Patient Access & Support Specialist – Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Job Title: Patient Access & Support Specialist – Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Classification: Full-Time (1.0 FTE) | Community Health Worker (CHW) Track

Department: Patient Access & Support

Reports To: Experiential Pathways, Volunteer & Compliance Manager

Location: Front Desk & Patient Access Hub

Position Summary

The Patient Access & Support Specialist manages external specialty referral pipelines and eliminates transportation, scheduling, and logistical barriers for clinic patients. Stationed at the Front Desk & Patient Access Hub, the Specialist meets with patients immediately following provider visits to schedule off-site specialty care, manage transportation connections, and retrieve external medical records to close the care loop.

Key Responsibilities

• Specialty Referral Pipeline Management: Process and track all external specialty referrals (e.g.,  diabetic retinopathy screenings, mammograms, orthopedic consults, imaging, and off-site laboratory testing).
• Transportation & Logistics Coordination: Manage patient transportation arrangements utilizing transportation grants, bus passes, and community transit partners.
• Appointment Navigation & Pre-Visit Prep: Schedule external provider appointments, deliver patient reminders, and explain preparation requirements (e.g., fasting, dilation, travel time) to minimize no-show rates.
• Closing the Referral Loop: Proactively retrieve consultation notes, diagnostic images, and specialist reports from external providers and upload them into the clinic EHR for provider review.
• Primary Reception Support: Provide front-desk reception coverage, phone triage, bilingual patient check-in, and welcoming patient intake support.

Role Boundaries & Hand-Offs

• Refers Complex Social Crises To: Lead Patient Care Coordinator (BSW).
• Refers Medical Triage / Symptom Questions To: Clinical Nurses.
• Refers Peer / Recovery Engagement To: Bilingual Peer Support Specialist.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Human Services, or related field preferred (or equivalent combination of education and customer service/administrative experience).
• 1–2 years of medical referral coordination, patient access, or clinic administrative experience.
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) required to support clinic patient demographics.
• Community Health Worker (CHW) certification required or obtained within 6 months of hire (clinic-funded).
• Strong organizational skills and familiarity with grant tracking (e.g., transportation grants).

Compensation & Schedule

• Pay Rate: $52,000 per year ($25.00/hour)
• Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week); Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (includes 1-hour unpaid meal break)
• Benefits & Culture: Paid Time Off (PTO), comprehensive health insurance, retirement matching, collaborative workplace environment, direct community impact, and paid professional development opportunities (continuing education, CHW certification training, and skill-building).