How to hire a patient relations manager

How to hire a patient relations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step patient relations manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a patient relations manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new patient relations manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The patient relations manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A patient relations manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, patient relations managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of patient relations managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Patient Relations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Patient Relations Manager	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.	$12-32
   Registration Representative	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... Show more	$12-20
   Manager	Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more	$17-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Patient Care
   • Patient Relations
   • Service Recovery
   • Patient Rights
   • Patient Complaints
   • CMS
   • Risk Management
   • Medicaid
   • Patient Safety
   • Compassion
   • Phone Calls
   • Customer Service

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage PSR staff and perform all PSR functions including registration, check-out, medical records, order entry and procedure scheduling.
   • Lead interdisciplinary teams working on quality improvement initiatives and prepare for a JCAHO survey.
   • Provide excellent customer service in a medical institution and ensure all patients are well attend.
   • Oversee electronic medical records system and HIPPA compliance.
   • Maintain CMS and regulatory compliance with the grievance process.
   • Scan and file medical records in accordance with HIPAA protocols.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your patient relations manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A patient relations manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, patient relations managers' average salary in arkansas is 61% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level patient relations managers earn 60% less than senior-level patient relations managers.
   • Certifications. A patient relations manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a patient relations manager's salary.

   Average patient relations manager salary

   $43,633yearly

   $20.98 hourly rate

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   Entry-level patient relations manager salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

4. Writing a patient relations manager job description

   A patient relations manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a patient relations manager job description:

   Patient relations manager job description example

   Adventist Health is more than an award-winning health system. We provide whole-person care to our communities and champion the greater good - from the operating room to the boardroom, we are driven by our unique passion to live God's love through health, wholeness and hope. From Oregon to Oahu, we have a calling to always do more. Now is your chance to apply your passion to our mission.
   We're looking for someone to join our team as a Manager, Physician Relations who:
   
   Coordinates, develops, and implements the organization's strategies related to physician integration and development and practice support services. Directs the expansion of the managed care delivery network and the access to medical services in the organization's surrounding communities. Executes and manages all strategies to enhance relations between potential and current medical staff members. Supervises and directs the activities of various levels of assigned personnel using both professional and supervisory discretion and independent judgment.
   
   Essential Functions:
   
   * Builds, cultivates and strengthens relationships with individual physicians, clinics, physician groups and staff, and the broader community. Analyzes organization and physician related volume/activity on a regular basis. Provides support to administration and service line directors to assist organization in meeting growth strategies as outlined in the organization's strategic plan.
   * Coordinates implementation of a physician outreach and retention program. Ensures ongoing identification of new physicians for recruitment or redirection from other facilities into key product lines.
   * Works to increase visibility of organizational referrals and increase referrals. Coordinates ongoing physician relations activities including, but not limited to, networking meetings, luncheons, special events and seminars.
   * Participates in educational and self-development activities to enhance professional growth.
   * Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
   
   You'll be successful with the following qualifications:
   
   Education:
   
   * Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education/related experience: Required
   * Master's Degree: Preferred
   
   Work Experience:
   
   * Five years relevant healthcare experience: Preferred
   * One year's leadership experience: Preferred
   
   Adventist Health is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our associates and patients. Therefore, we require that all associates receive all required vaccinations, including, but not limited to, measles, mumps, flu (based on the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine typically during October-March each year), COVID-19 vaccine (required in CA, HI and OR) etc., as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter. Medical and religious exemptions may apply.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find patient relations managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any patient relations managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level patient relations managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your patient relations manager job on Zippia to find and recruit patient relations manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit patient relations managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new patient relations manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect patient relations manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new patient relations manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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