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29-2099.08 - Patient Representatives


Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
102,200
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
125,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
+23,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+23.1%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using medical or administrative knowledge.
  • Coordinate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, or regulatory agencies.
  • Investigate and direct patient inquiries or complaints to appropriate medical staff members and follow up to ensure satisfactory resolution.
  • Interview patients or their representatives to identify problems relating to care.
  • Refer patients to appropriate health care services or resources.
  • Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
  • Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.
Supplemental
  • Analyze patients' abilities to pay to determine charges on a sliding scale.
  • Collect and report data on topics, such as patient encounters or inter-institutional problems, making recommendations for change when appropriate.
  • Teach patients to use home health care equipment.
  • Identify and share research, recommendations, or other information regarding legal liabilities, risk management, or quality of care.
  • Provide consultation or training to volunteers or staff on topics, such as guest relations, patients' rights, or medical issues.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 89%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 77%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 76%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Clerical
  • 73%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Psychology
  • 72%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Administration and Management
  • 69%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 68%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 66%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Education and Training
  • 64%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Therapy and Counseling
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
 Telecommunications
  • 57%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Mathematics
  • 55%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 54%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Communications and Media
  • 51%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
  • Laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Photocopying equipment
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Admissions, discharge, and transfer ADT software
  • Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System
  • Epic SystemsHOT
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCSHOT
  • Henry Schein DentrixHOT
  • Medical condition coding softwareHOT
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • MEDITECH softwareHOT
  • Patient satisfaction assessment software
  • Peminic Patient Safety & Quality Suite
  • PracticeWorks Systems Kodak WINOMS CS
 Data management and query software
  • CareOne CareEnsure
  • Complaint management software
  • Customer Expressions i-Sight
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Database software
  • Manhattan Cross Cultural Group Quality Interactions
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Pemimic Patient Relations Suite
  • Prognosis Solutions ResolvPRM
  • rL Solutions Feedback MonitorPro
 Business function specific software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • FaceTime
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Scheduling software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
 Operating environment software
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
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Central Virginia Community College
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Eastern Shore Community College
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Germanna Community College
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
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Laurel Ridge Community College
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Mountain Empire Community College
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Mountain Gateway Community College
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New River Community College
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Northern Virginia Community College
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Piedmont Virginia Community College
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Southside Virginia Community College
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Southwest Virginia Community College
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