Referral Coordinator

Who We Are:

People are our passion and purpose. Come work where you are appreciated for who you are not just what you can do. North Alabama Medical Center is a 263-bed facility offering the community’s only open-heart surgery site, a complete line of women’s and children’s services and a complete line of medical and imaging services. We are a Certified Chest Pain center and recognized as a Primary Stroke Center of Excellence by the American Heart/American Stroke Association. North Alabama Medical Center’s 24-hour emergency department serves as the primary referral center for major trauma cases in Northwest Alabama.

Where We Are:

No matter what type of things you’re interested in, we have things of interest for you. Florence is a vibrant area with walkable streets and plenty of inspiring things to do. Spend your days getting to know the local community by exploring our shops, restaurants, and historical attractions.

Why Choose Us:

• Health (Medical, Dental, Vision) and 401K Benefits for full-time employees
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program - mental, physical, and financial wellness assistance
• Tuition Reimbursement and Loan Assistance for qualified applicants
• And much more…

Position Summary:

The Referral Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and managing patient referrals from healthcare providers to ensure timely access to specialty and other healthcare services. This position verifies insurance benefits and referral requirements, schedules appointments, obtains necessary medical records and documentation, and facilitates communication between referring providers, specialists, patients, and insurance companies. The Referral Coordinator maintains accurate referral documentation in the electronic health record (EHR), assists patients with understanding the referral process and insurance requirements, and works to resolve referral-related issues to support continuity of care and a positive patient experience.

Essential Functions

• Processes and coordinates patient referrals received from healthcare providers.
• Reviews referrals for completeness and obtains required information and documentation.
• Verifies patient insurance benefits, eligibility, referral requirements, and authorization requirements as applicable.
• Schedules patient appointments with specialists and other healthcare providers.
• Coordinates communication between referring providers, specialists, patients, and insurance companies to facilitate timely completion of referrals.
• Obtains medical records and supporting documentation, including provider notes, test results, and other clinical information required for referrals.
• Documents referral activity, communications, insurance information, authorizations, appointments, and follow-up activities accurately in the EHR.
• Educates patients regarding the referral process, scheduled appointments, insurance requirements, authorizations, and necessary next steps.
• Follows up on outstanding referrals, records, authorizations, and appointments to help prevent delays in patient care.
• Identifies and resolves referral-related issues and communicates delays or barriers to the appropriate individuals.
• Maintains accurate and organized referral records in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Protects patient privacy and maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and applicable laws and regulations.
• Communicates professionally and courteously with patients, providers, specialists, insurance companies, and other healthcare personnel.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Additional education or training in medical office administration, healthcare administration, or a related field preferred.

Licensure/Certification

• No specific licensure or certification required.
• Medical billing, insurance, or referral-related certification preferred.

Required Skills: Requires strong organizational and time-management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple referrals and follow-up activities simultaneously. Must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with patients, healthcare providers, specialists, and insurance representatives. Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Must maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements and organizational policies.

Experience

• Previous experience in medical referrals, medical billing, insurance verification, or a related healthcare administrative position required.
• Experience working with electronic health records (EHR) preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance benefits, referral requirements, and authorization processes preferred.

EEOC Statement:

North Alabama Medical Center is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of color, race, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, gender identity, sexual orientation, veterans' status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.