Office Patient Assistant

Position Title: Office Patient Assistant

Reports to (position): Dialysis Clinic Manager        

Primary purpose of the role:        

• To provide high quality level of reception and secretarial services to the patients, and staff at the clinic in a caring and supportive manner.
• To support the nursing staff in the dialysis clinic by performing non-clinical duties relating to direct and indirect and patient care. 

Key Responsibilities

General Administration

• Answer the switchboard in a courteous and professional manner.
• Liaise with patients and their families in a compassionate manner.
• Perform general clerical and administrative tasks as required i.e. filing, minute taking, agenda creation.
• Responsible for petty cash dispersal and reconciliation.
• Responsible for maintaining the levels of and ordering general office supplies.
• Provides assistance with the quality improvement program.
• Book ambulance transport for patients if required by the clinic.
• Liaise with Doctors in booking patient appointments if required by the clinic.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Billing Administration

• To admit and discharge patients within a centralized billing system.
• To ensure that all necessary forms for new patients are completed and correctly loaded into the centralized billing system.
• To conduct eligibility checks on all new patients with their Private Health Fund.
• Prepare invoices and credit notes in relation to revenue generation.
• Prepare and collate all required supporting documentation required to accompany invoices.
• Undertake banking procedures for all cheque and cash payments. 
• Prepare and maintain an accurate record management system of all patient records.
• Prepare and maintain reconciliation records.
• Forward ISIS data to State related Health Commission on a monthly basis.
• Forward HCP data to Private Health Funds on a monthly basis.  
• Assisting other clinics entering billing as required.
• Assisting the Operations Manager in billing trouble shooting with clinics.

Patient Service:

• Ensures cleanliness and neatness of patient treatment area, stockroom and medical devices as per clinic procedure.
• Assists with the collection and distribution of basic food preparation and delivery of nutritional requirements to patients and visitors including ordering.
• Maintains the stock levels of all consumables within the stock room and trolley/s as required for daily operation of the clinic.
• Attends to the re-stocking of consumables in the stock room and trolley/s as required for daily operation of the clinic.
• Manages the ordering of all stock and consumables for the operation of the clinic.
• Confirms delivery of stock and cross checks inventory with documentation and forwards monthly stock take to the Purchasing Officer.
• Maintains Clinical Manager database.
• Ensures routine collection and appropriate disposal of linen, rubbish and contaminated waste.
• Stamps pathology forms with Doctor’s information and place in billing area.
• Coordinates collection of blood samples by pathology lab, help spin blood before collection.
• Participates in Quality Assurance activities as required by the Dialysis Clinic Manager.
• Ensures/promotes a safe, secure and healthy working environment as detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety policy.
• Engages in internal and external in-service activities to enhance / maintain skills and knowledge.
• Assist nurses in lining machines if required by the clinic..
• Liaise with Fresenius Kabi in organising patient medication and drugs if required by the clinic.

Competencies (attitude, skills, typical qualifications & experience)

Essential:           

• 3 years experience in a similar role.
• Knowledge of Infection Control / Hygiene principles and implementation of this knowledge into daily practice.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to operate within a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety as it relates to the role within the facility.
• Demonstrated skills in food preparation and presentation.
• Basic office skills, including filing and answering telephone enquiries.
• Completion of a Patient Service Assistant Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Computer competence in MS Office.
• Excellent Customer Service skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to operate within a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement initiatives.
• Team player.
• Work with confidentiality, discretion and maturity.