What does a Patient Coordinator do?
Published 3 min read
A patient coordinator is a medical professional who helps to ensure that patients receive the care and treatment they need. They work with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to ensure that patients are seen in a timely manner and that their needs are met.
Patient Coordinator job duties include:
- Schedule and confirm patient appointments
- Verify patient insurance coverage
- Pre-authorize insurance coverage for procedures
- Obtain referrals from primary care physicians
- Check in patients and collect co-payments
- Answer patient questions and address concerns
- Update patient records
- Prepare charts for upcoming appointments
- Transcribe physician orders
- Manage correspondence with patients
Patient Coordinator Job Requirements
A Patient Coordinator typically has a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may require postsecondary education, and must complete on-the-job training. They must have excellent customer service skills to deal with patients and their families, as well as good organizational skills to keep track of medical records and appointments. Some Patient Coordinators may also be responsible for billing and insurance claims, so knowledge of medical coding is also helpful.
Patient Coordinator Skills
- Patient Scheduling
- Answering Phones
- Verifying Insurance
- Collecting Co-Payments
- Scheduling Appointments
- Greeting Patients
- Updating Patient Records
- Scanning Documents
- Filing
- Faxing
- Pulling Medical Charts
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How to become a Patient Coordinator
A Patient Coordinator is a professional who helps to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. They work with doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to coordinate patient care. They also keep track of patients’ medical records and make sure that they are up to date.
Becoming a Patient Coordinator requires at least a bachelor’s degree in health administration or a related field. Many Patient Coordinators have a master’s degree in health administration or a related field. Some Patient Coordinators are certified by the American Nurses Association or other professional organizations.
The best way to prepare for a career as a Patient Coordinator is to get experience working in a hospital or other health care setting. Many Patient Coordinators start their careers as nurses or medical assistants. Working in these roles will give you the opportunity to learn about the coordination of patient care and the medical records system.
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