How to Become a Medical Secretary
Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Medical Secretary
What does a Medical Secretary do?
A Medical Secretary provides secretarial support to clinical staff. Performs various secretarial and clerical duties, such as typing reports and correspondence, transcribing written notes, maintaining records and files, answering phones, and arranging clinician schedules. Being a Medical Secretary may be responsible for entering clinician charges into medical billing system. Requires knowledge of medical terms and vocabulary. Additionally, Medical Secretary requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Medical Secretary works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. To be a Medical Secretary typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.
Medical secretaries -- sometimes called medical administrative assistants -- are often the right hand of the physician who needs to focus on practicing medicine.
With educational preparation that varies from a high school diploma and on-job training or post-secondary certificate to a bachelor’s degree, medical secretaries handle clerical and financial tasks in a medical office, clinic or hospital.
In some medical offices, the secretary also performs billing tasks.
Medical secretaries perform clerical duties in a doctor's or other health professional's office.
Medical secretaries interact with the public throughout the day, taking phone calls, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients.
Step 2: Learn best tips to become a Medical Secretary
Best tips for those who want to become a Medical Secretary
Here are some tips to become a Medical Secretary.
Step 3: View best colleges and universities for Medical Secretary
Best colleges and universities for Medical Secretary
- Butler University
- Carroll College
- Cooper Union
- High Point University
- Princeton University
- Providence College
Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be a Medical Secretary
Is being a Medical Secretary Worth it?
While the nurses and doctors do the healing, medical secretaries are just as vital to the health-care industry to take care of all the paperwork that’s required by everyone from insurance companies to government regulators, as well as the patients and doctors themselves.
As a medical secretary, you can find work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, dental practices or insurance offices.
Employers expect candidates to be familiar with medical terminology, to be skilled at typing and shorthand, to understand the basics of medical practice and to be skilled communicators.
The National Healthcareers Association offers the title of Medical Administrative Specialist, which requires at least high school education and one year of experience or official training before you can take the exam.
The American Medical Technologists offers a Medical Administrative Specialist credential, which you also get by applying and passing an exam.
Step 5: Prepare relevant skills for being a Medical Secretary
What skills do you need to be a Medical Secretary?
As with every job, there are some skills needed to succeed within this role. Possession of the following skills will help ensure successful day-to-day operations in this role: Call Screening, Document Preparation, Document Processing, Drafting Correspondence, Medical Billing, Office Administration, Reception and Gatekeeping, Records Management, Telephone Skills/Etiquette. In order to do well in this job, you must have the following skills: Email Software, General Office Software. This list doesn’t encompass every skill required for the role, but is a good place to start.
Medical secretaries also apply their knowledge of medical terminology, health insurance rules, and medical billing procedures.
In addition to performing administrative and supportive functions, they must know medical terminology and be familiar with various medical procedures and business practices.
A medical secretary should have good computer skills in order to accurately and efficiently process patient information, including payments and insurance claims, manage the office database and patient records, and manage the physician's schedule.
They should also be able to write and prepare reports and transcribe and type medical reports.
The annual salary for a medical secretary can vary based on work location, education, experience, and skills.
Step 6: View average salary for Medical Secretary
How much does a Medical Secretary make?
The average salary range for a Medical Secretary is from $39,904 to $49,430. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.
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Step 7: Find relevant Medical Secretary jobs, and apply.
Looking for Medical Secretary jobs?
Here are some Medical Secretary jobs in the United States.