Medical Secretary - Job Description, Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Medical Secretary
Even though hospitals and medical facilities need quality doctors and nurses, they are also in constant need of responsible and capable medical secretaries. Medical secretaries are the ones who make certain the office runs smoothly and are responsible for various clerical duties that support the doctors or others in the healthcare field.
Job Description
Medical secretary careers involve flexibility and organization. You must be ready to perform an array of tasks. A typical medical secretary job description entails:
- creating spreadsheets
- entering data into a specific computer program
- managing databases
- managing email between medical personnel
- word processing.
Medical secretaries must be able to understand basic science and medical terminology, as well as comprehend a patient's insurance information.
Depending on the size of the medical institution, a medical secretary might be responsible for serving at the front desk, answering the phone and greeting new patients. In larger institutions, a medical secretary might not be involved in patient activity at all but might work as personal secretaries for other medical administrators.
Other possible responsibilities include:
- coordinating payroll
- ensuring compliance with medical regulations, such as safety and age-specific guidelines
- publishing and editing the company newsletter
- tallying time sheets and attendance.
Salary Guide
The average medical secretary salary in the United States is about $27,900, with a salary range of about $21,000-$32,300. In May 2006, the median medical secretary salary was about $28,090, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $40,870. The large gap in how much a medical secretary makes is due to the size of the institution as well as the assigned responsibilities of the secretary.
Education and Training
Medical secretaries are required to have at least a high-school diploma or equivalent. Anyone who is interested in becoming a medical secretary can start as early as high school by taking preparatory medical secretary courses in algebra, word processing, English and business.
As far as a college education is concerned, it is possible to pursue a vocational/technical school education. Medical secretary diploma courses include typing, bookkeeping, medical terminology, pharmacology, medical office procedures and medical transcription. It is also possible to pursue an associate's degree by taking classes in:
- business
- interpersonal communications
- medical communications
- public relations
- professional standards and ethics
- schedule and meeting planning
- software applications.
Other college alternatives include a Bachelor's in Health Administration. That curriculum usually includes courses in health information systems, healthcare law, marketing, health economics, human resources, accounting and budgeting. It is also possible to pursue medical secretary diploma courses with a master's degree or doctorate.
Prior Work Experience
A medical secretary is generally an entry-level position. One of the ways to improve your hiring potential is through education. It also helps to have administrative experience in business computer applications, shorthand, record keeping and other related administrative material.
Career Advancement
Opportunities for advancement vary depending on the medical secretary's education. Any medical secretary who wants greater advancement in their career should pursue an increased education.
Related Associations and Groups
- American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT)
- International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
- Professional Secretaries International World Headquarters.