Pediatric Neurology PAS Specialist

Department Overview:

This position directly supports the Pediatric Neurology practice by providing high-quality customer service through prompt and professional communication, excellent problem-solving skills and by functioning as a team member. This position is responsible for being a liaison between the OHSU providers and patients, notifying patients of required follow-ups, scheduling visits, processing referrals for medical review, managing correspondence with the referring providers, verifying insurance and preparing materials for clinic. The PAS Specialist schedules any new or follow-up clinic appointments and ancillary procedures, they manage all incoming faxes, process mail coming in and mail needing to go out to patients and answer incoming calls to the Pediatric Neurology call queue. This is a full-time position. Regular attendance is a requirement for effective facilitation of patient care on our team.

Function/Duties of Position:

1. Provides high-quality customer service to both external customers (patients, referring providers, and insurance carriers) and internal customers that meets or exceeds the service standards of the health care industry. This duty includes prompt and professional communication efforts, face-to-face customer contact skills, crisis management skills, facilitation with available information, technology, responsiveness to internal/external customers’ needs and requests, flexible coverage of internal services needs and the continuous process improvement methods and skills. Help investigate the nature of and solve communication problems between specialty offices and/or hospital. Edits and sends letters to outside providers.

2. Aids managed care authorizations for all consultations, procedures, office visits, and care arrangements by scheduling appointments and contacting other ancillary and clinical services as needed. Applies problem solving and negotiating skills in resolving managed care related issues with patients.

3. Gathers and/or verifies patient information including demographics, insurance coverage, and financial status. Confirms patient eligibility for health care coverage and clarifies any managed care arrangements; Confirms and/or obtains prior approval referrals and authorizations for clinic visits and procedures; Provides necessary materials to front desk staff. Responsible for the follow up work queue to investigate missing information or denied claims. Assist with letters to appeal denied claims.

4. Schedules clinic appointments and ancillary procedures; makes appointment reminder calls; Requests, receives and prepares previous medical history, scans and lab results for new patients. Arranges ancillary appointments and interpreters when necessary and accommodates other special needs whenever possible. Provides personal reminders by telephone to patients about upcoming appointments. Arranges associated clinical, diagnostic, or laboratory services; obtains authorizations when necessary. Directs patients to appropriate providers for other health care issues. Contacts primary care physicians or their designees to obtain authorizations for urgent care. Schedules return appointments; initiates authorization requests for subsequent care. Mails new patient information packets to new patients. Process incoming mail and faxes.  
  
5. Triages and documents accurately telephone calls from patients including requests for medication refills, complaints, general information inquiries, and urgent health care concerns into EPIC. Delivers such information or requests promptly to the appropriate providers or their designees through EPIC in basket messages and telephone encounters.     

6. Proofread and edit communications to referring providers; clearly and effectively communicate with schools regarding physical limitations and special accommodations for patients. Type business related correspondence, receives, opens, organizes, reviews and distributes mail. Responds to mail that is appropriate to be handled by PAS Specialist. Prepares and offers any additional assistance to faculty as required. Assists Division Manager with administrative and clinical duties as assigned and other general office activities. Maintains clean and organized workstation and office.

Required Qualifications:

6 months experience in a medical office setting including high-volume direct patient contact and scheduling of appointments and obtaining managed care authorizations OR one year of work experience in a high-volume direct public contact position.  Ability to prioritize tasks effectively; work well under pressure; be a self-starter; exercise common sense; ability to investigative and research a wide variety of topics highly useful; obtaining managed care authorizations

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Basic Excel, Knowledge of how to operate office equipment, medical terminology, multi-line phone experience and data entry. Spelling and language skills are an asset. Excellent oral and written communication skills and a strong customer service orientation. Demonstrated effectiveness in confrontational customer interactions. Must have professional appearance and be a team player. Basic computer keyboarding skills including typing 30-45 wpm.

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Pediatric medical office setting preferred.
• Prior experience in a Pediatric surgical specialty preferred
• Prior experience working in high call volume setting.
• Working knowledge of CPT and ICD-10 coding preferred.

Additional Details:

Hours may fluctuate; primary schedule is Monday through Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. 
This position is in busy clinical and office environments with many interruptions, multiple demands and people interactions in a shared office space. Requires prioritization of multiple projects, activities, and assignments. Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations.  May be exposed to excessive auditory and visual stimulation.

Benefits:

• Two raises per year – One at anniversary date and one across the board annual increase
• Vacation- up to 200 hours per year depending on length of service
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance- Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents, and $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Flexible spending accounts & Health savings account options
• Retirement Plans: Oregon PERS Plan or employer matching plans like 403b,401a, and 457b 
• Sick Leave- up to 96 hours per year
• 8 paid holidays per year
• Substantial Tri-met and C-Tran discounts
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• Onsite Childcare Service & Gym
• Health & Wellness Program
• Career Center

Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu