Daily Archives: May 8, 2018

Job Spotlight: Medical Secretary

Could this position heal your job search pains?

Despite already having experience with several jobs, many working adults are unable to answer that age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Our Job Spotlight monthly blog series is designed to help with that. In this series, we review all the basics of specific job types, from salary and duties to why people do the jobs they do.

Medical Secretary

For this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re checking in at the doctor’s office to look at medical secretaries. Although administrative assistants and medical secretaries share some responsibilities, the overall environment is completely different. Medical secretaries ensure the smooth workflow of medical facilities while simultaneously interacting with patients, many of whom may be irritable or emotional due to medical problems.

Required Education

Associate’s degree or certification program

Salary

Although it varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), medical secretaries can make as much as $40,000 a year.

What Medical Secretaries Do

Medical secretaries handle a variety of responsibilities, which may include:

  • Managing patient flow and data
  • Responding to general patient questions and processing inquiries
  • General office organization
  • Processing medical claims
  • Scheduling, coding, and billing
  • Transcribing medical reports
  • Recording of simple medical histories, arranging hospitalizations, and ordering supplies

What Companies Look for in Medical Secretaries

Every medical secretary is different, but many need the following skills:

  • A desire to serve and care for patients
  • Depending on the office, an acceptance of what could be a casual work environment (some offices are closed on Fridays or Friday afternoons)
  • A willingness to work in one of the following:
    • Doctor’s office, clinic, nursing home, hospital, or insurance company
  • Kind and pleasant demeanor
  • Recognition and understanding of medical and scientific terminology
  • A good team player

Are you a medical secretary? What else should people know about your position? Let us know in the comments below!