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Utilization review nurse vs utilization coordinator

The differences between utilization review nurses and utilization coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a utilization review nurse, becoming a utilization coordinator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a utilization review nurse has an average salary of $65,425, which is higher than the $47,791 average annual salary of a utilization coordinator.

The top three skills for a utilization review nurse include medical necessity, patients and acute care. The most important skills for a utilization coordinator are patients, utilization management, and patient care.

Utilization review nurse vs utilization coordinator overview

Utilization Review NurseUtilization Coordinator
Yearly salary$65,425$47,791
Hourly rate$31.45$22.98
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs29,77627,605
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age4447
Years of experience26

What does a utilization review nurse do?

The primary role of an Utilization Review Nurse is to analyze the condition of each patient carefully and decide if the patient still needs to stay in the hospital or be sent home. They deal with patients' relatives, doctors, and people from insurance companies.

What does a utilization coordinator do?

Utilization coordinators are healthcare professionals who coordinate the effective use of health care services as well as review the medical care of inpatient hospitalizations. These coordinators are required to provide scheduling conflict information to their supervisors to alleviate any potential issues with the schedules of physicians that would interrupt patient care. They must provide information education to nursing and medical staff about the issues of utilization. Utilization coordinators must also perform clerical duties and utilize customized data entry programs to assist the claims department with data entry of claims.

Utilization review nurse vs utilization coordinator salary

Utilization review nurses and utilization coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Utilization Review NurseUtilization Coordinator
Average salary$65,425$47,791
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $89,000Between $35,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityAlameda, CAEverett, WA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandMassachusetts
Best paying companyMolina HealthcareLoudoun Water
Best paying industryHealth CareConstruction

Differences between utilization review nurse and utilization coordinator education

There are a few differences between a utilization review nurse and a utilization coordinator in terms of educational background:

Utilization Review NurseUtilization Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke University-

Utilization review nurse vs utilization coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between utilization review nurses' and utilization coordinators' demographics:

Utilization Review NurseUtilization Coordinator
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 8.5% Female, 91.5%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between utilization review nurse and utilization coordinator duties and responsibilities

Utilization review nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Case management for acute patients refer to LTC
  • Advise insurance carriers on recommend reimbursement for charges following automate bill audit utilizing ICD-9 and CPT codes.
  • Provide caregiver oversight relate to care, medication administration and emergency situations.
  • Identify inappropriate utilization of services/settings through the application of establish clinical criteria using InterQual and CMS guidelines for medical necessity.
  • Direct contact with IPA providers.
  • Show more

Utilization coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate authorization of denial letters and request for appeals with all levels of services.
  • Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
  • Perform accurate verification of eligibility and benefits as well as advanced application of CPT, ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
  • Assign accurate ICD-9 and CPT codes to request services for referral and authorization processing.
  • Claim adjudication for assign HMO members.
  • Provide orientation to pre-certification process for HMO, PPO, and POS members.
  • Show more

Utilization review nurse vs utilization coordinator skills

Common utilization review nurse skills
  • Medical Necessity, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 7%
  • Utilization Management, 6%
  • Utilization Review, 6%
Common utilization coordinator skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Utilization Management, 11%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Utilization Review, 5%

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