Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

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

Posted 10/9/2026full-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 and registration processes in compliance with HIPAA regulations. Proficient in data entry and communication, with a focus on resolving operational issues and improving service quality.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Customer Service OrientationPatient Scheduling ExperienceHIPAA Compliance KnowledgeData Entry ProficiencyHealthcare Insurance Experience

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 ManagementMulti-tasking

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOrganizational SkillsProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

Epic SystemsOnline Retrieval SystemsComputer Data Entry Tools

Industry Keywords

HealthcarePatient ConfidentialityService RecoveryHealthcare FinanceHealthcare Insurance

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Practice the Patients First philosophy and maintain high customer service standards
Respond to patient questions and concerns; escalate extraordinary issues to the Team Lead or Operations Coordinator
Maintain patient confidentiality under HIPAA regulations
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 assignments on time
Cross-train across departments to ensure coverage
Participate in Quality Assurance reviews
Resolve service breakdowns using service recovery skills
Communicate information about physician referrals, insurance referrals, and consultations
Collect authorization numbers in appropriate systems
Collaborate across units and departments to resolve operational issues
Verify or print patient orders using online retrieval systems
Verify insurance eligibility and benefit levels using online tools or by phone
Complete handoff instructions and notes in Epic
Run real-time eligibility checks and follow out-of-network policies
Send accurate Epic messages and telephone encounters
Prevent patient-visit issues by checking tests, preparation requirements, conflicts, times, locations, and duplicate records
Complete and update patient registration data
Analyze account activity and initiate resolutions
Suggest and implement process improvements
Monitor registration, scheduling, and insurance verification against quality standards
Act as a training resource for new staff and coworkers
Perform other duties assigned by the manager

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
Successful completion of required background check and authorization/disclosure form if offered the position

Benefits

Comp & perks

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