How do I Become a Patient Service Coordinator?

Individuals who want to work as a patient service coordinator can take a variety of routes that include either experience, education, or a combination of the two. Medical billing and coding experience is frequently desired for this position. Patient service coordinators deal with medical records and files on a regular basis, as well as providing customer service for a hospital or other health care facility.

A basic high school diploma is required for becoming a patient service coordinator. Some programs, such as college associate’s degrees, offer certification or other concrete qualifications for becoming a professional patient service coordinator above this level of education. Most of the rest of what qualifies individuals for this kind of career consists of hands-on experience in a medical setting, including handling patient scheduling, data requests, or diverse service provisions like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance, or providing concessions.

Although a patient service coordinator is often in charge of the customer service aspects of a patient’s visit, much of what they do is related to health insurance and billing. That’s why working in a hospital insurance department or other similar office is one path to becoming a patient service coordinator. Professionals who are familiar with the intricacies of medical billing will be better equipped to assist patients with the process of submitting medical bills for payment by their insurance companies. This is frequently a part of the services provided by a patient service staff member, as is general patient registration, in which these professionals collect information from a patient upon arrival.

A previous background in customer service may qualify someone to work as a patient service coordinator in some cases. This role may include directing patients through physical parts of a care system, explaining treatments and procedures, or speaking with family members about a patient’s care in some health care facilities. Because the focus of this role is on assisting patients in navigating their health care experiences, good people skills can be beneficial for someone who wants to become a patient service coordinator. Patient service coordinators might also serve in a consultant role, suggesting best practices for routing patient traffic, or how to improve the layout or other aspects of a facility for overall accessibility; a greater involvement in hospital administration may be an incentive for someone to become a patient service coordinator.