intervals designated by supervisor. Follows instructions given by supervisor and prepares information neatly.
• Primarily responsible for taking patient phone calls and scheduling over the phone. Greets and screens telephone calls in a pleasant and professional manner. Schedules appointments for visits, procedures and follow-ups. Collects patient demographic related data, electronically verifies insurance eligibility, coordinates pre-authorizations as appropriate, takes medical history, and assigns appointment to Physician based on procedure and insurance coverage. Refers Surgical and Infusion scheduling to Senior Medical Secretary.
• Post patient-appointment, coordinates inter-departmental scheduling for specialist visits, scans and procedures in accordance with insurance coverage, in compliance with physician directives. Collaborates with other areas of the Medical Center as well as Insurance providers to obtain pre-authorizations/certifications for treatments and diagnostic procedures, and ensures patient is eligible at the time of their appointment. Refers to Senior Medical Secretary for scheduling related to Surgery and Infusion.
• Responsible for Pre-Authorizations and Certifications with the exception of surgical procedures. Ensures that appropriate procedure and diagnosis coding is utilized in the pre-certification and verification process and questions physicians, if appropriate, to ensure accuracy and completeness of information.
• Performs other related duties as needed by providers and supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify you must have a High School diploma. One year of relevant medical clerical experience. Must include prior physician practice experience and knowledge of medical terminology. Background in computer literacy preferred. Light, accurate keyboarding skills required. Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communications skills required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of computer-based scheduling and appointment programs. Excellent telephone skills.