Patient Representatives Go Back to List Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.

Tasks
	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.
	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.
	Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
	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.

Skills
	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.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Knowledge
	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.
	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.
	Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
	English Language - 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 - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	Public Safety and Security - 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.
	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.
	Clerical - 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.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.   Related Experience:   A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $48,156.00 $23.15  $15.56  $16.84 - $25.89  Bridgeport/Stamford $49,406.00 $23.76  $15.90  $17.29 - $27.54  Danbury $47,392.00 $22.79  $15.43  $16.79 - $25.29  Hartford $49,602.00 $23.85  $15.92  $17.62 - $25.91  New Haven $47,247.00 $22.71  $15.40  $16.64 - $25.45  New London/Norwich $41,112.00 $19.77  $14.50  $14.98 - $22.55  Waterbury $43,870.00 $21.09  $14.71  $15.49 - $23.59  Torrington $42,341.00 $20.36  $14.59  $15.50 - $23.05

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   3745   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, but the number of annual openings will offer excellent job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.