If you're organized, have a talent for scheduling and processes, and want to work in the healthcare industry, then a career as a hospital patient registration specialist might be right for you.
Patient Registration Job Description
A hospital patient registration specialist collects patient information and performs several administrative functions, from verifying insurance to executing admissions, transfer, and discharge procedures. This professional must remain calm and efficient since his or her work is often performed in a fast-paced environment where time is of the essence. A certificate or diploma program, along with administrative experience in a medical environment, can prepare an individual for this career.
| Required Education | None mandatory; certificate and diploma programs in health information technology and related fields are available and are preferred by some employers |
| Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)* | 11% for medical records and health information technicians |
| Median Annual Salary (2019)** | $33,182 for patient registrars |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com
Salary Information
According to PayScale.com, patient registrars earn a median salary of about $33,182 a year, as of September 2019. The highest paid 10% earn over $46,000 annually, while the lowest paid 10% earn less than $23,000. Salaries for this position vary depending on the size of the hospital or healthcare facility, the amount of job responsibility, and each specialist's level of experience.
Job Duties
A hospital patient registration specialist is often one of the first people a patient sees when entering a hospital. In addition to accurately gathering information from clients, hospital patient registration specialists execute various administrative functions, such as reception and clerical work.
Registration specialists help assign beds and carry out procedures to admit, transfer, or discharge patients. They also input patient information into a computer system and verify necessary physician referrals and insurance authorizations. All tasks must be performed with close adherence to both hospital rules and regulatory compliance. Hospital patient registration specialists must make sure that clients properly fill out and sign all relevant insurance and hospital release forms.
The job also requires that the registration specialist explain financial options to patients. It also might involve the collection and processing of payments. Additionally, a hospital patient registration specialist must keep an accurate record of payments received and then provide patients' insurance companies with the proper paperwork that reflects all related transactions.
Job Requirements
Hospitals are often interested in candidates with experience in patient registration, insurance verification, or both, combined with relevant education. Training programs are available, and they often provide students with the opportunity to gain work experience in a hospital or clinical setting while still in school.
Education
While a college degree is not typically required for hospital patient registration specialists, a certificate or diploma program at a vocational or business college can help provide the training and experience necessary to obtain one of these positions. These programs teach the medical terminology necessary for the field as well as the communication and computer skills to register patients and outpatients in various areas of the hospital.
Skills
The following skills and aspects of professionalism enable hospital patient registration specialists to successfully perform their jobs:
- Ability to multitask
- Knowledge of basic mathematics and payment processing
- Computer experience, with fast, accurate typing skills
- Strong organization abilities and attention to detail
- Outstanding customer service skills
- Ability to remain calm and professional, even in emergency situations
- Understanding of medical terminology and standard insurance forms
Patient Service Representative
A similar career to a patient registration specialist is that of a patient service representative. These professionals perform similar duties and responsibilities but can work in other medical settings, such as a doctor's office, optometrist, or clinic.
Patient registration specialists are often the first person a patient sees in a hospital. They are tasked with a variety of important functions, including collecting insurance information, explaining hospital forms and financial options, and coordinating discharge procedures. While there are typically no degree requirements, certificate programs exist to train potential patient registration specialists in the skills necessary for the job.
