Patient Services Specialist / Switchboard Operator

Patient Services Specialist / Switchboard Operator

Retina Northwest, P.C.
Full-time | $18 to $19.50 per hour
Vancouver - occasionally Portland, Lake Oswego, Sylvan, Beaverton, and Salmon Creek

At Retina Northwest, our work is about more than eye care. Many of our patients come to us during stressful and uncertain moments, and we are here to help protect their sight while providing a supportive, compassionate experience. For more than 40 years, we have cared for patients across Oregon and Washington as a physician-led practice built on teamwork, compassion, and doing what is right for patients. As we grow, we are focused on building a workplace where people feel supported, take pride in their work, and care deeply about the patients they serve.

We are hiring a Patient Services Specialist / Switchboard Operator to join our team. This is a hands-on role in a busy retina specialty practice where you will work closely with physicians and the clinical team to support patient visits and help create a smooth, supportive experience from start to finish. It can be a strong fit for someone with healthcare or patient-facing experience, receptionist or customer-service experience, and also for someone ready to learn in the role.

What You’ll Do

As a Patient Services Specialist/Switchboard Operator, you will support our patient services team by answering incoming calls, directing calls to the proper person and/or department, processing incoming encrypted faxes, and medical records functions. This role also provides vacation and backup coverage for all areas within the Patient Services department: appointment and surgery scheduling, receptionist, medical records, transcription, and triage duties. You may need to travel to one or more of the satellite clinics located in Oregon and Washington for clinical receptionist coverage.

Key responsibilities include:

• Answer high volume telephone calls
• Assist with medical records coordination
• Arrive timely to start answering main switchboard by 8:00 am.
• Communicate in a friendly and professional manner with patients, physicians, staff, and public
• Complete special projects as needed
• Distribute incoming and outgoing mail to and from the St. James Administrative office
• Direct incoming calls to appropriate parties and departments
• Maintain strict patient/employee confidentiality
• Provide coverage, performing all functions within the Patient Services department as scheduled, and sometimes with short notice
• Practice excellent customer service and phone etiquette
• Prepare and send both new patient and surgery packets
• Process and upload encrypted fazes
• Scan and upload paperwork and records into the Nextech EMR system
• Send urgent chart notes as needed
• Regular and acceptable attendance

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is bubbly, dependable, and organized. You should communicate well, work well with others, and be willing to cover a verity of duties including travel between locations.

Healthcare experience is preferred, but not required for the right candidate. We welcome applicants with strong people skills, professionalism, reliability, and a willingness to learn.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 1-2 years' experience in a patient or customer service in an office setting.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and active auto insurance
• Ability to travel to satellite clinic locations in the greater Portland/Vancouver are to support staffing coverage
• Computer competency, with a typing speed of at least 50 WPM

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in a medical group setting with multiple providers
• Call center or operator experience
• EHR experience
• Knowledge of ophthalmic medical office procedures specific to a vitreo-retinal practice highly desirable

Pay and Benefits

Pay for this position is $18 to $19.50 per hour.

Retina Northwest offers a strong benefits package for eligible employees, including:

• Fully paid premiums for employee medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer contributions and profit sharing
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Mileage reimbursement for approved travel between sites
• Employee Assistance Program

Additional benefits include life insurance, long-term disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, and continuing education support. Benefits begin on the first day of the month following 60 days from date of hire. Medical, dental, vision, and FSA benefits begin at 24+ hours per week, and life, disability, and EAP benefits begin at 36+ hours per week.

Physical and Mental Demands

This role is performed in an office (and less frequently, a clinic) setting and requires the ability to stay positive, focused, organized, and professional in a fast-paced environment. Employees should be able to sit for extended periods, stand, and walk, use hands and fingers for typing and handling office equipment, and occasionally bend, reach, push, pull, or lift supplies as needed.

The role also requires clear communication, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple tasks while working with patients, physicians, and coworkers throughout the day.

Clinic Locations: St. Vincent’s Medical Center, East Pavilion, 6th Floor, Portland OR; Sylvan Hill, Highlands Building, 2nd Floor, Portland OR; Providence Portland Medical Center, 4th Floor, Portland OR; Oswego Town Square, 1st Floor, Lake Oswego OR; Vancouver Stonemill Center, 1st Floor, Vancouver WA; Providence Seaside Medical Center, 1st Floor, Seaside OR

Administrative Office Location: 4225 NE St. James Road, Vancouver WA; Main Line 503-274-2121 and www.retinanorthwest.com

Retina Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.