"Medical Office Specialist (U)"

The person in this position performs functions related to the daily operations of the Simmons Cancer Institute. The individual is expected to work independently in a variety of appointment skillsets, but also functions as a lead worker in the absence of the Medical Office Coordinator. The incumbent assists training staff, maintaining protocols, and developing and implementing procedures.

SIU School of Medicine does not participate in the E-Verify program. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Phone Responsibilities 40%

• Responds to all incoming and interoffice calls for the assigned clinics, assisting and directing calls to the proper nurse, or clinical areas and answer appropriate questions.
• Registers & verifies patient information by entering demographic information, email, and appropriate insurance code(s) into Centricity Business. Verifies guarantor responsibility and establishes special guarantors when appropriate.
• Enters/updates patient demographic and insurance information per established guidelines.
• Schedules new and established appointments for patients per established guidelines.
• Cancels and/or reschedules appointments whether change is initiated by patient or provider, making the necessary changes in the computer system.
• Informs patients of SIU Medicine's payment at time of service policy.
• Takes concise and accurate messages regarding patients when nurses are unavailable. Distributes messages to appropriate personnel in a timely manner via tasking in the EMR system.
• Verify patient's demographic and insurance information, ensuring that any changes are made and entered into the computer system.
• Train others in answering calls appropriately, creating tasks correctly, answering caller questions, and teaching associated workflow per the appropriate protocols.

Administrative 20%

• Monitors work completed by team members and alerts Medical Office Coordinator of problems which occur.
• Suggests and aids in implementing efficient procedures in the department.
• Performs duties as a lead for the department, being willing and able to assist others in the department.

Other Duties 40%

• Provide training for new and existing Medical Office Assistants, Associates, Specialists, and/or Coordinators.
• Round on clinic personnel when new material/processes are introduced or when directed by Medical Office Coordinator.
• Process referrals that have been received from referring provider, entering a referral/transfer of care task to the receiving clinic, and scheduling an appointment when appropriate per clinic protocol.
• Work assigned task lists on a timely manner.
• Complete Good Faith Estimates (GFEs) for self-pay patients.
• Work the online appointment requests entered through on the referral task list. Schedule appointments when appropriate per clinic protocols. If needed information is not provided, contact patient to get additional information.
• Provides input to supervisors and/or administration regarding the needed changes in the department.
• Acts as a role model for entry level staff by maintaining professional demeanor in all interactions and by adhering to departmental and institutional guidelines.
• Understand and upholds HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Any one or any combination totaling two (2) years (24 months), from the categories below:

• College education with coursework in a medical or para-medical field such as nursing assistant, medical assistant, or medical secretary and/or business fields such as business, finance, computer science, public administration, or social science, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent: 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months); Associate's Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months); 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months).
• Work experience comparable to that performed at the Medical Office Associate level or in other positions of comparable responsibility.