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Patient service representative vs patient liaison

The differences between patient service representatives and patient liaisons 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 service representative and a patient liaison. Additionally, a patient service representative has an average salary of $32,476, which is higher than the $32,314 average annual salary of a patient liaison.

The top three skills for a patient service representative include patients, customer service and excellent interpersonal. The most important skills for a patient liaison are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Patient service representative vs patient liaison overview

Patient Service RepresentativePatient Liaison
Yearly salary$32,476$32,314
Hourly rate$15.61$15.54
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs165,92084,302
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

What does a patient service representative do?

A Patient Service Representative is responsible for coordinating with patients, ensuring accuracy and satisfaction at all times. The duties of a Patient Service Representative revolves around greeting and responding to patients, offering assistance in documentation, gathering and maintaining their personal information, and even communicating with the family or guardian. They also have to collect payments and process insurance details, obtain medical history, and even keep the patients updated in various aspects. Aside from this, it is crucial for a Representative coordinate with supervisors or personnel in-charge at all times.

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.

Patient service representative vs patient liaison salary

Patient service representatives and patient liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.

Patient Service RepresentativePatient Liaison
Average salary$32,476$32,314
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $38,000Between $24,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateVermontMassachusetts
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between patient service representative and patient liaison education

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

Patient Service RepresentativePatient Liaison
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Patient service representative vs patient liaison demographics

Here are the differences between patient service representatives' and patient liaisons' demographics:

Patient Service RepresentativePatient Liaison
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 11.9% Female, 88.1%Male, 16.2% Female, 83.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between patient service representative and patient liaison duties and responsibilities

Patient service representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage the daily release of charges to A/R.
  • Adhere with all state and federal regulations such as EMTALA and HIPPA requirements and appropriately collect co-payments and deductibles from patients.
  • Provide caring and compassion to elderly and developmentally disable patients.
  • Demonstrate respect, compassion and confidentiality for patients and family members.
  • Provide professional and accurate service to schedule patient appointments, check-in and verify insurance eligibility.
  • Provide quality customer service to patients and observe all protocols regarding HIPPA regulations to ensure patient confidentiality.
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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.
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Patient service representative vs patient liaison skills

Common patient service representative skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • Check-In, 7%
  • Patient Service, 6%
  • Excellent Organizational, 6%
Common patient liaison skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Medical Terminology, 4%
  • Health System, 3%
  • HIPAA, 3%
  • Surgery, 2%

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