How to Become a Patient Access Representative in South Dakota

In healthcare, numerous patients seek extra support during their treatment journey.

This vital aid comes from devoted experts known as patient access representatives.

These professionals play a vital role in facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring the accurate exchange of information, and providing essential emotional support to patients.

In this article, we aim to provide valuable information to assist you in deciding whether embarking on a career as a patient access representative in South Dakota is the right path for you.

Steps to Becoming a Patient Access Representative in South Dakota

Of course, there are some steps to take before landing your first job.

Read below for more information.

1. Complete Your Education

To pursue a profession as a patient access representative, individuals must possess a minimum of a high school diploma or GED.

However, to enhance income opportunities, obtaining an Associate’s Degree is a prudent path, as outlined in this article.

While not obligatory for the patient access representative role in South Dakota, acquiring a college degree can significantly augment the competitiveness of your resume.

Unfortunately, there are no specialized degrees exclusively tailored for patient access representatives.

Nevertheless, opting for a degree program in healthcare administration or a related field offers the most suitable alternatives.

Although a Bachelor’s Degree is not typically required, some candidates do possess one.

The key distinctions between these degrees revolve around the study duration, varying from 2 to 4 years, the financial investment, and the potential for career advancement.

2. Become Certified

While South Dakota does not have specific certification requirements for patient access representatives, obtaining relevant certifications can certainly enhance your career prospects.

Some of the certifications you can pursue to boost your qualifications and open up better opportunities include:

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
• Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)
• Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)
• Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)
• Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM)
• Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
• Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)

When pondering about credentials for aspiring patient access representatives, the CHAA certification offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) emerges as a top-notch option.

This certification encompasses vital subjects like customer service, patient access services, and regulations, guaranteeing that individuals in this field possess the requisite expertise.

Moreover, candidates may also delve into certifications from The National Healthcareer Association (NHA), such as CMAA and CEHRS, as valuable alternatives to bolster their qualifications.

Always bear in mind that acquiring these certifications necessitates the completion of specialized training programs customized for each certification.

3. Gain Some Work Experience

Securing practical experience is of utmost importance when pursuing a career in the healthcare sector, specifically as a patient access representative.

Relevant work experience not only enhances your qualification for the desired position but also equips you with invaluable skills and expertise.

To accumulate job experience in this domain, consider exploring roles such as:

• Maintaining records
• Entering data
• Utilizing medical software
• Handling billing tasks

Moreover, an excellent alternative is to seek employment or volunteer at a nearby clinic or hospital.

This hands-on experience will not only boost your proficiency as a patient access representative but also provide valuable insights into the healthcare industry.

Training Schools for Patient Access Representatives in South Dakota

Let’s see the training school options available in this state!

Penn Foster Career School

Its program aims to prepare students for two different certification exams:

• The Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam
• The Certified Electronic Health Records Specialists exam.

Completing this program typically takes approximately six to nine months.

The patient access representative program at Penn Foster includes several courses, including:

• Introduction to Allied Health,
• Medical Office Procedures,
• Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1,
• Body Systems and Medical Terminology 2,
• Pathology and Pharmacology,
• Electronic Medical Records,
• Medical Billing and Health Insurance,
• Law,
• Ethics,
• Confidentiality in Allied Health.

Dakota State University

This school offers a Health Information Specialist program.

They provide options for both online and hybrid programs, which combine on-campus and online learning.

The health information specialist program at Dakota State University can be completed in about a year and consists of approximately 12 credit hours.

The courses included in this program cover a range of topics, such as:

• Introduction to Computers,
• Health Information Management Profession,
• Introduction to Health Info Management,
• University Experience, Basic Medical Terminology,
• Legal Aspects of Health Information Management I and II.

Salaries for Patient Access Representatives in South Dakota

It is common for individuals to be curious about the potential salary they can expect once they secure their desired job.

In South Dakota, the median salary for a patient access representative is about $44,664 per year.

However, it is important to recognize that this figure can be influenced by various factors, including your level of experience.

If you want to know in which cities the salaries are higher, check out the table below!

Regional Salary in South Dakota

Patient Access Representative by State