Patient Access Specialist

Northwestern Medicine

Patient Access Specialist scheduling patients, verifying insurance, and managing registrations for Northwestern Medicine healthcare services. Supporting patient access across clinical departments.

Posted 8/25/2026full-timeRemote • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $18 - $25 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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

Demonstrates strong customer service orientation and effective communication skills while managing patient scheduling, registration, and insurance verification processes. Proficient in maintaining patient confidentiality and adhering to HIPAA regulations in a healthcare setting.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Customer Service OrientationPatient SchedulingInsurance VerificationHIPAA ComplianceData Entry Proficiency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data EntryPatient RegistrationInsurance Eligibility VerificationMedical Necessity ChecksAppointment SchedulingQuality AssuranceProcess ImprovementAnalytical SkillsTime ManagementProblem Solving

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOrganizational SkillsMulti-tasking

Tools & Technologies

EpicOnline Scheduling SystemsHealthcare Software

Industry Keywords

HealthcarePatient CareConfidentialityHealthcare FinanceHealthcare Insurance

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 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 estimations upon request
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 of patient data
Resolve service breakdowns using service recovery skills
Communicate physician referral, insurance referral, consultation, authorization, and customer satisfaction information
Support departments providing direct patient care
Retrieve and verify patient orders using online systems
Verify insurance eligibility and benefits using online tools or by phone
Record accurate handoff instructions and notes in Epic
Run real-time eligibility checks and follow out-of-network policies
Prevent appointment issues by checking tests, preparation requirements, conflicts, time, location, and duplicate records
Complete and update registration data
Analyze account activity 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 management

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 orientation
Excellent organizational, time management, analytical, and problem solving skills
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, preferred
Must complete a criminal-history background check if hired
Must complete an authorization and disclosure form for the background check

Benefits

Comp & perks

Tuition reimbursement
Loan forgiveness
401(k) matching
Lifecycle benefits
Competitive benefits supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being
Sign-on bonus may be offered, subject to eligibility