Patient advocate vs registration representative

The differences between patient advocates and registration representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a patient advocate and a registration representative. Additionally, a patient advocate has an average salary of $36,325, which is higher than the $34,021 average annual salary of a registration representative.

The top three skills for a patient advocate include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a registration representative are patients, medical terminology, and patient care.

Patient advocate vs registration representative overview

	Patient Advocate	Registration Representative
Yearly salary	$36,325	$34,021
Hourly rate	$17.46	$16.36
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	88,778	118,803
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a patient advocate do?

A patient advocate is responsible for supporting the patients with the medical processes in a healthcare institution, assisting them with insurance claims and medical billing disputes, verifying treatment procedures, and conducting referrals to medical professionals based on the patient's needs. Patient advocates facilitate a payment plan for the patients, discussing this plan to the financial department of the facility. They also address the patients' inquiries and concerns, as well as their complaints with hospital operations, immediately raising these issues to higher management.

What does a registration representative do?

In medical facilities, a registration representative serves as the patients' first point of contact in clinics and hospitals. They primarily greet patients, identify their needs, gather personal and medical information, and assist them in filling out forms. They must also handle admission and discharge procedures, process payments, arrange payment plans, and collect insurance information. Furthermore, as a registered representative, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Patient advocate vs registration representative salary

Patient advocates and registration representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Patient Advocate	Registration Representative
Average salary	$36,325	$34,021
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $45,000	Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Springfield, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Cognizant	UMass Memorial Health
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between patient advocate and registration representative education

There are a few differences between a patient advocate and a registration representative in terms of educational background:

	Patient Advocate	Registration Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Patient advocate vs registration representative demographics

Here are the differences between patient advocates' and registration representatives' demographics:

	Patient Advocate	Registration Representative
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5%	Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between patient advocate and registration representative duties and responsibilities

Patient advocate example responsibilities.

Manage the complaint process as required by CMS for the hospital.
Provide support for emergencies by managing inappropriate behaviors, aggressive patients, CPR and persons in crisis.
Train to welcome and register patients at ESI triage window.
Document patients medical problems using ICD 9 and CPT coding for patients diagnosis.
Pull any incoming referrals, triage them, and schedule patients with the appropriate doctor.
Collect and review patient information to determine patients' eligibility for Medicaid and charity program assistance.

Registration representative example responsibilities.

Work with third party payer requirements including Medicare, Medicaid (AHCCCS), manage care plans, and commercial plans.
Manage and update demographic and insurance information, including authorizations and referrals, while demonstrating HIPPA confidentiality regulations.
Verify eligibility and insurance benefits for patients, including Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and workers' compensation.
Maintain patient privacy in accordance with HIPAA with a high level of professionalism, compassion, productivity, and accuracy.
Maintain proficient level of knowledge regarding Medicare requirements, HIPAA compliance and reimbursement criteria.
Complete registration process for inpatients, outpatients, and emergency patients accurately and efficiently in accordance with policies and procedures.

Patient advocate vs registration representative skills

Common patient advocate skills

Patients, 28%
Customer Service, 11%
Patient Care, 5%
Medicaid, 4%
Financial Assistance, 4%
Patient Accounts, 4%

Common registration representative skills

Patients, 25%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Patient Care, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
Health Insurance, 5%
Patient Registration, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate vs Registration Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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