Patient Representatives

Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.

Tasks Include:

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.
Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)

Projections Quick View:

Virginia: +7.2%

National: +7.0%

Education

High School Diploma

Job Zone:

Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Income Range:

Highest ($50,000 and up)

Median Earnings:

National

$47,470.00

State

$46,910.00

Regional

Patient Representatives

Description

Career Cluster:

Business, Management & Administration

Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Education

Required Level of Education

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) = 26.65%
Master's Degree = 23.20%
Bachelor's Degree = 15.27%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) = 12.18%
Some College Courses = 11.77%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) = 10.92%

Related Work Experience

Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 21.81%
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years = 20.71%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 16.03%
None = 14.75%
Up to and including 1 month = 12.59%
Over 10 years = 11.60%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 2.50%

On-Site or In-Plant Training

Up to and including 1 month = 63.90%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 11.94%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 9.28%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 9.11%
None = 3.15%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 2.44%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 0.17%

On-the-Job Training

Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 30.34%
None or short demonstration = 26.35%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 23.85%
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 15%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 2.61%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 1.86%

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

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.
Develop and distribute newsletters, brochures, or other printed materials to share information with patients or medical staff.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

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.
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.
Provide consultation or training to volunteers or staff on topics, such as guest relations, patients' rights, or medical issues.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Knowledge

%	Subject	Description
85.75	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.
71.25	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.
69.75	Sociology and Anthropology	Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
66.50	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.
65.00	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.
60.75	Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
59.75	Computers and Electronics	Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
57.50	English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
55.00	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.
50.50	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.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Skills

%	Subject	Description
78.00	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.
75.00	Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
75.00	Service Orientation	Actively looking for ways to help people.
72.00	Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
72.00	Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.
72.00	Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
65.50	Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
65.50	Persuasion	Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
59.50	Time Management	Managing one's own time and the time of others.
56.25	Writing	Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
56.25	Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
56.25	Active Learning	Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
56.25	Complex Problem Solving	Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
53.00	Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
50.00	Negotiation	Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Abilities

%	Subject	Description
81.25	Oral Comprehension	The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
78.00	Oral Expression	The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
68.75	Written Comprehension	The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
68.75	Written Expression	The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
68.75	Speech Clarity	The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
68.75	Near Vision	The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
68.75	Speech Recognition	The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
68.75	Deductive Reasoning	The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
68.75	Inductive Reasoning	The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.50	Problem Sensitivity	The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
62.50	Information Ordering	The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
53.00	Category Flexibility	The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
53.00	Selective Attention	The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
50.00	Fluency of Ideas	The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Work Activities

%	Subject	Description
91.75	Getting Information	Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
91.25	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
88.50	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
87.75	Assisting and Caring for Others	Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
84.00	Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
83.75	Documenting/Recording Information	Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
83.50	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
82.00	Working with Computers	Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
81.75	Processing Information	Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
77.25	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
76.75	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
76.50	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
75.25	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
74.25	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
71.00	Communicating with People Outside the Organization	Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
70.00	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
67.50	Performing Administrative Activities	Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
64.50	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
63.75	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others	Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
61.00	Training and Teaching Others	Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
59.75	Analyzing Data or Information	Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
59.25	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
57.00	Developing and Building Teams	Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
53.25	Scheduling Work and Activities	Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
53.25	Monitoring and Controlling Resources	Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Work Styles

%	Subject	Description
99.25	Concern for Others	Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
96.25	Cooperation	Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
96.25	Self-Control	Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
95.75	Adaptability/Flexibility	Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
95.75	Integrity	Job requires being honest and ethical.
95.25	Stress Tolerance	Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
93.50	Dependability	Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
92.75	Attention to Detail	Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
86.75	Social Orientation	Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
85.75	Initiative	Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
84.25	Persistence	Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
83.00	Achievement/Effort	Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
81.25	Leadership	Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
76.00	Independence	Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
73.25	Analytical Thinking	Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
62.25	Innovation	Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Work Values

%	Subject	Description
88.83	Relationships	Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
61.17	Achievement	Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
61.17	Support	Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
55.50	Working Conditions	Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
55.50	Independence	Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Work Context

%	Subject	Description
100.00	Telephone	How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
100.00	Electronic Mail	How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
100.00	Contact With Others	How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
98.40	Deal With External Customers	How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
96.60	Face-to-Face Discussions	How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
95.20	Work With Work Group or Team	How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
91.00	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate	How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
90.60	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks	How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
86.20	Freedom to Make Decisions	How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
86.20	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled	How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
84.40	Spend Time Sitting	How much does this job require sitting?
79.60	Physical Proximity	To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
78.20	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People	How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
76.00	Coordinate or Lead Others	How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
75.60	Exposed to Disease or Infections	How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
74.00	Frequency of Conflict Situations	How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
73.20	Letters and Memos	How often does the job require written letters and memos?
69.80	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results	What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
69.80	Structured versus Unstructured Work	To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
66.40	Frequency of Decision Making	How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
66.20	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions	How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
64.20	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results	How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
63.40	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable	How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
61.80	Time Pressure	How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
59.80	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls	How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
55.60	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety	How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
55.40	Spend Time Walking and Running	How much does this job require walking and running?
54.40	Degree of Automation	How automated is the job?

