What does a front desk coordinator do?
A Front-Desk Coordinator is the point of contact in a commercial establishment or building such as offices, clinics, salons, and even government agencies. The primary responsibility of a Front-Desk Coordinator is to greet and assist clients of their needs, such as filling-up registrations, appointing schedules, directing clients, and bridging information in a building. Because of these responsibilities, it is crucial to have a pleasing personality and excellent communication skills. Moreover, a Front-Desk Coordinator can also have the task of correspondence in which they are to communicate with clients through calls and emails.
Front desk coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real front desk coordinator resumes:
- File invoices, process payments, collect payments, manage all customer files, using QuickBooks.
- Manage check-in and registration process for all appointments including physician appointments and medical imaging.
- Manage patient data per HIPAA regulations for scheduling, registration, and verification of insurance eligibility.
- Enter patient demographics into computer utilize EMR system.
- Verify insurance coverage for require procedures and assist patients with alternative options for payments.
- Perform clerical/receptionist duties including greeting patients, check-in, and obtaining accurate insurance/demographic information for a gynecological office.
- Explain procedures to ensure safety and comfort while showing compassion.
- Assist physician with reports, scheduling MRI visits for patients, help patient obtain referral and make appointment with specialist.
- Help process payroll and disperse paychecks
- Enter payroll and correct adjustments as necessary.
- Monitor and complete attestation for Medicare EMR program.
- Provide accurate and secure information to patients while maintaining HIPPA regulations.
- Require to obtain Medicaid approval for appointments and prepare patients charts for deposition with physician.
- Protect patient confidentiality by making sure protect health information is secured and retain knowledge of HIPAA regulations.
- Obtain and update demographic, emergency contact, and insurance information, including referrals/authorizations on all patients as needed.
Front desk coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Front Desk Coordinators are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Check-In. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Front Desk Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 23%
Verify insurance coverage for required procedures and assisted patients with alternative options for payments.
- Customer Service, 10%
Provided excellent customer service to patients by handling all treatment planning and financial arrangements according to doctor recommendations.
- Check-In, 9%
Performed clerical/receptionist duties including greeting patients, check-in, and obtaining accurate insurance/demographic information for a gynecological office.
- Front Desk, 9%
Front Desk Coordination/Reception/Outpatient/Inpatient Intake processor.
- Patient Care, 6%
Front office/receptionist duties-Scanning of archive files into EMR-collecting patient payments-appointment scheduling/reminding/cancellations-vital signs-scanning/faxing/copying/filing-medical record charting-patient care
- Insurance Verification, 6%
Scheduled appointments Answered phones Took and relayed messages Insurance verification Collected co-payments Documented new patient information into system Scheduled surgical procedures
Most front desk coordinators use their skills in "patients," "customer service," and "check-in" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential front desk coordinator responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a front desk coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "receptionists must speak and write clearly when providing information and corresponding with customers." Additionally, a front desk coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "check in and out patients , insurance claims , payments , patient communication, data entry. "
Computer skills. Another essential skill to perform front desk coordinator duties is computer skills. Front desk coordinators responsibilities require that "receptionists should be adept at using computers." Front desk coordinators also use computer skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "file insurance claims into the computer - type and send treatment plans to patients. "
Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of front desk coordinators is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday front desk coordinator duties, as "receptionists represent the organization, so they should be courteous, professional, and helpful to customers and the public." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "schedule patients process insurance claims and collect payments provide customer service"
Integrity. For certain front desk coordinator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "integrity." The day-to-day duties of a front desk coordinator rely on this skill, as "receptionists may handle confidential data, especially in medical and legal offices." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what front desk coordinators do: "trusted problem solver applying diplomacy in wide range of customer service issues involving phone and in-person clientele. "
Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in front desk coordinator job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what front desk coordinators do. Front desk coordinator responsibilities rely on this skill because "receptionists take messages, schedule appointments, and maintain employee files." You can also see how front desk coordinator duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "staff management, scheduling, strong customer service, time management & organizational skills. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill commonly found on front desk coordinator job descriptions is "interpersonal skills." It can come up quite often in front desk coordinator duties, since "receptionists should be comfortable interacting with people in different types of situations." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day front desk coordinator responsibilities: "exercised superb interpersonal, communication, time management and customer service skills. "
The three companies that hire the most front desk coordinators are:
- The Joint Chiropractic395 front desk coordinators jobs
- HealthTrust238 front desk coordinators jobs
- Robert Half90 front desk coordinators jobs
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Compare different front desk coordinators
Front desk coordinator vs. Scheduling coordinator
A scheduling coordinator is responsible for arranging the calendars and managing the appointments of a senior employee. Scheduling coordinators keep a record of meetings, reminding the key personnel as well as other participants of any schedule adjustments and cancellations. They are also responsible for booking venues for events and processing travel arrangements, following the specifications of the head personnel. A scheduling coordinator must be detail-oriented, as well as having excellent communication and organization skills to answer schedule queries and perform administrative tasks as needed.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, front desk coordinator responsibilities require skills like "check-in," "ehr," "strong customer service," and "patient flow." Meanwhile a typical scheduling coordinator has skills in areas such as "home health," "surgery," "patient appointments," and "payroll." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Scheduling coordinators really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $35,624. Comparatively, front desk coordinators tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,547.scheduling coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than front desk coordinators. In fact, scheduling coordinators are 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Front desk coordinator vs. Referral coordinator
A referral coordinator works with insurance companies and care providers to share essential patient information and assists primarily in scheduling appointments and managing health insurance issues. As a referral coordinator, you will work directly with the patient, patient families, or even social workers, depending on the job and patient needs. Other job responsibilities include general administrative or clerical tasks such as setting up appointments for new and existing patients, verifying insurance information before appointments, and answering phone calls.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that front desk coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "check-in," "patient flow," "pet," and "patient accounts." But a referral coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "emr," "appointment scheduling," "home health," and "referral process."
On average, referral coordinators earn a higher salary than front desk coordinators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, referral coordinators earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $35,297. Whereas front desk coordinators have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,547.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Referral coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than front desk coordinators. In fact, they're 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Front desk coordinator vs. Front desk receptionist
Front desk receptionists are usually the first contact of clients or visitors in an office or building. They are responsible for welcoming and receiving guests, documenting guests' arrival and updating the visitor logbook, informing hosts and other involved employees that the guests have arrived, and directing the guests to where they should go next. They also man telephone lines, schedule appointments, receive packages or mails, and answer office visitors' questions. Front desk receptionists are expected to be personable, knowledgeable on office-related activities, and familiar with everyone.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a front desk coordinator is likely to be skilled in "front desk," "patient care," "ehr," and "strong customer service," while a typical front desk receptionist is skilled in "reservations," "appointment scheduling," "patient appointments," and "emr."
Front desk receptionists earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $31,038. Front desk coordinators earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,547.When it comes to education, front desk receptionists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to front desk coordinators. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Front desk coordinator vs. Front office administrator
Front desk administrators work for different industries at the front desk of the front office area. They are responsible mostly for handling calls and transfers these calls to extension/local numbers. They manage booking travel appointments, answering inquiries, doing paperwork, and maintaining a professional image. They greet visitors and attend to visitors' inquiries. In addition, they assist other departments by performing other miscellaneous administrative tasks as required, and they often serve as ushers during client visits. Moreover, this job requires excellent interpersonal skills and good communication skills.
Types of front desk coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
