Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

. Practice the Patients First philosophy and maintain high customer service standards .

Posted 9/18/2026full-timeRemote • Illinois • United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $18 - $28 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong customer service skills while managing patient scheduling, registration, and insurance verification processes. Proficient in maintaining patient confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA regulations, with a focus on quality assurance and process improvement.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Customer Service OrientationPatient Scheduling ExperienceHIPAA ComplianceData Entry ProficiencyHealthcare Insurance Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EntryPatient RegistrationInsurance VerificationMedical Necessity ChecksAppointment SchedulingQuality AssuranceProcess ImprovementAnalytical SkillsTime ManagementTyping 40 WPM

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOrganizational SkillsProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

Epic SystemsOnline Retrieval SystemsComputer Data Entry Tools

Industry Keywords

HealthcarePatient ConfidentialityCustomer Service StandardsQuality Improvement ActivitiesHealthcare Finance

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Practice the Patients First philosophy and maintain high customer service standards
Respond to patient questions and concerns, escalating extraordinary issues to the Team Lead or Operations Coordinator
Maintain patient confidentiality under HIPAA regulations
Provide exceptional customer service and create a positive first impression
Identify and collect accurate patient demographic information
Schedule and direct patients through Northwestern Medicine systems
Contact patients to schedule appointments
Perform medical necessity checks and communicate options when appointments fail
Inform patients about issues securing financial accounts
Complete out-of-pocket estimations
Provide training and education as needed
Manage schedules and complete tasks on time
Cross-train between departments to ensure coverage
Participate in quality assurance reviews of patient data
Resolve service breakdowns using service recovery skills
Communicate physician referral, insurance referral, and consultation information
Collect authorization numbers in applicable systems
Collaborate across units and departments to resolve operational issues
Verify or print patient orders using online retrieval systems
Verify insurance eligibility and benefits using online tools or telephone
Document accurate handoff instructions and notes in Epic
Run real-time eligibility checks and follow out-of-network policies
Send descriptive and grammatically correct Epic messages and telephone encounters
Prevent patient-visit issues by checking tests, preparation requirements, scheduling conflicts, time, location, and duplicate records
Collect and verify the minimum registration data set
Analyze account activity and initiate appropriate resolutions
Suggest process improvements and participate in quality improvement activities
Monitor registration, scheduling, and insurance verification against quality standards
Act as a training resource for new staff and coworkers
Perform other duties assigned by management

Requirements

What you’ll need

High School diploma or equivalent
2-3 years customer service or medical office experience
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
Proficiency in computer data-entry/typing
Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English
Basic Computer Skills
Ability to type 40 wpm
Ability to multi-task
Customer service oriented
Excellent organizational, time management, analytical, and problem solving skills
Additional education preferred
Additional language skills preferred
Healthcare finance and/or healthcare insurance experience preferred
Knowledge and experience in a healthcare setting, especially patient scheduling and/or registration preferred
Must complete a criminal-history background check if offered the position
Must complete an authorization and disclosure form for the background check

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive benefits
Tuition reimbursement
Loan forgiveness
401(k) matching
Lifecycle benefits
Employee resources supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being
Protection for unexpected life events