Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

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

Posted 9/15/2026full-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 EntryInsurance VerificationPatient SchedulingMedical Necessity ChecksOut-of-Pocket EstimatesQuality AssuranceEpic System ProficiencyAuthorization CollectionMulti-TaskingAnalytical Skills

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationOrganizational SkillsTime ManagementProblem SolvingVerbal Communication

Tools & Technologies

EpicOnline Order Retrieval Systems

Industry Keywords

Healthcare FinancePatient RegistrationPatient ConfidentialityQuality ImprovementService Recovery

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 in accordance with HIPAA regulations
Collect and verify 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 for encounters
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 integrity
Resolve service breakdowns using service recovery skills
Communicate physician referral, insurance referral, and consultation information
Collect authorization numbers and support interdepartmental communication
Use online order retrieval systems to verify or print patient orders
Verify insurance eligibility and benefits 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 visit issues by checking tests, preparation requirements, timing, locations, orders, and duplicate records
Collect and update required registration data
Analyze account activity 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 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
Must complete authorization and disclosure form for a criminal-history background check if offered the position

Benefits

Comp & perks

Tuition reimbursement
Loan forgiveness
401(k) matching
Lifecycle benefits
Employee well-being resources supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being
Equal opportunity employment
Background check process evaluated case-by-case in accordance with applicable laws