How to Become a Patient Access Representative in Delaware

With medical position demand at an all-time high due to a growing population, patient access representatives are needed now more than ever.

A patient access representative is the first contact point when a patient walks through the medical facility door.

Once inside, a patient approaches the check-in desk manned by patient access representatives who gather all information for medical documentation, billing, and insurance purposes.

This is a critical support function since collecting the correct data is essential for treatment.

If you want to enter the medical field and become a patient access representative in Delaware, keep reading to learn more about the process!

Steps to Become a Patient Access Representative in Delaware

The steps to becoming a Delaware patient access representative can be summarized into three sequential parts, including the following:

Step One: Complete a Training Program

First, complete your high school diploma and then enroll in a training program.

Working with your high school counselor during your senior year is advisable to start the application process.

Once you have narrowed the schools, contact a college advisor for additional assistance.

Given the administrative aspect of the career, Delaware training programs are online, so you have the flexibility to work while going to school.

Almost immediately after graduation, it’s beneficial to take the certification exam.

While Delaware does not require this, it makes you a more marketable candidate in the eyes of potential employers.

Step Two: Gain Firsthand Experience

You should complete an internship during or after training to gain real-world experience.

Potential employers are more apt to hire candidates with some medical experience than those without experience.

In addition, the internship will help you better understand how a medical office operates and the requirements of the career and improve your communication and customer service skills.

Step Three: Find a Job

With a training program, certification, and internship, you’re ready to search for a job.

Depending on the program, the school can help provide job placement resources.

If not, look for jobs online or contact local medical facilities to see if they need entry-level patient access representatives.

Schools in Delaware

Delaware Community College

Although just across the state line in Pennsylvania, Delaware Community College offers a certified medical administrative assistant, which covers becoming a patient access representative.

This program costs around $3,500, and students learn legal and ethical issues, HIPAA requirements, an insurance overview, medical billing and coding, and medical terminology.

This in-class program takes around one year to complete.

Delaware Technical Community College

The Delaware Technical Community College patient access representative program prepares students to pass the CEHRS and CMAA certification exams.

With a tuition cost of $2,700, the program is self-paced, with most students completing it in around 12 months.

The comprehensive curriculum bundles medical terminology of all bodily systems, patient visit management, daily financial practices, call centers, managing stress, improving communication, patient communications, billing and coding language, improving patient experience, reporting, continuing care records, and personal health records.

Also, students are required to complete a certification exam preparation section, and there’s a class on how to find a job in the industry.

Penn Foster

As an online-only vocational school, Penn Foster offers numerous medical programs, including patient access representative training.

The program aims to prepare students to pass the national certification exam post-graduation and for an entry-level role at one of the many medical facility types.

The curriculum includes medical terminology, body systems, electronic medical records, an introduction to Allied Health, medical office procedures, health insurance, medical billing, and medical ethics and law.

The typical completion type is between six and nine months.

Patient Access Representative Schools in Delaware – Summary Table

Salary

Delaware boasts an average patient access representative salary of $51,500, ranging from $46,800 to $57,500.

Comparatively, the annual U.S. salary is slightly lower, ranging from $45,800 to $56,300, averaging $50,400.

Regional Salary in Delaware