Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

. Practice the Patients First philosophy and provide exceptional customer service .

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

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in patient scheduling, registration, and insurance verification while providing exceptional customer service in a healthcare setting. Proficient in data entry and communication, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and maintaining patient confidentiality.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Customer Service OrientationPatient Scheduling ExperienceInsurance Verification SkillsData Entry ProficiencyHIPAA Compliance Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EntryPatient RegistrationInsurance VerificationMedical Necessity ChecksAppointment SchedulingQuality Assurance ReviewsAnalytical SkillsProblem SolvingTyping Speed of 40 WPMProcess Improvement

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOrganizational SkillsTime Management

Tools & Technologies

Epic SystemsOnline Retrieval Systems

Industry Keywords

Healthcare FinanceHealthcare InsurancePatient ConfidentialityQuality StandardsService Recovery

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Practice the Patients First philosophy and provide exceptional customer service
Respond to patient questions and concerns and escalate extraordinary issues as necessary
Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations
Identify and collect accurate patient demographic information
Schedule and direct patients through Northwestern Medicine systems
Reach out to patients to schedule appointments
Perform medical necessity checks for scheduled services and communicate options when appointments fail
Inform patients about issues securing financial accounts
Complete out-of-pocket estimates upon request
Provide training and education as needed
Manage schedules and complete assignments 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 appropriate systems
Collaborate across units and departments and resolve operational issues
Verify or print patient orders using online retrieval systems
Verify insurance eligibility and benefit levels using online tools or phone
Complete accurate handoff instructions and notes in Epic
Run real-time eligibility checks and follow out-of-network policies
Send descriptive, grammatically correct Epic messages and telephone encounters
Prevent visit issues by verifying tests, preparation requirements, scheduling conflicts, time, location, and order retrieval
Ensure complete registration data and update patient information
Analyze account activity, identify problems, and initiate 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

Benefits

Comp & perks

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