Certified Medical Office Assistant (NY HELPS) - FT - Day Shift at Erie County Medical Center Corporation in Buffalo, NY

Job description

• This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means NO EXAMINATION IS REQUIRED, but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
• At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE A CIVIL SERVICE TEST.
• Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State.
• While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
• DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves performing clerical and patient oriented clinical tasks and direct patient care at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation. This is a paraprofessional position responsible for assisting with patient screening, registration, appointment scheduling and discharge, performing routine patient point of care screening and clerical functions. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher level technical or professional employee with leeway for the exercise of independent judgment. Supervision is not a function of this position. Does related work as required.

Responsibilities

• Pre-registers and/or Registers patients using computer information systems;
• Enters orders, obtains patient results, schedules patient appointments, gathers demographic information including payer information and inputs into computer information systems, obtains signatures where/when necessary;
• Obtains insurance information required for hospital billing, including completion of the Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire; performs work related to patient health insurance eligibility such as obtaining and verifying preauthorization approval for procedures, receiving authorization errors and making corrections to errors; inputs information into the electronic computerized system;
• Verifies third party payers using telephone or online verification systems;
• Determines insurance co-payments due from patient at time of service; collects required amounts at time of pre-registration and/or registration and issues receipts;
• Utilizes electronic medical record to process physician orders and referrals;
• Provides feedback to appropriate person of missing/incorrect information so it can be obtained at the point of service;
• Refers patients to staff responsible for developing contractual payment plans;
• Performs point of care testing and documents results;
• Obtains and records vital signs; and reports abnormal findings to Registered Nurse;
• Performs 12 lead EKG’s;
• Processes and distributes incoming facsimiles;
• Stocks exam rooms as needed, orders medical supplies and checks and changes sharp containers as needed;
• Adapts to new products and procedures in a timely manner;
• Attends staff meetings and annual in-service programs as well as other programs pertinent to assigned clinical area;
• Complies with applicable federal and state regulatory agency guidelines, including Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) privacy standards, established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental, infection control standards, etc.

Requirements

• Good knowledge of medical terminology and medical secretarial procedures; good knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations and accreditation standards as they relate to patient registration; good knowledge of assigned clinical area; ability to use electronic software and a computer terminal; ability to communicate effective, both orally and in writing; ability to perform routine clinical tests in a competent and efficient manner; willingness to float to other clinical areas; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; strong customer service skills; ability to use an alpha-numeric keyboard; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse constituency; ability to utilize a variety of electronic software applications; sound professional judgment; tact; confidentiality; capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma; and:
• Completion of a one (1) year Medical Office Assistant Program; or:
• Completion of a Medical Office Assistant Program which is less than one (1) year in duration and Medical Office Assistant experience in a clinic or healthcare setting that together equals one (1) year.
• Possession of a Medical Office Assistant Certification within twelve (12) months of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.
• NOTE 1: The Medical Office Assistant Program must be accredited through the New York State Education Department, the Commissioner of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education (ABHE).
• NOTE 2: Verifiable part time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full time experience requirements.

Skills

Required

• Good knowledge of assigned clinical area
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to use an alpha-numeric keyboard
• Sound professional judgment
• Tact
• Confidentiality