At Houston Methodist, the Pre-Registration Associate position is responsible for pre-registration and pre-service collections tasks for ancillary, diagnostic and surgical services, and for confirming and entering pertinent demographic and insurance information in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The Pre-Registration Associate employs effective communication skills in all interactions and promotes and adheres to excellent customer service standards.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another achieve optimal department results.

• Contributes to patient, employee, and physician satisfaction. Proactively presents solutions to resolve access to care issues when possible.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Applies patience and diplomacy to sensitive situations, such as conflict regarding financial responsibility.

• Confirms registration and insurance data and obtains missing information with the patient or patient guardian/representative. Ensures all Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulatory items are completed properly, including Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire (MSPQ).

• Responds promptly to requests by staff, patients, and physicians.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows department telephone scripting guidelines when interacting with patients to maintain a high quality of service.

• Performs and appropriately documents the required number of attempts, according to policy, to contact the patient prior to the date of service to complete pre-registration tasks and collect patient liabilities.

• Ensures documentation standards are followed and account notations are made in the appropriate system(s) timely and accurately.

• Completes high-quality work while adhering to productivity standards.

• Uses safety protocols to properly identify each patient and ensures correct patient identifiers are properly noted in the account and all printed material for their visit.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collects patient payments and negotiates as needed to meet minimally acceptable patient financial responsibility. If applicable, extends payment plans after receipt of the minimum required payment.

• Ensures protection of personal information. Adheres to all Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance regulations.

• Organizes time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and sets priorities. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Displays initiative to improve job functions. Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility during changing demands. Offers suggestions to streamline process for efficient patient flow.

• Participates in various department and/or entity/system-wide projects and activities. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One year of healthcare experience in registering patients for medical services, contacting insurance providers or verifying insurance

• Collection experience preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Proficiency in Microsoft office components (e.g., Outlook, Word) and knowledge of electronic health record software (EPIC preferred)

• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid and managed care reimbursement methodologies

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, such as multiple phone calls, at one time

• Basic medical terminology and knowledge of insurance requirements for physician visits and procedures

• Ability to manage a fast-paced environment

• Ability to flex hours and work/day assignments to meet needs related to unanticipated patient volume

• Working knowledge of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and/or ICD-10 preferred

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist West Hospital is committed to leading medicine in West Houston, Katy and surrounding communities by delivering the Houston Methodist standard of exceptional safety, quality, personalized service and innovation. The growing campus offers more than 200 beds, 19 operating rooms and over 1,500 employees, with access to the most innovative medical and surgical care available, including robotic and minimally invasive surgery, full-spectrum heart care, state-of-the-art imaging, cancer care, labor and delivery with a level II neonatal ICU, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, outpatient rehabilitation and 24/7 emergency services.