Patient Support Specialist Instructor
Job Summary:
The Division of Workforce Partnerships is seeking an experienced Patient Support Specialist Instructor to teach in its workforce training program. The program prepares students for entry-level medical front-office and patient support positions in physician offices, outpatient practices, clinics, and other healthcare settings.
The instructor will teach both theory and practical skills related to medical office operations, including medical terminology, patient communication, scheduling, electronic health records, medical insurance, patient registration, HIPAA, and customer service. The instructor will also help students develop the professionalism and workplace skills needed to work effectively with patients, families, healthcare providers, and insurance companies.
The instructor will work collaboratively with program leadership and other instructors to support student learning and successful program outcomes. This position may include day, evening, and/or occasional weekend hours.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Work collaboratively in a diverse, inclusive, and student-centered environment with adult learners from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds.
Deliver classroom and hands-on instruction using the approved Patient Support Specialist curriculum.
Teach medical front-office topics and skills, including:
Medical terminology
Medical office procedures and workflow
Telephone etiquette and professional communication
Patient communication and customer service
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Health insurance terminology and processes
Insurance eligibility and benefits verification
Copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, and patient financial responsibility
Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance
Referrals and prior authorizations
Basic medical billing and coding concepts
HIPAA, patient privacy, and confidentiality
Professionalism and employability skills
Use a variety of teaching methods, including role-play, case studies, technology, and other active-learning activities.
Provide opportunities for students to practice common front-office situations such as scheduling, patient registration, insurance verification, telephone communication, and responding to patient concerns.
Assess student knowledge and skills through assignments, practical exercises, projects, and other course assessments.
Maintain accurate attendance, grades, and student progress records.
Communicate with program leadership regarding student progress and students who may need additional support.
Model the professional communication, confidentiality, organization, and customer service expected in healthcare settings.
Participate in instructor meetings, training, and professional development activities.
Stay current with medical office practices, insurance processes, and healthcare technology.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum of three (3) years of recent experience in a medical office, physician practice, outpatient clinic, hospital patient access department, or similar healthcare administrative setting.
Experience with medical front-office operations, including patient registration, scheduling, telephone communication, medical records, and coordination of patient services.
Experience with medical insurance processes, including insurance verification, eligibility and benefits, copayments, deductibles, referrals, prior authorizations, and patient financial responsibility.
Working knowledge of medical terminology, HIPAA, patient privacy, and healthcare documentation.
Experience using Electronic Health Records (EHR).
Experience communicating directly with patients and families in a healthcare setting.
Experience teaching, training, mentoring, precepting, or supervising employees or students.
Strong organizational and classroom management skills.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, virtual meeting platforms, and other technology used for instruction.
Ability to work effectively with adult learners from diverse educational, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
Ability to follow the approved curriculum while adjusting teaching methods to meet student learning needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
Associate degree or higher in Healthcare Administration, Medical Office Administration, Health Information Management, or a related field.
Healthcare administrative certification such as Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), or a similar credential.
Five or more years of medical front-office, patient access, or healthcare administrative experience.
Experience working with commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Experience with referrals, prior authorizations, insurance verification, or revenue-cycle processes.
Experience teaching in workforce development, adult education, community college, career and technical education, or another healthcare training program.
Experience delivering hybrid or online instruction.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment visa including student visas.
- Division
- Workforce Partnerships and Institutional Advancement
- Department
- Workforce Development
- Locations
- Liston Campus (Providence)
- Hourly salary
- $50.51
- Job Type
- Part-Time Staff
- Funding Source
- Unrestricted
- Exempt?
- No
- Yearly Schedule
- Calendar
- Union
- N/A
- Pay Grade
- N/A
- Application Open Date
- September 02, 2026
- Application Close Date
- September 16, 2026
About Community College of Rhode Island
Since opening its doors for the first time on September 24, 1964, the Community College of Rhode Island has created a strong foundation as the state’s only associate degree-granting institution serving all Rhode Islanders with an affordable, high-quality education.
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