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Overall Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
- These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Earnings Benefits*

Region	Entry Level	Median	Experienced
United States	$35,890.00	$47,470.00	$60,980.00
Virginia	$36,300.00	$46,910.00	$56,980.00

Region	Entry Level	Median	Experienced
Alexandria/Arlington	$41,680.00	$52,000.00	$61,260.00
Bay Consortium	$39,350.00	$46,410.00	$55,830.00
Capital Region Workforce Partnership	$36,430.00	$45,340.00	$58,770.00
Central VA/Region2000	$35,400.00	$41,200.00	$53,340.00
Crater Area	$35,960.00	$44,730.00	$49,870.00
Greater Peninsula	No Data	No Data	No Data
Hampton Roads	$35,620.00	$41,620.00	$52,050.00
New River/Mt. Rogers	$33,600.00	$37,510.00	$46,200.00
Northern Virginia	$42,490.00	$52,000.00	$63,290.00
Piedmont Workforce	$41,050.00	$52,000.00	$75,260.00
Shenandoah Valley	$36,850.00	$44,440.00	$56,850.00
South Central	No Data	No Data	No Data
Southwestern Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data
West Piedmont	$33,850.00	$36,540.00	$42,850.00
Western Virginia	$33,050.00	$41,770.00	$56,320.00

* Earnings Calculations:

Regional Earnings:
   Entry = Annual mean of the lower 1/3 wage distribution;
   Experienced = Annual mean of the upper 2/3 wage distribution.

National and State Earnings:
   Entry = Annual 10th percentile wage;
   Experienced = Annual 75th percentile wage.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Employment Projections

USA: 2023-2033

Virginia: 2022-2032

Regions: 2020-2030

	Current	Projected	% Change
United States	177,900	190,400	+7.0%
Virginia	3,050	3,270	+7.2%

Region	Current*	Projected	% Change
Alexandria/Arlington	No Data	No Data	No Data
Bay Consortium	No Data	No Data	No Data
Capital Region Workforce Partnership	No Data	No Data	No Data
Central VA/Region2000	No Data	No Data	No Data
Crater Area	No Data	No Data	No Data
Greater Peninsula	No Data	No Data	No Data
Hampton Roads	No Data	No Data	No Data
New River/Mt. Rogers	No Data	No Data	No Data
Northern Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data
Piedmont Workforce	No Data	No Data	No Data
Shenandoah Valley	No Data	No Data	No Data
South Central	No Data	No Data	No Data
Southwestern Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data
West Piedmont	No Data	No Data	No Data
Western Virginia	No Data	No Data	No Data

* - Estimated

The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Related Occupations

The related occupations here have similar general capabilities and interests; career explorers may also be interested in the related occupations:

Careers in Administrative Support Pathway:

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

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Occupations

The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; CareerOneStop. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Military Training

The following military job classifications are available for this occupation:

Medical Care and Treatment, General
Not Occupationally Qualified, General
Ophthalmology/Optometry
Orthopedic Services
Physiology
Respiratory Therapy Services

The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Proficiency Ratings

These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.

Proficiency	Rating
Getting Information	4.5
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.5
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.5
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.5
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.5
Documenting/Recording Information	4.5
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.5
Working with Computers	4.5
Processing Information	4.5
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.0
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.0
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.0
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.0
Performing Administrative Activities	3.5
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	3.5
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others	3.5
Training and Teaching Others	3.5
Analyzing Data or Information	3.5
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	3.5
Developing and Building Teams	3.5
Scheduling Work and Activities	3.0
Monitoring and Controlling Resources	3.0
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information	3.0
Thinking Creatively	3.0
Developing Objectives and Strategies	3.0
Coaching and Developing Others	3.0
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others	2.5
Selling or Influencing Others	2.5
Performing General Physical Activities	2.5
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates	2.5
Handling and Moving Objects	2.5
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	2.5
Controlling Machines and Processes	2.0
Staffing Organizational Units	2.0
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment	1.5
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	1.5
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	1.5
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment	1.5

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)

Patient Representatives

Related Schools

Averett University
Blue Ridge Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Liberty University
Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
New River Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
Patrick & Henry Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Radford University
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)