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Referral Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Referral Specialist

Des Moines, IA ยท On-site

$16 - $18/hr

Millennium Therapy is looking to add a Part-Time / PRN Referral Specialist / Administrative Assistant to our staff in Des Moines, IA for the outpatient setting. Millennium Therapy is a patient ...

Overview As a Referral Specialist, you'll primarily handle referrals and other faxed documents on behalf of our clinical teams. On higher call volume days, the Referral Specialist will assist with ...

A Referral Specialist will be aligned to a geographic territory of referral sources and corresponding field-based sales team member(s). This role will work closely with data entry, reimbursement ...

Referral Specialist Position Overview The Referral Specialist is responsible for coordinating and facilitating patient referrals, specialty services, authorizations, and pre-certifications. This ...

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Referral Specialist information

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How much do referral specialist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for referral specialist in the United States is $20.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a referral specialist?

A referral specialist works in a medical office to ensure that a patient's insurance is approved so that they may receive health care services. Your primary job duties involve scheduling patient appointments, maintaining accurate records and data, communicating with insurance companies, and pre-approving specific procedures. This career generally requires an associate degree. Additional qualifications include at least two years of work experience, excellent multitasking skills, and the ability to communicate well. You must also have familiarity with medical terminology and health insurance processes.

What does a referral specialist do?

A Referral Specialist in a healthcare environment typically spends the day coordinating patient referrals to specialists, tracking the status of referral requests, and communicating with both patients and providers to ensure smooth transitions of care. They often work closely with physicians, insurance companies, and administrative staff, verifying patient eligibility and obtaining prior authorizations as needed. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are essential, as managing multiple referrals and documentation simultaneously is a common challenge. The role may also involve patient education about referral processes and follow-up to confirm appointments were kept.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a referral specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Referral Specialist, you need strong knowledge of healthcare processes, insurance verification, and medical terminology, typically supported by a high school diploma or associate degree. Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems, referral management software, and insurance databases is essential. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for coordinating referrals and liaising with patients and providers. These skills ensure accurate and timely patient referrals, reduce processing errors, and support efficient healthcare operations.

What is the difference between Referral Specialist vs Patient Coordinator?

AspectReferral SpecialistPatient Coordinator
CredentialsHigh school diploma; certification in healthcare or medical office administrationHigh school diploma; experience in patient services or healthcare administration
Work EnvironmentMedical offices, hospitals, clinicsMedical offices, hospitals, outpatient facilities
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare providers, insurance companiesHospitals, clinics, healthcare organizations
Primary FocusCoordinating and processing patient referralsManaging patient schedules and assisting with patient needs

While both roles operate within healthcare settings, a Referral Specialist primarily focuses on coordinating patient referrals between providers, whereas a Patient Coordinator manages patient scheduling and overall patient experience. Both roles require healthcare knowledge but differ in daily responsibilities and focus areas.

How much does a referral specialist make?

A referral specialist's average salary varies depending on experience and location, but typically ranges from $35,000 to $55,000 annually. In some regions, salaries can be higher with additional certifications or specialized skills in healthcare or social services environments.

What skills do you need to be a referral specialist?

A referral specialist needs strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively connect clients with appropriate services. Attention to detail, organizational abilities, and familiarity with databases or customer management systems are also important for managing referrals efficiently.

What cities are hiring for Referral Specialist jobs?

Cities with the most Referral Specialist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Referral Specialist jobs?

The most popular types of Referral Specialist jobs are:

What states have the most Referral Specialist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Referral Specialist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Referral Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 64% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,644 per year, or $20 per hour.

Referral Specialist

Pittsburgh, PA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago


Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION โ€“ REFERRAL SPECIALIST

Department: ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Referral Management

Reports to:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Director, Organ Procurement Operations

Exemption Status:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Exempt

Work Schedule: ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Full-time

Job Location: ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Pittsburgh

OSHA Category:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Clinical

Supervisory Responsibilities:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  None

POSITION SUMMARY

The position of Referral Specialist for the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is responsible for maximizing the organ referral and evaluation process through the identification and evaluation of each potential donor to ensure optimal outcomes for the donor families and recipients.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Referral Specialist reports to COREโ€™s Director, Organ Procurement Operations and is responsible for assessing and determining potential donors to maximize donation opportunities from COREโ€™s region, but also throughout the United States and Canada. They will be responsible for initial intake, assessing organ donor suitability, and enhancing the donation process. They will need to have sound computer knowledge and application. They will be responsible for knowing, and working within, CORE policies and procedures.

The Referral Specialist will be responsible for following the criteria for deployment of the Clinical On-Site Specialist, Designated Requestor, and/or Organ Procurement Coordinator on potential and/or actual organ donors.

The Referral Specialist will be able to provide back-up to the Quality Coordinators in obtaining and reporting culture results to transplant centers.

The Referral Specialist must be available to work both daylight and night shifts. The Shifts will consist of four 12-hour shifts with four days off. Shifts are 7am-7pm and 7pm-7am and will rotate monthly.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate would have some type of medical background with at least one to two years of experience as an EMT-P, LPN, RT, medical scribe, similar role, or previous OPO experience, and some experience with medical terminology. They must have strong communication skills, sound judgment, excellent verbal skills ability to interact and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including medical staff, hospital personnel and donor families. They also must be skilled in dealing with diverse issues where many problems exist simultaneously and often compete for immediate attention. They must demonstrate a professional commitment to donation and COREโ€™s ability to achieve its mission. They must have the ability to work flexible hours. Shift work is expected. They must complete an extensive six-month training program.

DEGREE OF JOB DIFFICULTY

The degree of difficulty for this job falls into the moderate range. Because of the nature of the information translated to the transplant and donor hospitals, the need for accuracy is critical. Though there are built-in levels of communication and safeguards to prevent inadvertent errors or mistakes that could result in the death of a transplant recipient, attention to details gained through reflective listening is paramount.