A registration representative assists and registers patients in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, collecting patient information and directing them to the appropriate location. They may also answer phones and maintain a filing system. This is an entry-level position with opportunities for promotion.
A registration representative typically refers to an individual who works in a hospital or other large healthcare facility, assisting and registering patients as they arrive. In some cases, this role can be used in other environments; everything from a person who helps students register for courses at a college or university, to an individual on a cruise ship who signs guests into their rooms upon arrival. However, these job descriptions for a registration representative are much less common. Most of the time, this person sees people in a hospital, whether they are for scheduled checkups or arriving for an emergency.
Most larger hospitals have two registration departments. Most likely, one will be located in an outpatient area where patients who are arriving at the hospital for scheduled tests and procedures will arrive for check-in. The second registration department will be located in the emergency department area. Each of these departments will likely have a registration representative on call at all times; most hospitals will have multiple representatives working at the same time so patients don’t have to wait. Staff working in the clinic may have more regular hours as it is unlikely to be open in the evenings.
On a daily basis, the registration representative greets patients as they enter the hospital or health facility. It will collect basic patient information such as name, address and emergency contact information. The representative will also enter insurance information into the computer and determine the reason for the patient’s visit. Once all of this information is collected, the registration representative will direct the patient to the appropriate location to receive treatment or attend the appointment. For this reason, it is necessary for the representative to have a thorough understanding of the facility and the different departments.
A registration representative may also be responsible for answering phones to answer patient questions, as well as maintaining a filing system, whether paper or digital. It is very important that anyone in this position is detail oriented and accountable, as well as discreet with confidential patient information. For anyone working in an emergency department, it is important to have the ability to remain calm and in control in stressful or upsetting situations. This is typically an entry-level position in most healthcare establishments, but there are often opportunities for promotion to different administrative areas.
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