St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston, TX is seeking a bilingual (English/Spanish) Patient Advocate Representative to serve as a frontline resource for self-pay patients navigating financial assistance, government benefit programs, and insurance eligibility. This bedside-facing role sits at the intersection of patient access, social services, and revenue cycle — making it a meaningful position for someone who combines strong interpersonal skills with working knowledge of federal, state, and county assistance programs. The role operates across both hospital and office environments, including direct patient contact in the Emergency Department and at bedside.
Perks and Benefits
- Competitive benefits package included with employment
- Access to resources and incentives through a large, established national healthcare organization with more than 30 years of industry expertise
- Career advancement and leadership development opportunities within a network serving more than 135 local regions nationwide
- Reasonable accommodations provided for qualified individuals with disabilities
- Vaccination and health screening support provided prior to start of employment, in compliance with applicable law
- E-Verify participating employer
Practice Highlights
- Bedside screening of self-pay patients for eligibility across governmental programs (Medicaid, Medicare, county assistance) and non-governmental programs
- Identification of all potential payor sources including auto insurance, Workers' Compensation, commercial insurance, private insurance, and third-party liability (TPL)
- Completion of Confidential Financial Statement forms and direct assistance to patients applying for eligible benefit programs
- Conducts in-person interviews with patients and family members; documents all account activity throughout the in-house and Patient Accounting cycle
- Performs financial clearance functions including collections; prepares accounts for Financial Assistance review when patient cooperation is not obtained
- Follows up on EES-assigned accounts to confirm government applications are processed through to eligibility determination
- Conducts field visits to patient homes for skip tracing and document assistance
- Communicates screening determinations and outcomes to hospital case management, social services, and admissions staff via verbal and written channels
- Works across multiple hospital facilities and platforms, coordinating with multiple supervisors and departments
- Work environment spans both hospital floors (including Emergency Department) and office settings, with some travel required
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Minimum 2 years of work experience in social services, hospital admitting, or a directly related field
- Working familiarity with federal, state, and county program rules and regulations governing patient financial assistance
- Proficiency in PC systems including Windows, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks, and manage accounts across multiple facilities simultaneously
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills in a fast-paced, patient-facing environment
- Physical ability to walk through a hospital campus including Emergency Department settings and to visit patients at bedside; ability to travel as required
About the Community
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of the most culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the country — a particularly strong fit for bilingual professionals serving Spanish-speaking patient populations. The city offers a low cost of living relative to other major metros, no state income tax, a robust culinary and arts scene, and easy access to Gulf Coast recreation. St. Joseph Medical Center is located in the heart of Houston's Texas Medical Center corridor, one of the largest medical complexes in the world, offering unmatched professional resources and community connection.