What does a Medical Secretary do?
A Medical Secretary is the first point of contact for a patient when they arrive. They greet patients and provide them with forms to fill out before seeing a Health Care Professional. They also file patient documents in a safe and secure location. The role involves coordinating appointments and treatment with other medical facilities when appropriate. Additionally, if any treatment or service received by the patient must be paid for, the Medical Secretary processes these payments.
Medical Secretary skills and qualifications
Candidates are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent for the role. Candidates also gain an advantage if have previous administrative experience in an office setting. Other essential skills for a Medical Secretary may include:
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail to maintain accurate records
- Friendly and relaxed style of communication both in-person and on the phone
- Good knowledge of medical terminology so they can respond appropriately to requests from health care professionals and patients
- Ability to organize and maintain a filing system containing all relevant patient information
- Ability to use computer software programs, such as MS Office, to update electronic records and appointment calendars
Medical Secretary experience requirements
Candidates are preferred to have previous work experience in a medical office, such as being a Medical Office Assistant. In some cases, an application who can demonstrate strong administrative skills in a different field will be hired as a Medical Secretary. Alternatively, you may look for a Medical Secretary with several years of experience in the role.
Medical Secretary education and training requirements
Candidates must have achieved a high school diploma or equivalent to be considered for the role. Some candidates will have a post-secondary qualification from a college in office administration or secretarial studies, but these qualifications are not a requirement.
Candidates may have completed an online diploma that is meant to train people without previous experience in the medical field in the use of medical terminology and basic administrative procedures. These candidates may be suitable for entry-level roles where you provide further training on the job.
Medical Secretary salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, a Medical Secretary earns on average $20.70 per hour in Canada. This can vary depending on the specific responsibilities of the job, the size of the medical facility, and the experience of the Medical Secretary.
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