OVERVIEW
What is a Patient Care Coordinator?
听
A patient care coordinator, also known as a care coordinator or patient navigator, helps manage a patient鈥檚 healthcare and treatment needs while also maintaining open lines of communication between a patient and their healthcare providers.
A patient care coordinator works in many different capacities on behalf of patients, including ensuring patients鈥� needs are met, handling administrative responsibilities, managing human resources and public relations duties, and assisting with a patient鈥檚 case management.
In this role, patient care coordinators can work for hospitals, doctors鈥� and dentists鈥� offices, nursing care facilities, and specialty care centers.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Patient Care Coordinator Do?
In a nutshell, a patient care coordinator acts as a liaison between patients and their healthcare providers while managing all the details of a patient鈥檚 care. As a result, some of the position鈥檚 typical day-to-day responsibilities include:
- Developing healthcare programs.
- Helping patients complete paperwork.
- Educating patients about their healthcare options.
- Maintaining open lines of communication between patients, their families, and healthcare providers.
- Managing each patient鈥檚 case while maintaining confidentiality.
- Hiring and training staff.
- Educating patients about their care.
- Providing referrals to specialists.
- Supporting concerns from parents, including communicating between a child鈥檚 primary care physician and other service providers.
- Monitoring a patient鈥檚 progress toward their healthcare goals.
- Making sure a patient receives high-quality care.
- Solving a wide array of problems when they arise.
- Recruiting and training staff.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Patient Care Coordinator?
To become a patient care coordinator, you鈥檒l likely need to obtain a听bachelor's degree in health and human services听or a related area of study. Care coordinators benefit greatly from practical experience in clinical settings, as well as an understanding of the business considerations of healthcare. Still, it鈥檚 important to emphasize that education needs largely depend on each employer鈥檚 requirements.
With these details in mind,听, while 9.3% have master's degrees. Each of these programs helps students learn about medical coding, finance, office procedures, and transcription to prepare for their job as a patient care coordinator.
Best Degrees for a听Patient Care Coordinator
Health & Nursing
Health and Human Services 鈥� B.S.
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a...
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a difference for patients in a variety of ways.
- Time:听63% of students finish this program in 24 months
- Tuition:听$4,210 per 6-month term
- Courses:听35 total courses in this program
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Epidemiology
- Community and Public Health
- Cultural Awareness
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare Values and Ethics
- Substance Abuse Support
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
How Much Does a Patient Care Coordinator Make?
$42,641
According to ZipRecruiter,听听of $42,641 per year. This number includes a low of $25,500 and a high of $60,000 annually. Location, level of experience, and level of education all influence how much a patient care coordinator is paid.
What is the Projected Job Growth?
8%
Indeed.com reports: "While the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't report employment data for patient care coordinators, it does report data for medical records and health information technicians. These professionals share administrative roles with patient care coordinators. According to听the BLS, ."
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Patient Care Coordinator Need?
Patient care coordinators need a wide variety of skills to adequately perform their job duties and address patient鈥檚 needs. Some of the most common include:
- Medical knowledge听鈥� Because patient care coordinators are tasked with communicating information between patients and providers while also answering questions about a patient鈥檚 concerns, they need to have a working familiarity with medical terminology, conditions, and treatment options. However, most positions don鈥檛 require patient care coordinators to maintain medical expertise, which is left in the hands of physicians.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills听鈥� Without solid verbal and written skills, patient care coordinators can鈥檛 effectively communicate between patients and their healthcare providers.
- Computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office听鈥� Part of communicating effectively involves working with computers and the Microsoft Office suite, so patient care coordinators must be proficient.
- Customer service听鈥� Care coordinators need to be able to address a patient鈥檚 concerns and determine the best solutions quickly, whether over the phone, through email, or in person.
- Compassionate and empathetic nature听 鈥� Patient care coordinators need to understand what patients are going through, empathize with their needs, and respond compassionately. This helps ensure patients comply with their prescribed treatment plans while also creating a level of trust.
- Above-average critical thinking skills听鈥� The outcomes of a patient鈥檚 treatment plans can largely hinge on a care coordinator鈥檚 decision-making skills since they can impact many different steps in the process, including the best ways for patients to continue their treatment or recover from their illnesses.
- Organization and attention to detail听鈥� Patient care coordinators work with several patients at the same time, including their financial data, medical history, prescription medications, treatment plans, and multiple nurses and primary care providers. Thus, patient care coordinators need to remain organized and pay attention to details to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
- Analytical skills听鈥� Patient care coordinators need to have strong analytical skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently.
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at 黑料传送门 year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree鈥攕ooner than you might think!
Next Start Date
{{startdate}}
Interested in Becoming a Patient Care Coordinator?
Learn more about degree programs that can prepare you for this meaningful career.
