Patient Care Specialist

Job Description Summary

The Patient Care Specialist I provides essential front‑line administrative and clerical support within the medical office. This role is responsible for greeting and registering patients, verifying demographic and insurance information, collecting payments, and maintaining accurate documentation within the electronic health record (EHR). The Specialist I upholds patient confidentiality and follows all HIPAA, privacy, and compliance standards while working under close supervision to ensure a professional and efficient patient experience.

• Greets, registers, and checks in patients, ensuring all demographic, insurance, consent, and contact information is accurate and current in the EHR.
• Collects and processes copayments following standard cash‑handling and reconciliation procedures.
• Verifies insurance eligibility, obtains required authorizations, and documents verification results accurately in the patient record.
• Provides clear explanations of check‑in processes, insurance requirements, and payment expectations.
• Answers and routes phone calls, schedules or reschedules appointments, and maintains daily appointment schedules while communicating adjustments to clinical staff.
• Processes urgent specialist referrals, appointment ticklers, and medical record release requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Performs clerical and administrative tasks including filing, faxing, scanning, and uploading documents into the EHR.
• Reviews patient accounts for outstanding balances or documentation errors and partners with billing to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintains full HIPAA and privacy compliance by safeguarding patient information, properly managing documentation, and limiting access to authorized users only.
• Identifies and reports potential privacy breaches, compliance risks, or billing concerns promptly according to established protocols.
• Prepares, routes, and manages medical documentation to ensure completeness, confidentiality, and accuracy.
• Provides professional, courteous customer service and maintains composure during high‑volume or challenging situations.
• Coordinates scheduling across multiple providers, departments, or specialties to support efficient patient flow.
• Audits patient charts, registration data, and referral documentation to identify and correct compliance or process issues.