Patient representative vs registration representative

The differences between patient representatives 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 representative and a registration representative. Additionally, a registration representative has an average salary of $34,021, which is higher than the $32,469 average annual salary of a patient representative.

The top three skills for a patient representative include patients, check-in and medical terminology. The most important skills for a registration representative are patients, medical terminology, and patient care.

Patient representative vs registration representative overview

	Patient Representative	Registration Representative
Yearly salary	$32,469	$34,021
Hourly rate	$15.61	$16.36
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	137,803	118,803
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a patient representative do?

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.

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 representative vs registration representative salary

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

	Patient Representative	Registration Representative
Average salary	$32,469	$34,021
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $39,000	Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Massachusetts
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	UMass Memorial Health
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Health Care

Differences between patient representative and registration representative education

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

	Patient Representative	Registration Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Patient representative vs registration representative demographics

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

	Patient Representative	Registration Representative
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 14.1% Female, 85.9%	Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 5.8% White, 53.5% 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 representative and registration representative duties and responsibilities

Patient representative example responsibilities.

Code preoperative patients' surgical procedures according to surgeon's operative order by using CPT code book.
Develop physical and psychological rehabilitation programs for head trauma patients.
Assist uninsured and under-insure hospital patients in applying for government benefits including Medicaid and charity care programs.
Give patients preparations, take insurance information, and enter all necessary and relevant information into computer system.
Schedule appointments -Answered phones -provide care and compassion for patients -handle payments and maintain a proper transaction report daily
Greet patients upon arrival and pre-register visit ensuring patient does not have duplicate medical records.

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 representative vs registration representative skills

Common patient representative skills

Patients, 28%
Check-In, 8%
Medical Terminology, 5%
Patient Care, 5%
Insurance Verification, 4%
Patient Demographics, 3%

Common registration representative skills

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

Patient Representative vs. similar jobs

Patient Representative related careers

Patient Representative related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Patient Representative
Patient Representative vs Registration Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs