At Houston Methodist, the Lead Patient Access Services position is responsible for providing administrative support to the department while executing daily operations and performing duties of other staff such as registration, scheduling, insurance verification, etc. In addition to providing operational support, this position performs all or many of the following: under the direction of leadership, assists in organizing work schedules and assignments, conducts quality assurance audits, trains and mentors staff, provides feedback to manager on developmental needs, participates in the development of staff, leads and regularly performs special projects, collects/analyzes/reports on data, and other responsibilities of a similar nature and level. The Lead Patient Access Services position serves as the liaison between management, staff, physicians/physician offices, insurance providers, and others for routine matters as the primary point of contact for resolving questions and issues. This position requires considerable experience, skill and knowledge of the organization's policies and practices, operating a personal computer, and utilizing software applications for word processing and databases. The Lead Patient Access Services position may work in an on-call rotation, serving as point of contact after hours.

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 leads the team to be dynamic and a focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff. Orients, guides, and mentors team members to help build confidence and competency in skills, knowledge, and abilities for various department tasks. Role models to team members effective communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills. Coordinates staff schedules, as appropriate, to provide daily staff coverage to promote/maintain smooth department operations.

• Role models healthy work relationships such as mitigation of conflict, leading problem-solving and resolution efforts. Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Recommends initiatives to improve department scores for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates and performs routine duties associated with department functions and services. Maintains timelines for follow up and prioritization of department projects and tasks. Prepares and shares regular reports on the changes, as appropriate.

• Performs the various patient access duties specific to the workgroup, i.e., registration, insurance verification, scheduling, etc., as assigned.

• Identifies/anticipates potential customer problems and resolves visitor and/or patient issues with highest level of customer service, professionalism, and compassion. Troubleshoots and resolves, as appropriate, patient/team member/system issues or errors. Serves as liaison between team members, management, physicians and their offices, insurance providers, and others, resolving routine matters for the assigned area/shift, escalating to management as needed.

• Monitors and adjusts activities/assignments to ensure optimum patient throughput and patient experience. Contributes towards improvement of patient and physician satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts quality audits on processes, outcomes, and team member performance. Documents, develops, and evaluates processes and procedures. Identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement, collecting data and performing analyses. Follows up on action items to ensure completion of assignments, ensuring all deadlines are met.

• Protects patient and family privacy rights and maintains confidentiality of patient records and computer security codes, as well as protects the integrity of privileged information.

• Assists with implementation and education of department-based initiatives, standards of practice and protocols. Participates in department quality improvement processes. Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes. Contributes towards improving department/practice quality and safety scores.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures reconciling/auditing of patient data through the various reporting tools is accurately documented and completed. Coordinates, using sound judgment and fiscal responsibility, the processing and resolution of issues, as appropriate.

• Monitors staffing and recommends adjustment in staff work assignments and schedules to support fluctuations in work volumes and ensure efficient labor cost utilization; minimizes team incidental overtime. Reviews team member's timecards for accuracy and management approval as directed. Utilizes own time efficiently and helps other team members.

• Monitors supplies/resources and orders, as necessary.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies innovative solutions for process improvement to make processes work better for patients, visitors, and department. Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging co-workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives.

• Seeks continuous professional development opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.

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.)

• Some college preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Four years of experience in patient access services relevant jobs such as registration, scheduling, insurance verification, etc.

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

• Ability to work independently and with peers in a team situation

• Capable of handling challenging/difficult procedures and situations

• Demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average patient access functional skills

• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital Information Systems and Office software

• Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians, and co-workers

• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision, including organizing workflow and actively participating in problem-solving

• Conducts self in a professional manner at all times

• Strong analytical skills

• Demonstrates a learning attitude toward solving problems, using good reasoning and judgment in a high stress environment

• Demonstrates a positive demeanor, good verbal and written communication skills, and strong multi-tasking abilities

• Demonstrates professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information

• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities

• Comprehensive knowledge of patient access protocols and hospital policies and procedures

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

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

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* Yes

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 Cypress Hospital, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, will be Houston Methodist's ninth hospital and will incorporate the most advanced technology available from the day the doors open. With 100 beds (at our opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in the heart of the rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor, the hospital will be equipped with technologically advanced innovations implemented during COVID, many of them designed to make patient communication with physicians, staff and families the very best and most effective in any health care facility. Even though the hospital won't be fully operational until 2025, we have several services and specialties opening in 2024.