What are the functions of a treatment coordinator in the Western model of a private clinic and in which countries is this profession most popular?
The treatment coordinator is generally a non-medical employee, but plays a key role in private medical clinics. The main functions it performs are:
- Managing the patient’s treatment: the treatment coordinator is responsible for managing the patient’s treatment process, from the first visit to cure. The coordinator assists the patient in arranging appointments with specialists, reminds them of follow-up appointments and helps them manage all other aspects of their treatment.
- Patient support: the treatment coordinator is also the person the patient can contact when they need support. The coordinator helps the patient to manage the emotions associated with the illness and treatment and answers any questions the patient may have during the treatment process.
- Patient-doctor communication: the treatment coordinator helps to maintain effective communication between the patient and the doctor. The coordinator can relay information between the patient and the doctor, e.g. regarding medication, dietary recommendations, test results, etc.
- Administrative management: the treatment coordinator is also responsible for managing the administrative aspects of the treatment process. The coordinator helps to collect medical records, process health insurance, coordinate with medical specialists and ensure that all paperwork is completed.
In Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, the role of treatment coordinator is very common in private medical clinics. In Poland, it is also increasingly common to find treatment coordinators in private medical facilities, but these are still exceptional cases, occurring in modern clinics, progressive in their functions….
Read more about this in the article: Difficult conversations about paying for treatment? Not necessarily!
