Life As a Patient Representative
Patient Representative Definition Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.
Daily Life Of a Patient Representative
- Analyze patients’ abilities to pay to determine charges on a sliding scale.
- Investigate and direct patient inquiries or complaints to appropriate medical staff members and follow up to ensure satisfactory resolution.
- Coordinate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, or regulatory agencies.
- Refer patients to appropriate health care services or resources.
- Collect and report data on topics such as patient encounters or inter-institutional problems, making recommendations for change when appropriate.
- Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
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Qualities of a Patient Representative
Below is a list of the skills most Patient Representatives say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Patient Representative Jobs
- Patient Service Specialist
- Patient Services Coordinator
- Patient Access Specialist
- Patient Registration Representative
- Admitting Clerk
Is There Going to be Demand for Patient Representatives?
There were about 2,784,500 jobs for Patient Representative in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 136,300 new jobs for Patient Representative by 2026. There will be an estimated 373,500 positions for Patient Representative per year.
The states with the most job growth for Patient Representative are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Minnesota, or Massachusetts. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Patient Representative Average Salary
Patient Representatives make between $22,140 and $55,310 a year.
Patient Representatives who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Patient Representatives in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,580 |
| Alaska | $39,300 |
| Arizona | $34,570 |
| Arkansas | $32,350 |
| California | $41,850 |
| Colorado | $37,390 |
| Connecticut | $41,160 |
| Delaware | $38,060 |
| District of Columbia | $46,880 |
| Florida | $33,730 |
| Georgia | $35,130 |
| Hawaii | $38,670 |
| Idaho | $32,390 |
| Illinois | $37,840 |
| Indiana | $36,200 |
| Iowa | $37,400 |
| Kansas | $35,330 |
| Kentucky | $32,230 |
| Louisiana | $32,440 |
| Maine | $34,950 |
| Maryland | $37,720 |
| Massachusetts | $43,620 |
| Michigan | $36,650 |
| Minnesota | $39,690 |
| Mississippi | $28,210 |
| Missouri | $35,020 |
| Montana | $34,910 |
| Nebraska | $35,730 |
| Nevada | $33,690 |
| New Hampshire | $38,930 |
| New Jersey | $40,330 |
| New Mexico | $31,380 |
| New York | $40,830 |
| North Carolina | $34,690 |
| North Dakota | $37,910 |
| Ohio | $35,980 |
| Oklahoma | $32,790 |
| Oregon | $37,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,000 |
| Rhode Island | $38,970 |
| South Carolina | $32,320 |
| South Dakota | $31,150 |
| Tennessee | $34,420 |
| Texas | $33,770 |
| Utah | $33,790 |
| Vermont | $37,760 |
| Virginia | $35,030 |
| Washington | $40,820 |
| West Virginia | $31,730 |
| Wisconsin | $37,850 |
| Wyoming | $36,400 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Patient Representatives
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Patient Representatives:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Google Docs
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
How to Become a Patient Representative
What education is needed to be a Patient Representative?
What work experience do I need to become a Patient Representative?
Where Patient Representatives Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Patient Representative may also be interested in:
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Are you already one of the many Patient Representative in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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