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Patient Access Associate Jobs in Castle, OK (NOW HIRING)

Patient Access Associate information

See Castle, OK salary details

$11

$16

$19

How much do patient access associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for patient access associate in Castle, OK is $16.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.66 and $18.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patient access associate?

Patient Access Associates are healthcare professionals responsible for managing the initial point of contact for patients entering a medical facility. They handle patient registration, verify insurance information, collect payments, and schedule appointments. Their role ensures that patients are accurately and efficiently processed, which is critical for both patient care and the healthcare facility's operations. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential for this position.

What does a patient access associate do?

A patient access associate, also known as a patient access representative, is responsible for checking in patients as they come to a doctor’s office, hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility. They typically do not provide any form of medical care. As a patient access associate, you are usually the first person a patient sees when they enter the office or building. Your primary job duties consist of tracking patient visitors, providing billing information to patients, and gathering patient information. You enter this patient information into a computer system so that doctors and nurses can begin the medical examination and treatment process. The qualifications for a career as a patient access associate include communication and computer skills, and most employers prefer candidates with a year of experience working in a medical office or hospital.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patient access associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patient Access Associate, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a high school diploma or equivalent, with some employers preferring experience in healthcare administration. Familiarity with hospital information systems, electronic health records (EHR), and insurance verification tools is typically required. Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving abilities help you effectively assist patients and coordinate with medical staff. These skills are vital to ensure accurate patient intake, smooth administrative processes, and a positive experience for patients entering the healthcare system.

What are some typical challenges a patient access associate might face during busy periods, and how can they effectively handle them?

During peak times, Patient Access Associates often manage high patient volumes, tight schedules, and urgent requests, which can be stressful. Successfully navigating these challenges requires strong organizational skills, the ability to prioritize tasks quickly, and clear communication with both patients and clinical staff. Utilizing electronic health record systems efficiently and remaining calm under pressure are key to ensuring patients are registered accurately and promptly. Teamwork and a patient-focused attitude also help maintain a positive environment, even during the busiest shifts.

What is the difference between Patient Access Associate vs Medical Secretary?

AspectPatient Access AssociateMedical Secretary
CredentialsHigh school diploma; some roles may require certification in healthcare accessHigh school diploma; medical office administration certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, outpatient facilitiesMedical offices, clinics, hospitals
Primary ResponsibilitiesPatient registration, insurance verification, appointment schedulingScheduling, correspondence, record management
Industry UsageCommonly used in healthcare settings for front desk rolesCommon in medical offices for administrative support

The Patient Access Associate and Medical Secretary roles both serve vital administrative functions in healthcare. While the Patient Access Associate primarily handles patient registration and insurance tasks, the Medical Secretary focuses more on scheduling and correspondence. Both roles require strong communication skills and familiarity with healthcare environments, making them closely related but distinct positions within medical facilities.

Is being a patient access associate a stressful job?

Patient Access Associates often work in fast-paced healthcare environments, managing patient check-ins, scheduling, and insurance verification. The job can be stressful during busy periods or when handling difficult patients, but strong organizational skills and attention to detail help manage workload and reduce stress levels.

Is patient access a good career?

A Patient Access Associate plays a key role in healthcare by managing patient registration, insurance verification, and appointment scheduling. It offers opportunities for entry-level employment, customer service skill development, and can lead to advancement within healthcare administration. The job typically requires strong communication skills and attention to detail, with some positions offering certification options to enhance career prospects.

What cities near Castle, OK are hiring for Patient Access Associate jobs?

Cities near Castle, OK with the most Patient Access Associate job openings:

Epic Analyst - Hospital Billing - I.T. - Okmulgee/Council Oak

Muscogee Nation Department of Health

Okmulgee, OK • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education - associate's degree or two years specialized training in an applicable field (Business Administration, Allied Health, Computer Science, etc.) is required.
Experience - Two (2) years of relevant work experience in specialty specific area is required. Experience in a Healthcare environment is preferred. A combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the education qualifications stated above. Healthcare experience preferred, not required.
Licenses & Certification -Incumbent must be insurable and valid Oklahoma Driver's License is required. Complete specific job related training and Epic certification.
Knowledge & Skills -
  1. Experience with patient access workflows, schedule templates, registration best-practices, decision trees, establishing multiple patient access channels, and aligning technology with operational needs
  2. Possesses excellent time management and organizational skills.
  3. Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility with respect to changing end user business needs.
  4. Demonstrates a willingness to learn new software and systems.
  5. Conveys information clearly and concisely with project leadership and subject matter experts.
  6. Seeks, logically examines, and interprets information from different sources to determine a problem's cause and developing a course of action to resolve the problem and to prevent its recurrence.
  7. Ability to work independently under minimum supervision.
  8. Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with department staff, tribal agencies, outside agencies and the general public both orally and in writing.
  9. Ability to maintain a confident and professional demeanor.
JOB SUMMARY
The Incumbent will be responsible for the design, build, and test of an assigned Epic module. Maintain documentation of business and system configuration requirements. Configure the Epic software according to decisions made by SMEs such as templates, drop-down boxes and pick lists. Complete assigned team tasks as documented in the work plan. Report status of task completion to assigned Team Lead. Provide timely alerts about endangered milestones and deliverables. Incumbent reports directly to the Technology and Analytics Officer
The candidate will fill one of the following Epic modules/teams:
  • Emergency Department
  • Inpatient Clinical
  • Inpatient Orders
  • Infection Control
  • Willow Pharmacy
  • HIM
  • Grand Central
  • Outpatient Clinical
  • Surgery
  • Radiant Radiology
  • Beaker Laboratory
  • Cadence/Prelude Scheduling - Clinical
  • Cadence/Prelude Scheduling - Hospital
  • Hospital Billing
  • Coding
  • Professional Billing
  • Inventory Supply Management
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in an office environment operating computers and other office equipment. Driving GSA vehicle to other facilities to perform duties is required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Work requires the demands of normal office work and the demands required to install, configure or perform maintenance on equipment and hardware. Incumbent must be able to lift objects of at least 50 pounds. Driving to other MCNDH facilities is required in the performance of duties.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Satisfactory job performance will be determined by successful execution of the following:
  1. Analyzes, develops, configures, tests and implements Electronic Health Record (EHR) software and related analytics on time with minimal supervision.
  2. Performs system configuration functions using on-line architectural tools with minimal supervision.
  3. Prepares detailed program specifications and flowcharts and coordinates the system's installation with the user department.
  4. Provides status reports to management when required.
  5. Attends meetings as required and participates on committees as directed.
  6. Prepares charts and diagrams to assist in problem analysis.
  7. Acts as user liaison between clinical or business departments and Information Systems; providing domain expertise and experience for multiple interacting healthcare departments.
  8. Leads others to adhere to established industry best practices, standards, and quality.
  9. Identifying and implementing requested changes to the system.
  10. Works closely with operational stakeholders to properly engineer workflow.
  11. Regular attendance is required.
  12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.