Registration representative vs patient care representative

The differences between registration representatives and patient care 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 registration representative and a patient care representative. Additionally, a registration representative has an average salary of $34,021, which is higher than the $33,709 average annual salary of a patient care representative.

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

Registration representative vs patient care representative overview

	Registration Representative	Patient Care Representative
Yearly salary	$34,021	$33,709
Hourly rate	$16.36	$16.21
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	118,803	133,317
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

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.

What does a patient care representative do?

PCRs (Patient Care Representatives) are given responsibilities like updating and verifying patient information after every visit, scheduling and reminding patients about appointments, and informing patients about delays and how long the estimated waiting times will be. They are also responsible for obtaining patients' personal information like their address, contact details, insurance information, and medical and surgical history. They must be able to communicate with patients, family members, and medical staff to give them all the information they need to treat the person looking for medical help.

Registration representative vs patient care representative salary

Registration representatives and patient care representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Registration Representative	Patient Care Representative
Average salary	$34,021	$33,709
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Alaska
Best paying company	UMass Memorial Health	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between registration representative and patient care representative education

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

	Registration Representative	Patient Care Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Registration representative vs patient care representative demographics

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

	Registration Representative	Patient Care Representative
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%	Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between registration representative and patient care representative duties and responsibilities

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 care representative example responsibilities.

Manage cash and co-payments accurately and discharge patients providing them with proper medical notes and information before exiting.
Verify insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, register patients, and code proper ICD-9 and CPT codes on encounters.
Utilize medical terminology, CPT, HCPC and ICD-9 and patient information into new authorizations.
Interview patients to gather information pertinent to their Medicaid application.
Screen, identify, and enter ICD-9 coding from treatment record forms.
Maintain patient confidentiality and follow HIPAA rules.

Registration representative vs patient care representative skills

Common registration representative skills

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

Common patient care representative skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Home Health, 7%
Cash Management, 5%
Phone Calls, 4%
CPT, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Registration Representative
Registration Representative vs Patient Care Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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