Job Description - Medical Secretary:
A medical secretary performs clerical duties in a medical office, using a variety of office equipment including computers, fax machines, a telephone system and scanners. He utilizes his knowledge of medical terminology, insurance rules and medical billing procedures.
Employment Facts - Medical Secretary:
There were 471,000 medical secretaries employed in 2008.
Educational Requirements - Medical Secretary:
In addition to graduating from high school and having basic office skills, someone who wants to work as a medical secretary must go through a specialized training program which will teach him or her medical terminology.
Other Requirements - Medical Secretary:
Medical secretaries must be proficient typists. They must also spell well, use proper grammar and have good oral communication and interpersonal skills.
Advancement Opportunities - Medical Secretary:
A medical secretary can advance into other administrative jobs with greater responsibility.
Job Outlook - Medical Secretary:
The job outlook for medical secretaries is excellent. This occupation is projected to grow faster, through 2018, than other occupations that require only on-the-job training or experience (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Earnings - Medical Secretary:
Medical secretaries earned median hourly wages of $14.51 and a median annual salary of $30,190 in 2009.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much a Medical Secretary currently earns in your city.
A Day in a Medical Secretary's Life:
On a typical day a medical secretary's tasks might include:
- answering phone calls
- scheduling appointments
- greeting patients
- completing insurance forms
- helping patients complete intake forms
- receiving laboratory results and routing them to appropriate staff
- maintaining medical files
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos151.htm (visited April 22, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Medical Secretary, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/43-6013.00 (visited November 30, 2010).
