Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

. Practice the Patients First philosophy and provide high standards of customer service .

Posted 9/17/2026full-timeRemote • Illinois • United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $18 - $28 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates strong customer service skills while managing patient interactions, scheduling, and insurance verification 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 OrientationMedical Office ExperienceHIPAA ComplianceData Entry ProficiencyInsurance Verification

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EntryPatient SchedulingInsurance VerificationMedical Necessity ChecksOut-of-Pocket EstimatesQuality AssuranceProcess ImprovementAnalytical SkillsTime ManagementMulti-Tasking

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOrganizational SkillsProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

Epic SystemsOnline Eligibility Tools

Industry Keywords

Healthcare FinancePatient ConfidentialityPatient RegistrationService RecoveryDemographic Information

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Practice the Patients First philosophy and provide high standards of customer service
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 patient demographic information
Schedule and direct patients through Northwestern Medicine systems
Reach out to 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 estimates
Provide training and education as needed
Manage schedules and complete tasks on time
Cross-train across departments to ensure coverage
Participate in Quality Assurance reviews
Resolve service breakdowns using service recovery skills
Communicate with patients about physician referrals, insurance referrals, and consultations
Collect authorization numbers in applicable systems
Collaborate across departments and support staff in direct patient-care departments
Retrieve and verify patient orders using online systems
Verify insurance eligibility and benefit levels using online tools or by phone
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 visit issues by verifying tests, preparation requirements, timing, location, and order retrieval
Ensure complete registration data, update records, and prevent duplicate patient records
Analyze account activity, identify problems, and initiate resolutions
Suggest and implement process improvements
Monitor registration, scheduling, and insurance verification against quality standards
Serve 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
Preferred: 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
Successful completion of required background check and authorization/disclosure process if offered the position

Benefits

Comp & perks

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