Patient Access Services Department: Our Goodwill Ambassadors
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At one point or another, every department at Clinton Memorial Hospital comes in contact with the public. With that contact comes the opportunity to present a positive image to our community. The Patient Access Services Department is most often responsible for providing patients and visitors with their first impressions of our hospital.
"We work very hard on patient satisfaction," says Access Manager Patrick Haley. "Patients and families coming into our hospital are often in a stressful situation. Our job is to ease their concerns in a caring and efficient manner."
In an average day, the Access Department handles a variety of requests from many persons including physicians, nurses and patients. Physicians call to schedule patients for admission and nurses inform Access of any patient transfers. The Access Department staff must also be familiar with the procedures and guidelines of various insurance companies.
During the access process, patients sometimes are feeling apprehensive and need support. "When people aren't feeling well we need to be fast, accurate and above all, friendly," Access Supervisor, Molly Mueller, noted. "If we don't do our job right, the problems reverberate throughout the hospital. Our main priority is to balance efficiency with large doses of caring and concern."
Another staff member, Heather Browning, reports that his/her job is very rewarding. "I feel good at the end of the day when I know I was able to make a difference in a person's outlook by cheering them up or smoothing away worries by being there to answer questions."
As we approach National Healthcare Access Personnel Week we acknowledge our special goodwill ambassadors in the Access Department for initiating the caring spirit that exists among all our hospital staff.[[In-content Ad]]
"We work very hard on patient satisfaction," says Access Manager Patrick Haley. "Patients and families coming into our hospital are often in a stressful situation. Our job is to ease their concerns in a caring and efficient manner."
In an average day, the Access Department handles a variety of requests from many persons including physicians, nurses and patients. Physicians call to schedule patients for admission and nurses inform Access of any patient transfers. The Access Department staff must also be familiar with the procedures and guidelines of various insurance companies.
During the access process, patients sometimes are feeling apprehensive and need support. "When people aren't feeling well we need to be fast, accurate and above all, friendly," Access Supervisor, Molly Mueller, noted. "If we don't do our job right, the problems reverberate throughout the hospital. Our main priority is to balance efficiency with large doses of caring and concern."
Another staff member, Heather Browning, reports that his/her job is very rewarding. "I feel good at the end of the day when I know I was able to make a difference in a person's outlook by cheering them up or smoothing away worries by being there to answer questions."
As we approach National Healthcare Access Personnel Week we acknowledge our special goodwill ambassadors in the Access Department for initiating the caring spirit that exists among all our hospital staff.[[In-content Ad]]