Medical secretaries hold a lot of responsibility in the facility they work at. Maintaining patient files, orchestrating communications and calendars, and problem solving are all integral parts of the job. However, there are many other responsibilities that medical secretaries have. Read further to learn about the fast-paced, but enjoyable career path of a medical secretary.
Find a medical secretary school near you.
What is a Medical Secretary?
Not only do medical secretaries handle administrative duties — they also provide clerical support throughout the entire office, facility, or hospital they work in. Medical secretaries are typically the first person patients encounter when they enter the office, and the last face they see on their way out. They should be personable people with an excellent knowledge of medical terminology and procedures.
Most medical secretaries work in doctors' offices and hospitals, but they may also work in private practices, labs, pharmaceutical companies, and even at health insurance agencies.
What a Medical Secretary Does
The job of a medical secretary is a busy one. Medical secretaries are tasked with handling all administrative duties within the office they work in. But what exactly do they do?
Medical secretaries are responsible for the following (and more):
- Create physician and patient schedule
- Schedule exams and follow up exams for patients
- Maintain patient paperwork
- Collect needed information from the patient for billing purposes
- Schedule surgeries and various other procedures
- Stock office supplies
- Answer phones, which involves taking questions and patient referrals
- Screen and sort emails
- Patient and third-party billing
- Transcribe and record physician notes
- Directing reps, or medical partners in the office
Aside from having the knowledge that is necessary to maintain operations within a medical facility, medical secretaries must be detail-oriented and organized. Secretaries will also want to be familiar with any relevant software that companies may use for medical record keeping, or billing. Let's review some other soft skills necessary for medical secretaries.
Medical Secretary Skills
Of course, medical secretaries should be pleasant enough to make patients feel welcome in the office upon arrival. However, even if you are not someone who considers themselves outgoing, you can still make a fantastic secretary. Being personable enough and knowledgeable will get you far in the field.
Other soft skills of a great medical secretary include but are not limited to:
- Organization. Maintaining patient files and being able to access them quickly will be important
- Communication. Being able to communicate with colleagues and patients alike will get you far
- Attention to Detail. The career encompasses a large amount of paperwork — little details should not go unnoticed
- Privacy and Compliance. Secretaries need to be aware of and adhere to all legal confidentiality regulations within the medical industry
- Support. Since many office operations run across the secretary desk, secretaries should be team players
- Deadlines. Understanding and complying with deadlines will be imperative
- Even keeled. Even during a fast-paced day, medical secretaries that can remain calm under pressure will be valuable
- Researcher. At times, you might need to do some digging to get the specific answer you're looking for
- Tech-Savvy. You will likely be using software and different programs to carry out daily tasks
Prerequisites for a Certification Program
To enroll in a medical secretary school near you, you are first required to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Trade/vocational schools and community colleges have two-year programs that are geared toward medical secretaries. Whichever schooling route you decide to choose, you will generally review the following topics: business communication, medical terminology, anatomy, insurance claims, transcription, and database management.
Professional organizations also offer certifications for medical secretaries. While certifications for medical secretaries are not always necessary, they can be an excellent career move. Receiving certain certifications can help you become proficient with a certain software or databases used among medical secretaries.
Some certifications available are through International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), which offers the Certified Administrative Professional certification. The American Association of Medical Assistants is where you can earn the Certified Medical Assistant designation, which will add another facet to your skill set.
Medical Secretary Salary Info in 2022
Medical secretaries have pretty standard 9-5 jobs, with very few weekend and evening hours if they work in a private medical practice or clinic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical secretaries in 2022 made an average of $41,260 with the top 10 percent making $55,620 or more. Note, however, that salaries can look very different depending on where you live, your experience level, and which section of the medical industry you’re in.
States Paying the Highest Salaries
State | Salary |
| Washington | $48,960 |
$47,990 | |
$47,640 | |
| $46,970 |
Your career as a medical secretary easily lends itself to a couple of other options that are related to the medical field. Some medical secretaries decide to go into medical records and health information, which has a positive job outlook and an average 2022 salary of $51,090. Another option is medical assisting; this career will combine both clinical and administrative duties.
Becoming a medical secretary means that you can work anywhere in the U.S.; the skills you have are transferable and marketable. With the proper training, education, and certifications, you will be entering a career that is both rewarding and satisfying.
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