Patient Access Representative

Become a Patient Access Representative and get CMAA and CEHRS Certified

Want to play an integral role in healthcare? This 100% online course will allow you to train to become a Patient Access Representative, someone who acts as a liaison between healthcare professionals and patients to improve the patient experience. You’ll gain the knowledge necessary to navigate complex healthcare systems as well as hands-on training in an electronic healthcare simulator with little or no prior healthcare experience.

In addition to gaining the skills you will need to obtain a job in healthcare, you’ll also receive comprehensive training that will fully prepare you to pass the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) certification exams offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)—all in 12 months or less. Vouchers for both of these exams are even included in the cost of your course.

Job Outlook for Opticians

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that job demand for patient access representatives and similar positions will increase by 7% through 2031. It estimates that 14,900 jobs will be opened each year in this job category.

Glassdoor reports that patient access representatives earn an average salary of $37,402 per year as of September 2022, with the top earners pulling in nearly $48,000.
According to the BLS, Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and New York are among the states with the highest employment in this field.

Patient Access Representative FAQs

WHAT IS A PATIENT ACCESS REPRESENTATIVE? WHAT DOES A PATIENT ACCESS REPRESENTATIVE DO?

A Patient Access Representative acts as the liaison between healthcare professionals and patients. They are responsible for ensuring that patients move through the admissions process—screening patients for eligibility and updating patient information—to help them efficiently receive appropriate medical care. A good patient access representative will have excellent organizational and communication skills in addition to knowledge of healthcare technology systems.

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION?

The Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is available to those who pass the CMAA certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). This is a great time to have a CMAA certification. In addition to gaining the valuable knowledge in welcoming patients, verifying insurance eligibility, obtaining history, gathering demographic information and other administrative tasks you will need to perform your job as a patient access representative, this certification will also help you qualify for a career as a medical assistant. The BLS predicts that jobs openings for medical assistants will grow by 16% through 2031.

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION?

The Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist certification is available from the National Healthcareer Association. In training for this certification, you will gain skills vital to your success as a patient access representative including charting, HIPAA compliance, electronic health record management, and insurance and billing practices.

Course Objectives

Discover the role of patient access representatives in a medical office.
Prepare for two national certification exams related to patient access representatives.
Learn about the laws and ethics surrounding the practice of medicine and running a medical office including HIPAA.
Describe practice processes for patient-focused communication including in-person, digital, and telephonic.
Receive real-world experience using and EHR simulator to execute typical daily tasks in a medical office environment.
Explain the daily financial responsibilities of a patient access representative working in a medical office including insurance and patient billing.
Develop the communication style needed to communicate effectively with patients and medical workers.
Understand how to create positive, efficient experiences for patients and make them more comfortable.

Prerequisites and Requirements

There are no specific prerequisites, however, to sit for national certification exams, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent. It is recommended you have this before enrolling in this program.

Curriculum

Medical Terminology
1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
2. The Musculoskeletal System
3. The Cardiovascular System
4. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
5. The Respiratory System
6. The Digestive System
7. The Urinary System
8. The Nervous System
9. The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
10. The Integumentary System
11. The Endocrine System
12. The Reproductive System
13. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
Patient Access Representative
1. Becoming a Patient Access Representative
2. Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
3. An Overview of EHR and CEHRS
4. And Introduction to MOSS 3.0
5. History of EHRs
6. Steps to EHR Implementation
7. The EHR Framework
8. HIPAA Requirements and EHR systems
9. The EHR and Record Content
10. Introduction to Health Insurance
11. Managing Medical Records
12. Lists, Treatment Plans, Orders and Results
13. Patient Visit Management
14. Coding and Billing Language Overview
15. Patient Communications
16. Telecommunications
17. Managing Stress and Improving Communication
18. Call Centers
19. Improving Your Medical Offices
20. Enhancing the Patient Experience
21. Practice Reports, Research, and Registries
22. Personal Health Records and Continuing Care Records
23. Revenue Cycle Management
24. Daily Financial Practices
25. Maximizing Reimbursement
26. Certification Exam Preparation
27. How to Find a Job as a Patient Access Representative

Instructors

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems, a master’s degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Sharon L. Blackford

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a master’s degree in Organizational Management, a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active-duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.

Stacey O’Brien

Stacey O’Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O’Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.

Rachael Delekta

Rachael Delekta is an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist. Rachael has been in the health care field for over ten years. She has worked mostly on the insurance side of things, as a customer service manager for dental insurance, a claims and customer service coach, and a workers’ compensation case management biller and auditor. She works daily with medical records and healthcare software.

Registration and Enrollment

This course is 100% online. Start anytime.