Medical clerk vs patient access representative

The differences between medical clerks and patient access representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a medical clerk, becoming a patient access representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a patient access representative has an average salary of $33,603, which is higher than the $32,439 average annual salary of a medical clerk.

The top three skills for a medical clerk include patients, medical terminology and data entry. The most important skills for a patient access representative are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Medical clerk vs patient access representative overview

	Medical Clerk	Patient Access Representative
Yearly salary	$32,439	$33,603
Hourly rate	$15.60	$16.16
Growth rate	-8%	-4%
Number of jobs	166,322	151,077
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	49	40
Years of experience	2	4

What does a medical clerk do?

A medical clerk works in the administrative area of a medical facility or hospital. The medical clerk collects all patient information and medical records. The clerk also does all the clinic or hospital paperwork and generates reports of all transactions that transpired in a day's work. The medical clerk also processes admission and discharge papers, medical charts, properly file and safeguard all patient records and secure them from unauthorized access. The medical clerk is expected to be highly organized, capable of handling pressure, and has good communication skills.

What does a patient access representative do?

A Patient Access Representative is the first point of contact of a patient in a hospital facility. Among the duties include the checking-in and out of a patient, gathering a patient's information for the Doctors and Nurses to use, communicates with the patient's family or caregivers, and processes insurance billing. Most of the time, A Patient Access Representative encounters the critically ill or injured which is why one must possess great communication skills and compassion.

Medical clerk vs patient access representative salary

Medical clerks and patient access representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Clerk	Patient Access Representative
Average salary	$32,439	$33,603
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Springfield, MA
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Brinks Gilson	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between medical clerk and patient access representative education

There are a few differences between a medical clerk and a patient access representative in terms of educational background:

	Medical Clerk	Patient Access Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	University of Pennsylvania

Medical clerk vs patient access representative demographics

Here are the differences between medical clerks' and patient access representatives' demographics:

	Medical Clerk	Patient Access Representative
Average age	49	40
Gender ratio	Male, 15.5% Female, 84.5%	Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	7%

Differences between medical clerk and patient access representative duties and responsibilities

Medical clerk example responsibilities.

Evaluate all EOB's to insure accurate payment is received and when necessary will file appeals to achieve optimal payments.
Follow HIPPA patient confidentiality guidelines making patients or facility have filled proper forms to release records.
File results of laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's, etc., in patients records.
Respond and resolve patient inquiries with compassion and patience.
Prepare request for EKG tests, eye examinations, audio and dental records.
Enter deficiencies into MediTech program.

Patient access representative example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPPA and clinic.
Conduct intensive screening of all Medicare, Medicaid and manage care patients for provider service eligibility.
Educate eligible applicants about Medicaid manage care and how to access benefits in a manage care environment.
Run internal reports to ensure ICD 9 and CPT procedure codes are accurate for billing for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Deliver quality customer service and compassion while obtaining demographic and financial data from patients seeking emergency medical services.
Operate front desk check-in, preparation of charts, receive payments and balance books at the end of the day.

Medical clerk vs patient access representative skills

Common medical clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Data Entry, 6%
Phone Calls, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Telephone Calls, 3%

Common patient access representative skills

Patients, 20%
Customer Service, 13%
Medical Terminology, 9%
Patient Care, 5%
Patient Registration, 5%
Insurance Verification, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Medical Clerk
Medical Clerk vs Patient Access Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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