Patient Services Representative
Education Requirements:
High School Diploma required Click here for more information
Salary Range:
Average starting wage: $14.10 per hour
Employment Outlook:
Good
Job Overview:
Patient Services Representatives can be found anywhere there are medical patients. This means they can work at a hospital, medical office, nursing home or public health clinic. Their role can also be known as a patient care representative, medical secretary, clinical office assistant, clinic customer service representative or front desk customer service representative.
The Patient Services Representative is often the first point of contact for patients who enter the facility or make contact by phone. Patient Services Representatives perform a variety of administrative duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic or laboratory procedures. Although some state regulations can influence the extent of a patient service representative's duties, most are responsible for written and verbal correspondence, scheduling, collecting co-payments, maintaining patient charts, verifying insurance coverage, and ensuring overall patient satisfaction.
A Patient Services Representative’s job provides a wonderful opportunity to advance up the healthcare career ladder along either an administrative pathway or, if you choose, a technical pathway. With several years of experience in a specific medical setting, a patient service representative can advance to a higher-level position with more responsibilities. Aspiring patient service representatives should consider enrolling in an accredited certificate or associate degree program in medical assisting, though a high school education might be sufficient for some employers.
Job Tasks:
- Greet patients and visitors, ascertain purpose of visit and direct them appropriately.
- Interview patients or their representatives to identify problems and/or needs relating to care.
- Collect payments and co-payments for all services.
- Establish and maintain demographics and insurance information using appropriate on-line systems.
- Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries or medical consultations.
- Coordinate communications between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff or regulatory agencies.
- Schedule mutually acceptable appointment times for patients and physicians using computerized scheduling systems.
- Maintain medical records, technical libraries, or correspondence files.
- Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.
- Operate office equipment such as voice mail messaging systems and use word processing spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories or medical records.
Skills and Abilities Needed to Perform Job:
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, file and record management, transcription, designing forms and other office procedures and terminology.
- Knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM).
- Knowledge and use medical software, e.g. admissions & discharge, Epic Systems, Medical procedure coding software, MEDITECH, etc.
- Knowledge and use of computers and electronics, hardware and software including applications and programming.
- Knowledge of use of Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Office and Outlook)
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
- Knowledge of analytical or scientific software to assess patient satisfaction.
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance individual differences in ability, personality and interests.
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning.
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language.
- Oral Comprehension – Ability to listen to and understand information presented through spoken words.
- Oral Expression – Ability to communicate information in speaking so that others will understand.
- Speech Clarity – The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition – Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Active Listening – Ability to give full attention to what others are saying and taking time to understand.
- Written Comprehension – The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning – Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce news that make sense.
- Problem Sensitivity – Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
- Service Orientation – Ability to provide excellent customer service (patient care).
- Near Vision – The ability to see details at close range.
Desired Work Style Attributes:
- Concern for Others – Sensitive to needs of others
- Dependability – Reliable and responsible
- Self-Control – Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check
- Attention to details
- Independence – Developing one’s own way of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision
- Integrity – Honest and ethical
- Stress Tolerance – Accepting criticism and dealing calmly in stressful situations
- Cooperation – Pleasant with others
- Social Orientation – Preferring to work with others rather than alone