Patient Services Representative
Patient Services Representatives are in charge of receiving patients, coordinating appointments, answering phones, and keeping track of medical records. They are responsible for helping hospitals, offices of physicians, and dental offices run smoothly. By fielding many of the basic tasks involved in receiving patients, patient services representative ensure that treatment is given in the most organized fashion, and they give nurses and doctors freedom need to better perform more complex procedures.
Necessary skills for patient services representatives include strong interpersonal skills, multitasking, ability to work independently, and flexibility. Computer skills and familiarity with software programs are useful since most patient service representatives use a computer throughout the course of their daily responsibilities. Like all employees of the health care system, patient service representatives should be able to work as a team, respect diversity, and treat patients and their families in a caring manner.
Though most patient service representatives must have a high school diploma or equivalency, they are not required to have a degree. However, completion of a patient services representative training program is often necessary. Patient services representative training prepares graduates to work in a medical environment. Most patient services representatives come from a non-medical background, and this training is an important introduction to the workings of hospitals and medical centers.
Patient services representative training programs are offered both online and at community colleges, vocational schools, and training centers. Training programs can be completed in as short as 16 weeks.
High school students planning to begin a career as a patient services representative will want to take classes in health care sciences, anatomy, and physiology. Since patient services representatives are constantly interacting with patients, communication, English, and foreign language classes may also be useful.