Career Overview

An admissions coordinator works with all aspects of getting a patient into the proper facility to treat the condition. The admissions coordinator works with the nursing staff, possibly the accounting staff and also the medical staff to ensure that the patient is admitted and discharged from the hospital as per the treatment teams request.

The admissions coordinator is responsible for completing and entering all the data into the required agencies and documents to allow billing, insurance claims and patient care to operate smoothly. The admissions coordinator in smaller hospitals and healthcare facilities may also be responsible for data entry for determining vacancy and entrance of new patients into the facility based on current population and needs.

Depending on the area of the hospital or healthcare facility that the admissions coordinator works in there can be limited pressures or there can be incredible pressure. Emergency room admissions coordinators and those in intensive care and other stressful areas of the hospital may need addition skills in working with distraught patients and family members.

All admissions coordinators require excellent communication skills and empathy for the patient’s needs as well as the hospital’s or healthcare facility’s needs. They will also be required to be aware of all insurance requirements or insurance guidelines imposed by the facility with regards to patient admission.

The admissions coordinator should be a very well organized and structured person with an ability to multitask and keep very effective notes, records and logs. The admissions coordinator should have good data processing skills and should be familiar with computer operation and data entry.

The admissions coordinator should have a basic understanding of medical procedures as well as a working knowledge of patient care within the hospital or healthcare facility.

Career Requirements

Most positions for admissions coordinators require a Bachelors level education in nursing, healthcare administration or a related field. In addition most admissions coordinators also require a set period of work experience, often 3 to 5 years.

Some facilities have admissions coordinators and admissions clerks, with the clerks being the less senior and the coordinators designation used for those that have at least five years experience.

Job Outlook

It is anticipated by the United States Department of Labor that the demand for admissions coordinators will increase at an average rate up to the year 2014. New positions will be created as more senior staff move into other positions or retire.

In addition there are many new healthcare facilities and long-term care facilities being opened to deal with the aging population. As these facilities open the demand for admissions coordinators will match the number of new hospitals and care facilities.

Career Track

An admissions coordinator may choose to move up into a supervisory or management position in larger hospitals that will lead to overseeing or coordinating all the admissions coordinators within the hospital. Some admissions coordinators may choose to return to school and complete a Masters in Business Administration or Healthcare Administration and return to the hospital or healthcare facility to work as a director or department manager.

Compensation

An entry level admissions coordinator can anticipate earnings of between $34,000 and $38,000 per year, without any supervisory responsibilities. For those admissions coordinators with supervisory or management roles the average income increases to $45,000 to $49,000 per year. Admissions coordinators working in large private hospitals or care facilities tend to make slightly more than those admissions coordinators that work in government run facilities.