Registration representative vs patient coordinator

The differences between registration representatives and patient coordinators 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 coordinator. Additionally, a registration representative has an average salary of $34,021, which is higher than the $32,954 average annual salary of a patient coordinator.

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

Registration representative vs patient coordinator overview

	Registration Representative	Patient Coordinator
Yearly salary	$34,021	$32,954
Hourly rate	$16.36	$15.84
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	118,803	97,878
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
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 coordinator do?

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.

Registration representative vs patient coordinator salary

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

	Registration Representative	Patient Coordinator
Average salary	$34,021	$32,954
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $25,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Brockton, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Massachusetts
Best paying company	UMass Memorial Health	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between registration representative and patient coordinator education

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

	Registration Representative	Patient Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Registration representative vs patient coordinator demographics

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

	Registration Representative	Patient Coordinator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%	Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
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, 11.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 25.4% Asian, 6.2% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between registration representative and patient coordinator 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 coordinator example responsibilities.

Comply with HIPAA regulations by discreetly and professionally handling all patients private medical information.
Gather personal plus insurance information and perform thorough insurance breakdowns for patients.
Communicate directly with patients to obtain initial patient information and respond to inquiries.
Process and update HIPAA relate paperwork and other require institutional forms as necessary.
Obtain all necessary documentation prior to surgery such as proof of identification, copy of insurance and require insurance referrals.
Respond in writing to all grievances in accordance with CMS and DNV guidelines.

Registration representative vs patient coordinator skills

Common registration representative skills

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

Common patient coordinator skills

Patients, 30%
Customer Service, 11%
Patient Care, 6%
Patient Flow, 5%
Excellent Organizational, 4%
Check-In, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Registration Representative
Registration Representative vs Patient Coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

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