Patient Care Associate (PCA) - Psychiatry

Job Title: Patient Coordinator I
Location: 1468 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029
Department: Visitor Screening – Main Entrances
Shift Hours: 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Schedule: 5 days/week | 37.5 hours/week | Every other weekend (EOW) and holidays
Contract Duration: 13 weeks
Hourly rate: $19/hour on W2 Negotiable

Role Overview:
The Patient Coordinator I serves as the first point of contact for patients, either in person or via phone. The role focuses on verifying and updating patient insurance and demographic information, ensuring compliance with insurance guidelines, and supporting the overall flow of patient visit. This position is essential for maintaining smooth operations in a clinical setting and ensuring high-quality patient experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Greet patients in person or by phone, update insurance and demographic info in the system.
• Verify insurance eligibility and ensure physician participation with patient insurance.
• Notify clinical staff of patient arrival and prepare medical records accordingly.
• Process HIPAA documentation and institutional forms.
• Obtain referrals or prior authorizations as needed.
• Monitor waiting room and keep patients informed of waiting times.
• Collect co-pays following cash-control procedures and provide receipts.
• Schedule follow-up appointments and provide instructions for requesting medical records.
• Perform basic charge entry or record payments and prepare deposits (not simultaneously).
• Answer phones and schedule appointments.
• Initiate appointment reminder calls.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and PHI handling procedures.
• Perform additional administrative duties as required.

Qualifications & Skills:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in physician practice.
• On-site training (minimum 1 week) provided by the practice.
• Preferred: Experience in a medical office using a scheduling system.
• Strong keyboarding skills required.
• Familiarity with IDX or other practice management systems preferred.
• Ability to effectively communicate with multicultural and non-native English-speaking patients.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and telephone etiquette.
• Knowledge of medical terminology strongly preferred.
• Flexibility to adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced healthcare environment.