Patient Advocate

Patient Advocate – Full Time

The Patient Advocate is responsible for greeting patients and other visitors, entering patient information into the computer, and checking patients’ insurance. The Patient Advocate schedules and links appointments, gives out information, collects completed paperwork from patients, helps patients complete paperwork when needed, and faxes. As the Patient Advocate, you will ensure that patient records are updated, and assist with related filing. The Patient Advocate calls and sends letters to patients, expedites patient flow, and works closely with clinical staff and billing staff to ensure a positive patient experience. The Patient Advocates participate in rotation of the duties of check-in, one late night a week, and checkout at front-office workstations.

Come to work every day knowing your efforts make other people’s lives better. You will be part of a supportive, dynamic, multidisciplinary team – including medical, dental, and behavioral health care providers, social workers, family workers, and others – working together to meet the needs of the whole person. Your days will be busy, varied and interesting, and you will have opportunities for career growth; many employees take on new challenges and increasingly responsible positions during their years with us.

Salary Range: $19.00 per hour and onward

Job Duties

• Greets new patients with a friendly professional manner, providing excellent customer service. Explains services including basic eligibility guidelines and sliding fee scale.
• Educates patients without a deposit, or who have a balance, and set up payment plans as appropriate.
• Collects deposits and co-payments, providing receipts for payment and reconcile.
• Verifies and confirms demographic information, and complete all required paperwork from and/or with the patient.
• Updates annual registration paperwork and approved financial determination applications with income proof sent to billing.
• Verifies insurance eligibility, and collects and scans insurance cards if applicable.
• Refers uninsured patients to the Outreach & Enrollment department.
• Identifies and connects patients who may need further case management, e.g. social work services, medication assistance program, transportation, and document in electronic health record. Contacts staff team to deliver patient service.
• Works collaboratively with department teams to ensure efficient operations of the Front Office.
• Works collaboratively with medical teams to ensure the efficient and smooth access to patient care, including completing any care alert needs that are able to be satisfied.
• Schedules all requested appointments appropriately and accurately.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Strong customer service experience
• Commitment to being an effective professional team player
• Willing to have crucial conversations
• Time management skills, basic computer proficiency, and demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple priorities with an eye toward details
• Maintains confidentiality and privacy under all circumstances

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Ability to work harmoniously with coworkers and patients
• Experience working with diverse and vulnerable populations
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Organizational skills
• Strong clinical and assessment skills
• Compassionate and nonjudgmental attitude

Work Location(s): Goodwin Community Health, Somersworth, NH

Hours Per Week: 40 (8:00am – 5:00pm)

Days: 5 (Monday – Friday)

Job Status: Full-Time, Hourly (Non-Exempt)

Eligible for Benefits: Yes

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical and dental insurance with an agency subsidy. One of the GSCH health insurance plans has a no-premium option for employee-only coverage. GSCH offers a 401(k) plan with an employer match, employer-paid group term life insurance, and short-term disability coverage. Voluntary benefits include vision, long-term disability coverage, Flexible Spending Account, and access to local discounts. GSCH offers earned time accrual (15 days in your first year [pro-rated by FTE]), plus seven (7) paid holidays. Eligibility starts at 24 hours/week, with full benefits offered at 32 hours/week and above.

This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus of up to $1,500.00.

About Us

Greater Seacoast Community Health’s mission is to deliver innovative, compassionate, integrated health services and support that are accessible to all in our community, regardless of ability to pay.

The Greater Seacoast Community Health network includes Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth, Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth, and Lilac City Pediatrics at both locations. Strafford County Public Health Network and WIC Nutrition Program are also affiliated with Greater Seacoast.

Greater Seacoast Community Health is a network of community health centers providing primary care, pediatrics, dental care, prenatal care, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder treatment, mobile health services, WIC, social work services, a pharmacy, parenting classes, playgroups, and home visiting.

We believe everyone should be empowered to maximize health and well-being and strive to make our array of programs and health services integrated, high quality, affordable, recovery friendly, trauma informed, inclusive, and easy to access.

As not-for-profit community health centers and family resource centers serving the Greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine, our services are for everyone — infants to seniors, single people and families, insured or uninsured, all income levels. Learn more at GetCommunityHealth.org.

Greater Seacoast Community Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, color, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, federal, or local law. Qualified Veterans are encouraged to apply.

---