Admission & Discharge Specialist

Job Summary

The Admission & Discharge Specialist at North Mississippi Health Services is responsible for managing patient admission and discharge activities, including serving as a welcoming and professional representative, collecting necessary patient information and payments, supporting patient scheduling, and maintaining area supply stock. This role operates under the guidance of the area Supervisor/Team Lead and utilizes excellent communication and organizational skills to engage positively and effectively with patients, maintain accurate records, utilize systems to manage schedule and activities, and support claims and billing review to drive efficient patient flow and a high quality patient care experience.

Customer Service

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Greets patients in a positive, helpful, and courteous manner.
• Answers and directs calls to appropriate personnel; takes messages as needed.
• Directs visitors and physician office patients to correct locations.
• Assists patients with questions about Patient Portal.
• Ensures waiting area and front desk are organized and presentable.
• Obtains demographic and insurance information in a timely and professional manner. Admission:
• Verifies/updates personal information, demographic information, assists with appointment information upon request.
• Reviews/explains paperwork such as privacy acknowledgement, general consent form, financial responsibility, charity application, Important message from Medicare, Medicare Questionnaire etc.
• Obtains and scans insurance card(s) into applicable database.
• Verifies insurance eligibility/benefits information and updates in Registration systems.
• Collects and witnesses required signatures on patient paperwork.
• Receives/posts payments on accounts (i.e. co-payment, past due balances) and provides receipts for payments.
• Prints and applies armbands to patients (if applicable).
• Escorts patients or arranges for transport to assigned room or service area. Discharge:
• Assists patient with scheduling/rescheduling appointments and procedures as needed/requested.
• Provides financial counseling and/or assistance with completion of Charity Application; Medicaid Screening form, etc.
• Collects/posts payment on account (if necessary) and provides receipt for payments. Reporting/Recordkeeping:
• Accesses/reviews work lists in multiple systems daily to view necessary tasks (i.e. resolves billing edits, corrects addresses, corrects insurance information, adheres to departmental clean claim goal).
• Processes, maintains, updates and scans patient records in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner.
• Reconciles daily activities (i.e. patient orders, payments, charges on correct account, resolve incomplete discharge information).
• Prepares and documents deposits. Bill Edit Review:
• Reviews/researches/corrects/reports all rejected interface data at request of clinical and IT interface departments (i.e. certification/notification data, no charge/incorrect charge/charge on wrong account; missing insurance info, etc.).
• Resolves all billing edits. Supplies:
• Properly maintains up-to-date office supplies and stock. Referrals:
• May be asked to manage patient referrals inside and outside systems, schedules appointments, and communicates with health care providers to ensure seamless transitions in patient care.
• Responsibilities may include reviewing medical records obtaining necessary medical records and scans and facilitating communications between referring and healthcare professionals.
  
  

Regulation:

• Adheres to NMHS Policies/Procedures/Guidelines.
• Complies with appropriate Local/State/Federal policies/procedures/guidelines/regulations/laws/statutes.
  
  

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent or equivalent. Required
• Associate's Degree in Business or related field. Preferred
  
  

Licenses and Certifications

Work Experience

• 1-3 years
  
  

Skills

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational, customer service and communication (written and verbal) skills; required
• Strong mathematical skills and problem solving abilities; required
• Working knowledge of personal computer (PC) and various software applications/programs (i.e. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook); required
• Strong interpersonal skills; required
• Must have knowledge and skills to provide service to customer population to include infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics; required
• Must be detail oriented
• Must be able to work well within a team-oriented structure
• Must serve as a patient advocate
• Must efficiently and accurately register, admit, transfer patients and maintain discharges
• Must maintain registration data for all patient encounters in multiple systems, charges reconciled, billing and registration edits resolved, and tasks completed in an effective and efficient manner
• Must have daily interaction with patients, families, clinical staff, physicians, other support staff, visitors, and insurance companies/representatives
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills/telephone etiquette
• Must be courteous and professional
• Must reflect a positive, caring attitude toward clinical staff, patients, co-workers – All encounters
  
  

Physical Demands

A thorough completion of this section is needed for compliance with legal standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Standing . Constantly
• Walking . Frequently
• Sitting . Rarely
• Lifting/Carrying . Frequently 50 lbs
• Pushing/Pulling . Frequently
• Climbing . Occassionally
• Balancing . Occassionally
• Stooping/Kneeling/Bending . Frequently
• Reaching/Over Head Work . Frequently
• Grasping . Frequently
• Speaking . Occassionally
• Hearing . Constantly
• Repetitive Motions . Constantly
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordinations . Frequently
  
  

Benefits A****vailable

• Continuing Education
• 403B Retirement Plan with Employer Match Contributions
• Pet, Identity Theft and Legal Services Insurance
• Wellness Programs and Incentives
• Referral Bonuses
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical Benefits
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Benefits
• License Certification Reimbursement
• Life, Long-Term and Short-Term Disability, Group Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Employee Discount Program
• Other:
• Early Access to Earned Wages
• Tuition Assistance
• Relocation Assistance
• Paid Time Away
• Special Employee Rates at NMMC Wellness Centers