Outpatient Scheduler - Full-time - #309353

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:

• New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.
  
  

Position: Outpatient Scheduler - Full Time

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $22.7052 to $30.4948 per hour. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Incumbents have hospital/healthcare knowledge or experience, and are expected to gain specific knowledge of the importance of patient and insurance demographic information and the availability of payment options for patients requiring a referral to a financial counselor. Outpatient Schedulers will be responsible for answering phones, directing patient calls to the appropriate departments when necessary and scheduling appointments for multiple different physicians, providers, specialties, clinics, and locations.

Essential Functions

• Answers patient calls, reviews process, and schedules appointments for exam or follow ­up;
• Calls patients to reschedule same day cancelled appointments;
• Enters all patient demographic information into electronic patient record system; uses other department applications for eligibility and authorization;
• Documents funding information from patients and provides information on available funding resources; refers patients to financial counselors when funding is not in place;
• Uses payer resources and websites to explore and assess eligibility;
• Works in collaboration with both outpatient authorizations as well as registration to identify and resolve issues and/or barriers;
• Submits and responds to requests for information and inquiries related to outpatient scheduling processes, policies, and/or other related information; researches and resolves customer problems;
  
  

Other Functions

• Performs other job-related duties as required.
  
  

Employment Standards

High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent;

Six (6) months of outpatient clinic or medical office experience performing maintaining schedules OR an equivalent combination of education, training, or experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Knowledge Of

• State and federal government funding programs such as Medicare, Medi-Cal, CCS, TRICARE/CHAMPUS, Workers’ Compensation, and commercial insurance payers;
• Billing and reimbursement guidelines and methodologies for state and federal government and non-government payers;
• Medical and insurance terminology;
• HIPAA privacy and compliance practices.
  
  

Ability To

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing sufficient to perform the essential functions;
• Read, understand, and apply policies and guidelines;
• Obtain information from a variety of sources, including patients and families;
• Use computers and various software to accomplish work;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, families, and other internal and external customers;
• Use tact and empathy in working with patients and families under stressful situations;
• Perform work effectively with frequent interruptions;
• Perform multiple tasks in a fast paced environment; lift, carry, push or pull files;
• Sit at work station for prolonged periods of time.
  
  

Supplemental

Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical.

Depending on assignment incumbents may be required to possess and maintain specific certificates of competency as a condition of employment.

A background check may be required for this classification.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers”. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.