Patient Access Services, EMT Specialist - Bedboard & Communications (Nights)

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Patient Access Services in a hospital setting encompasses many different roles and responsibilities. It is one of the most important and concentrated areas in healthcare. We are responsible for the delivery of the critical components of the revenue cycle, as well as keeping the hospital compliant with the many regulatory agencies, maintaining patient safety through correct patient identification practices and providing extraordinary customer service skills in situations that are often difficult.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Bedboard & Communications EMT Specialist is responsible for bed placement activities to maximize hospital occupancy, promote efficient patient flow, and support timely admissions, transfers, and discharges. The Bedboard Specialist collaborates closely with nursing, case management, environmental services, physicians, and other interdisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate patient placement, while maintaining compliance with hospital policies, regulatory requirements, and patient care standards. This position also provides administrative support functions related to Patient Access Services and serves as a communication liaison between departments to facilitate operational efficiency and an exceptional patient experience.

JOB DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains the hospital bedboard system to maximize occupancy and patient throughput.
• Facilitates patient admissions, transfers, discharges, and bed assignments in accordance with hospital policies and established patient placement criteria.
• Maintains real-time awareness of bed availability, patient status, and unit capacity to facilitate efficient placement decisions.
• Collaborates with nursing leadership, case management, environmental services, and clinical departments to optimize patient flow throughout the organization.
• Communicates bed availability, placement updates, and patient movement information to appropriate clinical and operational staff.
• Operates communication systems including telephones, switchboards, and related applications as needed to support patient flow activities.
• Organizes, distributes, and responds to departmental communications, including emails and requests related to patient placement activities.
• Conducts patient interviews as appropriate to gather and confirm demographic, insurance, and financial information.
• Reviews, assesses, and evaluates patient registrations to ensure the accuracy of demographic and financial data.
• Verifies insurance eligibility and assists with financial clearance processes when necessary.
• Maintains current knowledge of insurance regulations, managed care requirements, and designated provider networks.
• Demonstrates proficiency utilizing hospital information systems and insurance eligibility tools.
• Assists with chart reconciliation and ensure appropriate documentation standards are maintained.
• Maintains RQA reports by resolving errors and producing corrected accounts.
• Collaborates with other departments to ensure the needs of the patient and department are met.
• Abides by documentation guidelines consistently.
• Adheres to all company and department policies and procedures in confidentiality, regulatory or contractual mandates and HR policy.
• Practices confidentiality and privacy protocols in accordance to hospital policies and HIPAA requirements.
• Complies with departmental dress code and maintains a neat appearance.
• Keeps current with departmental and hospital training requirements, including the completion of annual refresher courses.
• Performs other department specific duties as deemed appropriate by Patient Access leadership.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of an Associate’s degree.
  • Or in lieu of degree, High School Diploma/GED and two (2) years’ combined experience in Revenue Cycle, Medical Office or Business Office.
• Active NYS DOH EMT certification and must meet the criteria for NYS DOH Functional Description for qualifications, competencies, and tasks (EMT, BLS).
• One (1) year experience of patient placement, bedboard, patient access, admissions, registration, switchboard, or related healthcare operations experience.