Medication coordinator vs patient liaison

The differences between medication coordinators and patient liaisons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a medication coordinator, becoming a patient liaison takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a medication coordinator has an average salary of $41,887, which is higher than the $32,314 average annual salary of a patient liaison.

The top three skills for a medication coordinator include patients, triage and HIPAA. The most important skills for a patient liaison are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Medication coordinator vs patient liaison overview

	Medication Coordinator	Patient Liaison
Yearly salary	$41,887	$32,314
Hourly rate	$20.14	$15.54
Growth rate	-8%	-4%
Number of jobs	67,303	84,302
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age	49	40
Years of experience	2	4

What does a medication coordinator do?

A medication care coordinator communicates on the job with basic knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy to ensure that patient medication plans are correct. Medication care coordinators establish relationships with healthcare clinic partners. They serve as liaisons between pharmacies and patients. Their skills to acquire include knowledge and experience in patient care, customer service, medical standards, and treatment plans. They should also develop strong communication skills, attention to detail, and patient relations.

What does a patient liaison do?

Patient Liaisons are intermediaries addressing concerns on behalf of patients and families working in tandem with the hospital administrator. They are responsible for gathering data regarding patient care issues and inquiries, assessing patient well-being, suggesting improvements, and interpreting hospital service, policies, and procedures to patients and families. Patient Liaisons also work to educate health care professionals in humanizing the hospital experience for patients. They work in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or programs related to public health.

Medication coordinator vs patient liaison salary

Medication coordinators and patient liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medication Coordinator	Patient Liaison
Average salary	$41,887	$32,314
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $62,000	Between $24,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	California	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Catholic Health Care System	Brigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Health Care

Differences between medication coordinator and patient liaison education

There are a few differences between a medication coordinator and a patient liaison in terms of educational background:

	Medication Coordinator	Patient Liaison
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	University of Pennsylvania

Medication coordinator vs patient liaison demographics

Here are the differences between medication coordinators' and patient liaisons' demographics:

	Medication Coordinator	Patient Liaison
Average age	49	40
Gender ratio	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%	Male, 16.2% Female, 83.8%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	7%

Differences between medication coordinator and patient liaison duties and responsibilities

Medication coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage patient's accounts collecting and billing financial statements, budgets and expertise with CPT and ICD-9 coding.
Manage inpatient transfers to rehabilitation and medical facilities, along with preparing and monitoring outpatient billings insurance verification and referrals.
Complete records after patients complete all medical appointments, typing intake forms and additional entries/forms, and obtain physician signatures.
Navigate effectively through an electronic medical records (EMR) system.
Develop plan for confidentiality of client and agency information through HIPAA guidelines.
Perform Medicare and Medicaid audits on members using company medical policy and establish criteria for H.C.F.A.

Patient liaison example responsibilities.

Provide support for emergencies by managing inappropriate behaviors, aggressive patients, CPR and persons in crisis.
Conduct all insurance verification and obtain authorization to treat sub-acute rehabilitation patients.
Attend Michigan state eligibility hearings, when necessary to assist and gain Medicaid disability benefits for patients.
Interview patients of hospital facility to obtain necessary documentation to secure Medicaid coverage as payment of inpatient hospital charges.
Set up payment plan, verify personal information per HIPAA guidelines.
Respect and maintain HIPPA and patient confidentiality and dignity of patients at all times.

Medication coordinator vs patient liaison skills

Common medication coordinator skills

Patients, 13%
Triage, 6%
HIPAA, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
Test Results, 5%
Vital Signs, 5%

Common patient liaison skills

Patients, 37%
Customer Service, 16%
Medical Terminology, 4%
Health System, 3%
HIPAA, 3%
Surgery, 2%

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Medication Coordinator vs Patient Liaison

Updated January 8, 2025

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