[Hiring] Patient Advocate @Maine Eye Center

Role Description

Maine Eye is looking for a Patient Advocate to be a friendly first point of contact for all new and existing patients. Must be able to work independently and as a team from a remote setting. This is an excellent opportunity for an organized candidate who can work in a fast-paced position with a great team. The Patient Advocate will schedule all new patient appointments and process all new patient paperwork.

This is a part-time position offering schedule flexibility, up to 29 hours per week. Occasional flexibility may be required to meet business needs and ensure exceptional patient service.

Responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Providing excellent customer service
• Scheduling the first appointment for all new and established patients to MEC, while following individual clinic scheduling guidelines
• Informing new patients of department-specific expectations such as wait times, dilation, and any additional fees
• Communicating the status of the referral to the referring doctor
• Inputting all pertinent patient information into Allscripts
• Requesting and obtaining necessary medical information prior to first appointment and making patient charts available to the physicians
• Serving as the point of contact for any phone calls from new patients
• Verifying insurances upon patient registration
• Requesting and processing insurance referrals
• Creating a strong relationship with referring physicians
• Other duties as assigned by supervision

Qualifications

• Demonstrate and exemplify all MEC core values: Teamwork, Quality Patient Care, Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, providers, patients, and the public.
• Ability to communicate and speak clearly and concisely.
• Exceptional customer service skills.
• Ability to exercise judgment, initiative, and possess problem-solving skills.
• Professional communication with internal and external contacts and patients.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment is essential.

Requirements

• Minimum of one year of administrative experience.
• Must be an independent thinker and possess excellent customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and efficiently to both patients and doctors as well as internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology and intermediate computer skills (Microsoft Office and EMR) are necessary.
• Experience with basic office equipment including telephone, photocopier, and fax machine.
• Excellent organizational skills are required.

Typical Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office environment.
• Involves frequent patient contact both in person and over the phone along with contact with physicians and staff.
• Work may be frequently fast-paced, and contact may be dealing with a variety of patient personalities.
• Possess ability to work in a team environment as well as ability to accept constructive criticism from supervisors and physicians.
• Occasional overtime or evening work may be requested.

Typical Physical Demands

• Requires normal range of vision and hearing for telephone and patient contact when scheduling surgery.
• Work may require sitting and viewing computer terminal for extended periods of time.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, telephone, copier, and other office equipment.
• It is necessary to be able to handle multiple phone calls.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Psychological Demands

• Must possess excellent organizational and time management skills in order to handle multiple and sometimes conflicting tasks.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision regarding time management and have the ability to consistently make sound, ethical decisions in emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to make accurate assessments while establishing and maintaining effective working relationships within the organization.

Health and Safety

• Know and follow all safety rules and procedures.
• Follow proper Workplace Ergonomics.
• Report any unsafe act or workplace conditions.

Confidentiality

• Ensure HIPAA compliance.

Employment with Maine Eye Center is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of employment history, education, criminal record, and other factors, as required by law and company policy. Background checks are conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify candidates from employment; each case will be reviewed individually in accordance with job-related criteria and legal requirements.