Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

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

Posted 9/21/2026full-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, while effectively communicating with patients and collaborating across departments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Customer Service OrientationHIPAA CompliancePatient SchedulingInsurance VerificationData Entry Proficiency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EntryMedical Office ExperienceInsurance Eligibility VerificationAppointment SchedulingProcess ImprovementQuality AssurancePatient RegistrationFinancial Account ManagementAnalytical SkillsMulti-tasking

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationOrganizational SkillsTime ManagementProblem SolvingVerbal Communication

Tools & Technologies

Epic SystemsOnline Retrieval SystemsComputer Data Entry Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Industry Keywords

Healthcare FinanceHealthcare InsurancePatient ConfidentialityService RecoveryQuality Standards

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Practice the Patients First philosophy and provide high standards of customer service
Respond to patient questions and concerns, escalating extraordinary issues when necessary
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 estimates when requested
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 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 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
Double-check tests, preparation requirements, scheduling conflicts, locations, and orders
Prevent duplicate patient records and maintain complete registration data
Analyze account activity and initiate appropriate 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

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
Must complete a criminal-history background check if offered employment
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

Benefits

Comp & perks

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