Life As a Patient Representative
Job Description: Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.
Life As a Patient Representative: What Do They Do?
- Coordinate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, or regulatory agencies.
- Investigate and direct patient inquiries or complaints to appropriate medical staff members and follow up to ensure satisfactory resolution.
- Identify and share research, recommendations, or other information regarding legal liabilities, risk management, or quality of care.
- Analyze patients’ abilities to pay to determine charges on a sliding scale.
- Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
- Collect and report data on topics such as patient encounters or inter-institutional problems, making recommendations for change when appropriate.
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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
- Patient Financial Representative
- Volunteer Patient Representative
- Patient Account Representative
- Intake Specialist
- Patient Relations Representative (PRR)
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 373,500 job openings in this field each 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.
How Much Does a Patient Representative Make?
The average yearly salary of a Patient Representative ranges between $22,140 and $55,310.
Patient Representatives who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Patient Representatives make 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 |
What Tools do Patient Representatives Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Patient Representatives may use on a daily basis:
- 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 or degrees do I need to become a Patient Representative?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Patient Representative?
Patient Representatives Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Patient Representatives employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Patient Representative might also be interested in the following careers:
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Those who work as a Patient Representative sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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