What does a patient care specialist do?
A patient service or care specialist works at different medical facilities. Primary responsibilities include checking patients in and out, scheduling follow-up appointments as well as checking patient eligibility for services or programs. Patient service specialists should maintain a systematic referral log to correlate patient referrals to other specialists. Applicants for the job should have the basic computer knowledge to effectively manage data of patient's files, knowledge of medical terminologies, and possess good interpersonal and customer service skills.
Patient care specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real patient care specialist resumes:
- Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
- Utilize software applications to document call interactions using medical terminology and responsible for initially engaging patients by explaining the services.
- Verify CPT codes along with diagnosis code for guarantee payment for surgeries.
- Process daily fee tickets and correctly enter office visit ICD 9 and CPT codes into the system for billing.
- Adhere to HIPPA confidentiality guidelines.
- Track Medicaid eligibility of clients.
- Verify insurance information for Medicaid recipients.
- Maintain HIPAA standards and confidentiality of protect health information.
- Capture patient information securely, while operating within HIPPA regulations.
- Engage PharmMD's patients and scheduling an appointment for a person-to-person medication therapy counseling provide by clinically license agents.
- Coordinate check-in processes by contacting insurance providers to verify correct insurance information and get authorization for proper billing codes.
- Practice time management and multitasking, becoming resourceful in overcoming obstacles in both the administrative and clinical setting.
Patient care specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 33% of Patient Care Specialists are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Patient Care Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 33%
Utilized software applications to document call interactions using medical terminology and responsible for initially engaging patients by explaining the services.
- Patient Care, 17%
Collaborated with Director and Patient Care Manager to assure competent staff performance to promote quality patient outcomes.
- Data Entry, 5%
Performed various administrative duties including data entry, document preparation, and appointment scheduling.
- Medical Terminology, 4%
Performed computer, telephone and medical terminology skills to interact with patients.
- CPT, 2%
Processed daily fee tickets and correctly entered office visit ICD 9 and CPT codes into the system for billing.
- CPR, 2%
Maintain RDA License and CPR certification by attending educational workshops and reviewing professional publications.
Common skills that a patient care specialist uses to do their job include "patients," "patient care," and "data entry." You can find details on the most important patient care specialist responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a patient care specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what patient care specialists do because "customer service representatives must be able to provide clear information in writing, by phone, or in person." Additionally, a patient care specialist resume shows how patient care specialists use communication skills: "provide communication with doctors and nursing staff to ensure patient care and safety. "
Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of patient care specialists is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday patient care specialist duties, as "representatives help companies retain customers by professionally answering questions and helping to resolve complaints." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assist customers with processing of insurance claims and collecting payments. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what patient care specialists do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to patient care specialist responsibilities because "representatives should be able to create positive interactions with customers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical patient care specialist tasks: "use excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with patients & staff in a professional manner. "
Listening skills. Another common skill required for patient care specialist responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of patient care specialists all the time, as "representatives must listen carefully to ensure that they understand customers in order to assist them." An excerpt from a real patient care specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a patient care specialist does: "communicated about patient care to medical assistants, registered nurses, and physicians. "
Patience. While "patience" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to patient care specialist responsibilities. Much of what a patient care specialist does relies on this skill, seeing as "representatives should be patient and polite, especially when interacting with dissatisfied customers." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of patient care specialists: "provided the upmost patient care with patience, understanding and empathy. "
The three companies that hire the most patient care specialists are:
- Apria Healthcare24 patient care specialists jobs
- Houston Methodist12 patient care specialists jobs
- Trinity Health12 patient care specialists jobs
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Compare different patient care specialists
Patient care specialist vs. Patient advocate
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a patient care specialist are more likely to require skills like "cpr," "departmental policies," "home health," and "quality care." On the other hand, a job as a patient advocate requires skills like "financial assistance," "financial counselors," "english language," and "government agencies." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Patient advocates really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $35,016. Comparatively, patient care specialists tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $32,483.On average, patient advocates reach similar levels of education than patient care specialists. Patient advocates are 3.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Patient care specialist vs. Patient coordinator
A patient coordinator functions as the primary point of contact between health care professionals and patients in a medical facility. They mostly perform administrative tasks such as greeting visitors, answering calls, responding to inquiries, managing schedules, arranging appointments, processing payments, gathering information, and keeping records. Moreover, they assist in filling out forms, escorting patients to different rooms or offices, and setting treatment plans. Most importantly, they discuss and share necessary information with patients and families regarding medications, procedures, and proceeding care according to a physician's assessment.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, patient care specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cpr," "emr," "departmental policies," and "home health." Meanwhile, a patient coordinator has duties that require skills in areas such as "excellent organizational," "check-in," "pet," and "taking care." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Patient coordinators may earn a lower salary than patient care specialists, but patient coordinators earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $33,131. On the other hand, patient care specialists receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,483.In general, patient coordinators achieve similar levels of education than patient care specialists. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patient care specialist vs. Patient representative
A patient representative is responsible for assisting the patients with their health care needs by identifying their medical concerns, assessing their medical history, and referring them to the appropriate physicians or other medical professionals for immediate treatments and further examinations. Patient representatives verify the patients' insurance information, guiding them on filling out medical forms, processing payments for medical services, and updating them for the release of medical results. A patient representative must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when responding to patient's inquiries and concerns timely and accurately, and performing additional administrative and clerical tasks as needed.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, patient care specialists are more likely to have skills like "cpr," "departmental policies," "quality care," and "provides administrative support." But a patient representative is more likely to have skills like "check-in," "patient registration," "strong customer service," and "excellent interpersonal."
Patient representatives earn the best pay in the non profits industry, where they command an average salary of $34,572. Patient care specialists earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $32,483.Most patient representatives achieve a similar degree level compared to patient care specialists. For example, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patient care specialist vs. Insurance verification specialist
An insurance verification specialist is responsible for confirming a patient's insurance details and eligibility to receive medical care services. Insurance verification specialists review the insurance documents of the patients, including its coverage and limitations, and escalate concerns to the supervisor for immediate resolution. They process paperwork accordingly upon coordinating with the patients and attending health professionals. An insurance verification specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, finishing administrative tasks efficiently under minimal supervision.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between patient care specialists and insurance verification specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a patient care specialist might have more use for skills like "patient care," "cpr," "departmental policies," and "vital signs." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of insurance verification specialists require skills like "health insurance," "patient insurance coverage," "medical procedures," and "insurance carriers. "
Insurance verification specialists enjoy the best pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $35,651. For comparison, patient care specialists earn the highest salary in the health care industry.The average resume of insurance verification specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to patient care specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.4%.Types of patient care specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
