Operator - Basic X-Ray Machine

SUMMARY: Prepare the office for the day, schedule appointments, answer the telephone, and meet with patients to review estimate of out-of-pocket expenses and provide payment options. 

CLINICAL SUMMARY: Prepares patients to see the providers, retrieves necessary medical records, and assist the providers with clinical duties as directed. Provide excellent quality images for the provider while maintaining efficient throughput and patient flow.

Hours:

• 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Thursday 7:30am -- 4:30pm Friday (1^st shift)
• 9:00am – 6:00pm Monday -- Thursday 8:00am – 5:00pm Friday (2^nd shift)

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma required
• Basic Machine Operator certification required; ARRT certification preferred
• CMA certificate desirable

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least one year of experience in clinical assisting; orthopedic experience preferred
• At least one year of experience performing x-rays

• Two plus years of work experience in a physician practice/hospital
• Experience collecting patient balances
• Strong understanding of insurance benefits and calculation of patient responsibility
• Knowledge of CPT codes and basic medical terminology
• Knowledge of practice management systems and electronic health record software, and digital imaging software; PACS experience preferred
• Ability to perform multiple and diverse tasks simultaneously
• Familiarity with scheduling appointments
• Excellent verbal and communication skills required
• Professional image (dress, manner, tone, attitude)
• Excellent customer service skills required
• A degree of creativity and latitude required

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Insurance Eligibility and Patient Responsibility

• Review daily insurance benefits for the day’s appointments to determine which patients may have out-of-pocket/ outstanding balances and collect/process payments in a timely manner
• Review superbill and calculate patient’s out-of-pocket responsibility utilizing estimator software
• Reconcile daily payment processing report

Telephone Answering and Scheduling

• Answer the telephone pleasantly, and by the third ring; route call or take message
• Schedule patient appointments following the provider-approved scheduling preferences. Inform patients of what items are needed at the time of their appointment

• Explain in detail insurance policies that are accepted and provide self-pay options in detail

Check-In and Registration

• Greet patients as they arrive for scheduled/walk-in appointments
• Prepare new patient paperwork for upcoming/walk-in appointments and be able to explain patient paperwork in detail
• Verify demographic information for new and established patients, according to protocol and update practice management system as needed
• Ensure the necessary patient paperwork is complete before patient is ready to be roomed by the Medical Assistant

Clinical Support

• Ensure nurse’s station and exam rooms have adequate supplies and exam rooms are clean and available for use
• Greet patients and escorts them from the waiting room to exam rooms; prepare patients for exam or treatment
• Review medical history with patients and update information in EMR accordingly

• Take patient’s vitals to include Height, Weight, B/P, Respiration and Temperature; log information into EMR accordingly

• Order X-rays for physicians according to their specified protocols ensuring patients are wearing proper attire

• Have thorough understanding of PACS and be able to input patient’s information, organize house images into briefcases, import/log diagnostic images from outside facilities into PACS

• Position and perform x-rays and evaluate the quality of the images taken before submitting to PACS
• Perform a clinical review of charts for upcoming appointments at least two days prior to appointment date, if applicable
• Assist physicians with suture and staple removal, minor procedures, and fracture reductions in office
• Apply, adjust and remove casts, splint, brace and other DME products according to the physician’s order and explain proper care

• Draw up injectable medications

• Prepare and maintain supplies and equipment for treatments, including sterilization
• Perform patient education when appropriate; to include instructions in cast and splint care, home exercises and use of medications

• Dispense medications to patients following dispensing guidelines to include patient and medication verification and proper medication logging and instructions

• Call in medications to pharmacy, if required, and document the medications in EMR according to established protocols
• Dispose of contaminated items according to OSHA guidelines

• Ensure the superbill for each office visit is complete and accurate

• Ensure all forms and orders are accurately completed and signed prior to printing for patient

• Ensure all electronic documents for completed office visits are finalized
• Ensure all paper documents are properly labeled and place in designated scanning bin
• Understand the process for running clinic when EMR system is unavailable. Be able to quickly switch to paper format when needed.

Other

• Screen visitors and respond to routine requests for information
• Keep the patient reception area neat and clean at all times throughout the day
• Attend HIPAA, OSHA and CPR training programs as required and comply with all program standards
• Maintain certifications and registrations per state guidelines
• Maintain detailed knowledge of computer software as it relates to job functions
• ​Perform all other tasks and projects assigned by the Manager or Physician

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Typical Physical Demands

Reception: Work may require standing and walking for long periods of time, and also stooping, bending and stretching for files and supplies.  Position requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, operate a computer, telephone, calculator, copier, and such other office equipment as necessary.  Position also requires viewing computer screens and typing for long periods of time, and working in an environment which may be stressful.

Clinical:  Position requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. May involve prolonged standing and walking for entire shift, Shift may extend over 8 hours in a given day.  Employee will occasionally be asked to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 pounds.  Normal visual acuity and hearing are required.  Employee will work under stressful conditions and work irregular hours.  Employee will be exposed to biohazard materials on a regular basis.

Typical Working Conditions

Employee will have some exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances (ie: cleaning products), medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment.