Medical Secretary

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Clinic Office Assistant; Front Desk Receptionist; Medical Office Specialist; Medical Receptionist; Medical Secretary; Physician Office Specialist; Secretary; Unit Clerk; Unit Support Representative; Ward Clerk

Tasks

• Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
• Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
• Complete insurance or other claim forms.
• Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
• Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
• Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
• Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff.
• Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.
• 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.
• Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.
• Perform various clerical or administrative functions, such as ordering and maintaining an inventory of supplies.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• English Language
• Administrative
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Computers and Electronics
• Administration and Management
• Economics and Accounting

Skills

• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Near Vision
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Problem Sensitivity
• Category Flexibility