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Patient Encounter Associate Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

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Patient Encounter Associate information

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$12

$22

$30

How much do patient encounter associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for patient encounter associate in Minnesota is $22.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.12 and $27.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patient encounter associate?

A Patient Encounter Associate is a healthcare professional who supports administrative and clerical functions within medical facilities, such as hospitals or clinics. Their primary responsibilities include greeting and registering patients, verifying insurance information, managing patient records, and scheduling appointments. They act as a liaison between patients and medical staff to ensure a smooth and efficient patient experience. Patient Encounter Associates play a critical role in maintaining accurate documentation and providing excellent customer service in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patient encounter associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patient Encounter Associate, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience in healthcare administration, often supported by a high school diploma or associate degree. Familiarity with electronic medical record (EMR) systems, scheduling software, and basic office equipment is typically required. Excellent interpersonal communication, customer service, and the ability to multitask make candidates stand out in this role. These skills and qualities ensure efficient patient intake, accurate recordkeeping, and a positive experience for both patients and healthcare teams.

What are some common challenges faced by patient encounter associates, and how can they be managed?

Patient Encounter Associates often navigate high patient volumes, balancing administrative duties with providing excellent customer service. Managing multiple tasks—such as verifying patient information, scheduling appointments, and addressing patient inquiries—requires strong organizational and communication skills. Adapting quickly to changes in workflow and staying calm under pressure can help ensure a smooth patient experience. Building familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems and collaborating closely with clinical staff can also mitigate workflow challenges.

What is the difference between Patient Encounter Associate vs Medical Receptionist?

AspectPatient Encounter AssociateMedical Receptionist
CredentialsHigh school diploma; some roles may require certification in healthcare customer serviceHigh school diploma; often no formal certification required
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, outpatient facilitiesDoctor's offices, clinics, outpatient centers
Job ResponsibilitiesPatient check-in, data entry, appointment scheduling, insurance verificationGreeting patients, scheduling appointments, answering phones, managing patient records

Both roles involve front-office patient interactions, but Patient Encounter Associates typically handle more clinical-related tasks like insurance verification and data entry, while Medical Receptionists focus on greeting patients and administrative support. The roles often overlap, but the Patient Encounter Associate may require additional healthcare-specific knowledge or certifications.

Is being a patient encounter associate a stressful job?

Patient encounter associates often work in fast-paced healthcare environments, managing patient check-ins, scheduling, and administrative tasks. The job can be stressful due to high patient volumes, the need for accuracy, and handling sensitive information, but it also offers structured routines and support from healthcare teams.

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Patient Encounter Associate jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Patient Encounter Associate job openings:

Patient Service Coordinator Ambulatory I - FOH, CSC Front Desk

Hennepin Healthcare

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

$17 - $22.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago


Hennepin Healthcare rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 42 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

190th of 891 rated healthcare providers


Job description

JOB DETAILS
Department: CSC Front Desk
FTE: 1.00 (80 hours per pay period)
Workdays: Monday - Friday
Shift(s): Days
Shift Length: 8 hours
Location: In-Person

Purpose of this Position: The purpose of this position is to provide a welcoming experience for patients and their families. The main objectives of this position are to meet and exceed patient expectations as it relates to front desk procedures; to act and communicate in a professional and positive manner to patients, providers and care team staff; and to provide team-oriented support to staff to assist in meeting overall HHS registration quality goals. This is a high patient volume, multi-tasking position, with afternoon, evening and weekend hours.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Welcomes patients and guests in a friendly manner, following the "I am Welcomed" standard workflow
  • Provides navigation assistance to all patients and guests 
  • Utilizes the electronic health record accurately and efficiently to perform the following functions:
    • Patient Check-in
    • Point of Service Collections (Co-payments, Self-pay, and outstanding balances)
    • Registration
    • Patient Check-out (Schedule following the standard processes)
    • Verify insurance accuracy through RTE (Real Time Eligibility) and Benefit Engine
  • Ensures personal workspace and patient waiting areas are neat and sanitized.
  • Responsible for handling patient financial transactions
    • Cash Box
    • Cash Collections 
    • Credit/Debit card transactions
    • Daily reconciliation
  • Promotes the organization and assists in maintaining clinic efficiency
  • Check-out patients 
  • Provide scheduling support for contracted providers and specialty departments
  • Provide support for providers with requests and urgent needs
  • Manages special patient needs upon request   
  • Maintains Clerical Pool In-basket messages; messages are completed appropriately based on the SLA (Service Line Agreement) and urgency of the message
  • Receives and creates encounters for medical forms and delivers them to the clinical team
  • Assist with processing of time sensitive patient's needs, such as patient forms, etc.
  • Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • At least one year of experience in related field and/or six months of Front of House experience
  • One year of customer service experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to work cohesively, effectively, and respectively with individuals from a variety of economic, social, and culturally diverse backgrounds
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, continually changing environment 
  • Ability to respond appropriately to shifting priorities
  • Ability to prioritize work assignments
  • Consistently exceeds quality and productivity standards, including accuracy in patient registrations and scheduling as well as customer service expectations
  • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of organizational policies and procedures
  • Technical proficiency in basic computer skills and applications suca as Microsoft Office and Outlook
  • Ability to work independently and in a team setting

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

  • 6 months of previous HHS experience
  • Associate Degree (Healthcare or Business concentration preferred) or 2 years of customer service experience in similar clinic/ambulatory healthcare environment
  • Certification from 
    • HFMA OR
    • NAHAM OR
    • HBI Patient Access Certification
  • Experience with Electronic Health Records (EHR) - Epic experience preferred
  • Understanding of medical terminology 
  • Experience with different payers/insurance requirements
  • Bilingual fluency in English/Spanish or English/Somali or other languages including ASL (not required)

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