What Do Medical Secretaries Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Medical Secretaries

Medical Secretaries perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

Salary
$39000
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



Job Description

Job Description

Medical Secretaries perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence. They also answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.

Other tasks include:

  • Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
  • Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.
  • Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.
  • Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
  • Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
  • Compile and record medical charts, reports, or correspondence, using typewriter or personal computer.

We asked Medical Secretaries how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

68%

How meaningful is this job

71%


68% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 71% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Medical Secretaries answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff. They complete insurance or other claim forms.

A typical day for a Medical Secretary will also include:

  • Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
  • Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
  • Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.
  • Schedule tests or procedures for patients, such as lab work or x-rays, based on physician orders.
  • Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.

We asked some Medical Secretaries a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 93% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 83% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 79% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 65% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 19% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 63% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Medical Secretaries also prepare correspondence or assist physicians or medical scientists with preparation of reports, speeches, articles, or conference proceedings. They may also perform various clerical or administrative functions, such as ordering and maintaining an inventory of supplies.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Medical Secretaries Schedule tests or procedures for patients, such as lab work or x-rays, based on physician orders. They might also Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.

In addition, they Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners’ diagnoses or recommendations into patients’ medical records.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.

To some Medical Secretaries, it is also their responsibility to Arrange hospital admissions for patients.


Working life

Working hours

Standard 40 hour work week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Medical Secretary, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Do Medical Secretaries work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
86%


Never
14%


Do Medical Secretaries work outdoors?

Never
96%


Once a year
4%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Organizers and The Helpers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Medical Secretaries

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Related to Medical Secretaries Job Description

Medical Secretaries job description, what do Medical Secretaries do, typical day for Medical Secretaries, what is it like to work as a Medical Secretary, how many hours do Medical Secretaries work, day to day work of a Medical Secretary

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm
http://www.theaeap.com/
http://www.iaap-hq.org/
http://www.nals.org/


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