Careers at Lifespan Health System

Patient Support Specialist Training Program

The Workforce Solutions, Training, and Teamwork (STAT) Patient Support Specialist Program features a series of free, educational training and support services for those ages 18 and older. This program prepares its participants with the education and hands-on learning necessary to perform the duties to be patient services representatives and unit secretaries. The goal of the program is to meet industry needs by rapidly transforming a group of unemployed and underemployed entry-level Rhode Islanders into prepared, well-qualified healthcare professionals. 

Program graduates will have opportunities to secure employment at Lifespan after program completion and have access to a variety of benefits. Employment at Lifespan may allow you to advance over time to higher levels of education and employment in the high-demand healthcare industry.

Upcoming Information Sessions

We are now recruiting for a class starting September 18th. Please attend a virtual info session to learn more: 

  • Thursday, August 24 at 12 p.m.
  • Monday, August 28 at 12 p.m. 

All information sessions are held via Zoom. Use the link and password below to attend:

Attend an info session

Meeting ID: 842 1923 8628

Passcode: 563238

A woman of color, wearing a mask, sitting at a career training session

How to Register

For information about the next cohort, submit this Workforce STAT Interest Form and you will be notified by email when the next program is scheduled to begin.   

Sign up online

More About the Patient Support Specialist Program

Each cohort of students complete a free program consisting of: 

  • Classroom training with partnering institutions
  • Hands on experience at a Lifespan affiliate
  • Structured work-readiness training and workshops to build employability skills
  • The possibility of employment upon successful completion of the program

Job Responsibilities

Patient Service Representatives 

This program will train students to:

  • Greet patients and staff.
  • Register/check-in patients. 
  • Answer phones.
  • Schedule appointments.
  • Obtain referrals and authorizations. 
  • Assist with discharges. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Unit Secretaries

This program will train students to:

  • Coordinates the flow of patient activity and information on the unit/clinic
  • Clerical duties as needed
  • Organize and prioritize workload based on patient, unit/clinic needs
  • Assemble charts for admission and disassembles charts for discharge according to hospital guidelines
  • File reports in charts accurately and maintain medical records
  • Utilize hospital computer systems accurately, to enter orders, verify orders, retrieve data, and generate reports
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Program Completion Requirements

Students should note that:

  • Attendance is mandatory. Any missed clinical time will need to be made up before certificate is awarded.
  • A certificate will be awarded to those candidates who have successfully completed the program.