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Medical Secretary |
Career OverviewA Medical Secretary is responsible for the administrative and clerical work in medical offices, hospitals, clinics, and private physicians’ offices. The medical secretary keeps records, answers the phone, orders supplies, handles correspondence, bills patients, completes insurance forms, and transcribes dictation. It is not unusual for a medical secretary to handle financial records and other bookkeeping duties. The position also includes greeting patients, scheduling appointments, obtaining medical histories, arranging hospital admissions and scheduling surgeries.
A medical secretary plays a very important role in the healthcare profession. Doctors rely on the medical secretary to keep administrative operations under control and to monitor and facilitate the movement of information for the office. Aside from the duties listed above the medical secretary provides information to patients, organizes and maintains paper and electronic files and produces correspondence as requested by the doctor. The medical secretary must be able to handle confidential information and follow privacy guidelines and regulations. The medical secretary must be familiar with basic computer programs including word processing, spreadsheets and basic accounting programs.
The Medical Secretary interacts with other staff, physicians, patients, and the public. Depending upon the size of the office, clinic or hospital, the amount of this interaction will vary. This person must have good interpersonal and communication skills to be able to work with the public as well as the medical professionals.
In larger work environments, the medical secretary may well supervise other clerical employees. This job requires someone who is detail oriented and very conscientious. Typically, a medical secretary who works in a physician’s office works a standard forty hour work week, Monday through Friday. However, this position in a hospital or clinic may work weekends or even some evenings or extended hours depending on the size of the facility.
Whatever the type or size of the work environment he or she must be very familiar with medical terminology. The medical secretary may be required to respond to emergency situations and will have to work with very upset and agitated family members and patients. An ability to remain calm and professional is very important.
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Career RequirementsMost medical secretary positions will require an associate’s degree in a clerical or healthcare related field. Often a medical secretary position will require specialized training or experience in a specific billing or medical software program. In addition good keyboarding skills and an ability to work on several different tasks at the same time is important. Most medical secretaries will have some background in data entry or clinical positions that provide knowledge of basic medical terms and procedures.
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Job OutlookOpportunities as Medical Secretary are excellent and expected to increase through the next decade. The need will continue to grow as the population ages and more hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices are created. This position is also required in public health departments and medical research centers.
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Career TrackMedical secretaries with experience may move into supervisory roles within a clinic or practice. Some medical secretaries may provide in-service and training to new staff or may even work to establish their own medical secretary staffing services.
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CompensationDepending upon experience, education, and size and demands of the work environment, salaries for Medical Secretaries can range from an entry level amount of $18,500 to an upper range around $27,500. Medical Secretaries with supervisory or extraordinary duties can earn well above this amount.
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