UW MEDICINE PATIENT ACCESS REPRESENTATIVE

The mission of University of Washington Medicine is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals. UW Medicine owns or operates the following: Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, UW Medical Center, a network of UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics that provide primary care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, Airlift Northwest, and other owned, operated, or affiliated entities as appropriate. In addition, UW Medicine shares in the ownership and governance of Children’s University Medical Group and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance a partnership among UW Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, and Seattle Children’s. The UW Medicine Contact Center is a fast-paced environment where customer service, patient care, and accuracy are the highest priorities at all times.

The University of Washington is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. This position provides opportunities to work in a fast-paced, challenging, diverse and rewarding environment. As an employee you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

Do you want a career where you can make a real impact on people’s lives? Do you have a passion for helping others in times of need? Does the idea of eliminating your commute sound appealing? Would you like to work from the comforts of your own home? Are you interested in learning about the medical field? Would like to enhance your medical field knowledge and/or skills with exposure to multiple clinics and providers? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the UW Medicine Patient Access Representative role is for YOU!

The UW Medicine Patient Access Representative (Contact Center Representative 1) within the UW Medicine Contact Center is the first point of contact for new and returning patient inbound calls into the UW Medicine Health System. The Patient Access Representative will answer patient questions, direct patients within the UW Medicine system, respond to scheduling and messaging needs, and provide a consistent customer experience that represents the UW Medicine brand. The Patient Access Representative will handle patient appointment scheduling, pre-registration, verification of insurance eligibility, and will research patient inquiries with a high degree of diplomacy and problem-solving acumen. This position has a possibility of working from home or within the Contact Center, located in downtown Seattle.

Major Responsibilities:

Deliver Best-in-Class patient care to each and every caller.

Handle a high volume of calls in an inbound, fast-paced contact center.

Demonstrate the UW Medicine Policy for Professional Conduct in every interaction.

Schedule appointments in Epic, our medical record system, following scheduling guidelines.

Ensure patient records are up-to-date and accurate through adherence to UW Medicine Registration Standards

Route calls to appropriate clinics, patient support services, and/or University of Washington entities as needed

Take accurate and complete messages for clinic providers, staff and management.

Serve as a liaison between customers and clinics to ensure timely, appropriate transfer of information and response to inquiries.

Be a knowledgeable resource to patients/customers, striving to build patient/customer loyalty and confidence.

Resolve patient requests in one call/contact or successfully manage prolonged or complex issues, with high attention to managing the customer experience and emotion.

Coordinate incoming referrals to ensure all referrals are entered into the referral module in the Epic System, including prior numbers when needed.

Coordinate referral management with clinic staff and providers to ensure optimal access to specialty care.

Coordinate with Financial Service Counselors to ensure applications for coverage are initiated prior to appointment.

Coordinate with Interpreter Services as needed.

Identify, research, and resolve patient questions and inquiries regarding the patient portal. Act as first-level technical response to questions such as password reset, log-in issues, appointment confirmation, information in medical record looks incorrect, etc.

Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of UW Medicine’s mission, vision, and service offerings.

Adhere to contact center processes and workflow with an attention to continuous quality improvement.

Recognize when customers are frustrated or may require education or instruction beyond the issue presented. De-escalate conflict situations with minimal supervisory assistance but recognize when a situation is beyond individual training/expertise and requires assistance.

Meet or exceed contact center performance standards and measure with a focus on quality, accuracy, and timeliness.

Comply with the UW Medicine risk management, compliance, and information security program requirements, including accurate and timely reporting of all adverse incidents as described in the related policies.

Observe principles of data security and patient confidentiality. Maintain ethical standards in the performance of duties and in interactions with patients, co-workers and healthcare professionals.

Demonstrate professional demeanor in appearance and behavior in all work-related interactions.

Participate and complete the required training program including annual Safety training and all required HIPAA and Compliance training.

Participate in ongoing technical, customer service, and other training to continually improve skills and stay current with changes in operations.

Competitive candidates will possess the following skills:

Have a positive track record with respect to time and attendance, as this is essential in thoroughly learning the Patient Access Representative role, being a great teammate and delivering the care and attention our patients and families deserve.

Ability to keyboard a minimum of 35 wpm with 90% accuracy.

Demonstrated computer experience, preferably in a Windows-based environment.

Excellent telephone and written communication skills, as well as, listening skills and ability to demonstrate tact and patience with callers.

Ability to analyze and solve complex problems that may require research and creative solutions with patient on the telephone line and make sound decisions with limited supervision.

Ability to multi-task and work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.

High level of skill in entering data into computer while talking with callers.

Ability to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and display professional ethical conduct.

Demonstrate a process-improvement mindset and self-driven approach with a can-do attitude toward both internal and external customers.

Exceptional relationship-building skills

Must be very proficient in computer navigation, multi-tasking and working with several software programs at the same time

REQUIREMENTS:
High school graduation, or equivalent AND one (1) year of general office experience OR experience in customer service, telephone sales or problem resolution OR equivalent education/experience.

Prior call center/healthcare experience is strongly desired.

Work From Home Requirements: The four-week onboarding/training program will occur remotely. If eligibility and performance requirements are met, the Patient Access Representative will be approved to continue working remotely. After completion of training, the Patient Access Representative may be required to work in office twice a year or as needed.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected]