OVERVIEW
What is a Patient Liaison?
The primary purpose of a patient liaison is to serve as a key point of contact between patients and medical providers. They’re an intermediary who answers questions and addresses concerns patients may have during and after receiving care. They help patients understand the nuances of the healthcare system and how insurance companies work to ensure they get the optimal care they need while providing support during a health crisis.
Before treatment, this can include determining care options based on a patient’s coverage, interpreting hard-to-understand healthcare policies, and communicating what to expect during a medical procedure. Post-treatment, this can involve getting a patient’s feedback to identify potential areas for improvement, providing information for a faster recovery, and resolving any complaints that may arise. A patient liaison helps humanize the healthcare system, providing the best quality patient experience while streamlining processes for medical facilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Patient Liaison Do?
Here are the day-to-day responsibilities found on a patient liaison job description:
- Meet with patients to discuss potential treatment options and healthcare coverage, and help them prepare for upcoming medical procedures.
- Collect patient data to share with medical professionals and fill out necessary healthcare information.
- Explain medical terminology to patients so they fully understand what to expect from a procedure and answer any questions they may have.
- Provide information to medical providers regarding patient health history, questions, concerns, or complaints.
- Schedule patient aftercare for those who need rehabilitation once their medical treatment has been completed.
A patient liaison will often be communicating with multiple patients at any given time, which makes organization and time management a critical part of the job.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Patient Liaison?
In terms of education, it’s possible to get an entry-level position with only a high school diploma in some cases. As long as you have relevant healthcare or supervisory experience, you may be able to find employment. Most companies, however, prefer candidates with at least an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in science, healthcare, psychology, social work, or a related field. Prior experience in healthcare or a patient advocacy certification is also helpful. Note that a master’s degree isn’t necessary to become a patient liaison, but having one should make you a frontrunner as a candidate when applying for a position and can help you earn more money.
A bachelor of science in an online health and human services degree program is one particular path to consider. It focuses on coordinating communication between patients and healthcare providers and will help you navigate modern care systems and promote patient-centered holistic care. This degree will equip you with knowledge of medical terminology and health insurance policies so you’re ready to handle the comprehensive needs of patients in diverse settings.
Best Degrees for a Patient Liaison
Health & Nursing
Health and Human Services – B.S.
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a...
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a difference for patients in a variety of ways.
- Time: 63% of students finish this program in 24 months
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term
- Courses: 35 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Epidemiology
- Community and Public Health
- Cultural Awareness
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare Values and Ethics
- Substance Abuse Support
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Psychology – B.S.
An online psychology program for students who want to make a difference in...
An online psychology program for students who want to make a difference in their life, and the lives of others.
- Time: 95% of students finish similar programs in less than 4 years.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Social psychology
- Consumer psychology
- Adult psychology
- Mental health awareness
- Psychopathology
This degree allows you to gain valuable knowledge and experience in the field of psychology and can prepare you for additional certifications or careers.
How Much Does a Patient Liaison Make?
$62,760
Under the broad career category of healthcare social worker, the median patient liaison salary was $62,760 in May 2022, according to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A combination of having a bachelor’s degree in science, healthcare, psychology, social work, or a related field, along with relevant certification and direct experience, is the best way to increase your earning potential.
What is the Projected Job Growth?
7%
Jobs in this industry are expected to increase by 7% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Experts predict about 63,800 new jobs will be added each year, which makes a career as a patient liaison look quite promising.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Patient Liaison Need?
Here are the five most critical skills you need to thrive in this profession:
- A deep understanding of medical terminology. You’ll need a firm grasp of health issues and treatments, as well as health insurance policies and the ability to break information down into easily digestible terms to patients.
- Communication skills. This career involves interacting with both patients and healthcare providers daily and requires someone with outstanding verbal and writing skills.
- Empathy. This job involves interacting with patients and their families who are often going through difficult health situations, and demands the utmost compassion and tact.
- Organization. You may be handling multiple patients at a time and must be able to organize cases, documents, payment information, and more.
- Attention to detail. Minute information is often integral to the care and wellbeing of patients, requiring a patient liaison to be meticulous.
These skills combined are essential for building initial rapport with patients and ensuring they get the care they need.
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