Patient Representatives
What is a Patient Representative?
Patient Representatives, often known as Patient Advocates or Patient Liaison Officers, are healthcare professionals who act as a bridge between patients and medical staff within healthcare facilities. Their primary role is to ensure that patients receive the appropriate care and support they need throughout their healthcare journey. They engage with patients to understand their concerns, preferences, and inquiries, and work to address these effectively, promoting a positive experience within the healthcare system.
Patient Representatives are responsible for facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers. They assist in navigating complex medical systems, help patients understand their rights, and provide information about treatment options and healthcare policies. They may also gather feedback from patients regarding their experiences and work with healthcare organizations to implement improvements based on this feedback.
In addition to direct patient communication, these representatives often participate in training sessions for healthcare staff, educating them on the importance of patient-centered care and effective communication techniques. They are committed to ensuring that patient voices are heard and considered in the decisions that affect their care, making them vital advocates for both individual patients and broader patient populations.
Overall, Patient Representatives play a crucial role in enhancing patient satisfaction, improving health outcomes, and fostering a healthcare environment that is respectful, supportive, and responsive to the needs of patients.
Tasks
- Coordinate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, or regulatory agencies.
- Interview patients or their representatives to identify problems relating to care.
- Refer patients to appropriate health care services or resources.
- Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.
- Explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using medical or administrative knowledge.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Word processing software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Electronic mail software
- Data base user interface and query software
Tools Used
- Photocopiers
- Scanners
- Notebook computers
- Laser printers
- Special purpose telephones
Knowledge
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Customer and Personal Service
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.
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Medicine and Dentistry
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.
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Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
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Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
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Psychology
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.
Skills
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Abilities
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
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Master's degree
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Bachelor's degree
Work Activities
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
- Coordinate operational activities.
- Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
- Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
- Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
- Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Work Interests
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Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$35890.0 - $79860.0
This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.