An intake coordinator works in a doctor’s office or a hospital. It is typically the first person at the hospital that a patient comes into contact with when they enter the office or check into the hospital. To become an intake coordinator, you either have to earn a degree or certificate. You also need to obtain some experience working in the medical field or with customer experience. As you progress through your career, you may even wish to become certified, so you can move up into a medical management position.
Intake coordinators typically take the patient’s information, such as having them complete new patient paperwork. They also prepares the file and collects and co-pays for the doctor or hospital visit. Education wise, the only thing you need to become an intake coordinator is to earn your associate’s degree in medical management. Some of the courses that you will take to prepare you to become an intake coordinator include database entry and management, medical billing, word processing, managing an office and the medical terminology you need to know to work in a doctor’s office or hospital.
To become an intake coordinator, you may also wish to complete an internship during or after you earn your associate’s degree. Completing an internship can earn you class credits toward earning your degree, but more importantly, it allows you to gain hands-on experience.
After you complete your degree and gain some experience, you can start to look for full or part-time jobs so you can become an intake coordinator. You can look at online job boards, contact local hospitals and doctor’s offices and check the classified section of your local newspaper. The school where you earn your associate’s degree may also have a career placement program that helps you to find a job as well.
After one or two years of experience working as an intake coordinator, you may wish to move up into a higher position in the medical field. One way to do this is to study for and pass the Certified Medical Manager exam to become certified in medical management. This allows you to become an intake coordinator, but then move up into managing or running the administrative office at the doctor’s office or the hospital.
If you wish to become more than an intake coordinator by earning your certification, you will also have to maintain the certificate. Maintaining the certification requires continuing education classes and courses to earn credits.
