How do you become a patient registration representative?

1 What does a patient registration representative do?

A patient registration representative is the first point of contact for patients who visit a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility. Their main responsibility is to gather and confirm the patient's personal, medical, and insurance information, and enter it into the computer system. They also schedule appointments, collect co-pays and fees, issue receipts and invoices, and answer questions and inquiries from patients and visitors. Additionally, they may perform other administrative tasks, such as filing, scanning, faxing, and updating records.

2 What skills and qualifications do you need?

To become a patient registration representative, you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, and some experience in customer service or office administration. You also need to have strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work under pressure and handle confidential information. Moreover, you need to be familiar with medical terminology, insurance policies, and billing procedures, and be proficient in using computers and software applications. Depending on the employer, you may also need to have a certification in patient registration or health information management.

3 How to get trained and certified?

There are several ways to get trained and certified as a patient registration representative. One option is to enroll in a certificate or associate degree program in health information technology, medical office administration, or health services management at a community college or vocational school. These programs typically cover topics such as medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, coding, billing, reimbursement, ethics, and legal issues. Another option is to complete a short-term course or workshop in patient registration, offered by some healthcare organizations, professional associations, or online platforms. These courses usually focus on the specific skills and knowledge required for patient registration, such as data entry, insurance verification, scheduling, and customer service. Additionally, you can obtain a certification from a nationally recognized organization, such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). These certifications demonstrate your competence and professionalism in patient registration, and may increase your chances of getting hired and advancing your career.

4 What to expect from the job market and salary?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for patient registration representatives is expected to grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This is mainly due to the increasing use of electronic health records, the aging population, and the expansion of healthcare services. The BLS also reports that the median annual wage for patient registration representatives was $36,330 in May 2020, which varies depending on the location, employer, experience, and education level. Some of the factors that can influence your salary are your certification status, your performance, and your ability to handle complex and specialized tasks.

5 How to prepare for the job interview?

If you are applying for a job as a patient registration representative, you should prepare for the job interview by researching the employer, reviewing your resume, and practicing your answers to common questions. You may be asked why you want to work as a patient registration representative, how you handle difficult or angry patients, how you ensure accuracy and confidentiality of patient information, how you deal with insurance denials or disputes, how you use computer software and systems for patient registration, and how you cope with stress and multitasking. Additionally, it is beneficial to prepare some questions to ask the interviewer such as what are the main duties and expectations for this position, how they measure and evaluate performance, what are the benefits and opportunities for growth and development, how do they handle training and orientation, and what are the challenges and rewards of working as a patient registration representative.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?