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What is a Medical Secretary?
Job Description & Duties Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.
List of Medical Secretary Job Duties
- Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.
- Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.
- Prepare correspondence or assist physicians or medical scientists with preparation of reports, speeches, articles, or conference proceedings.
- Arrange hospital admissions for patients.
- Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.
- Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
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What Every Medical Secretary Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Medical Secretaries say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Support Specialist
- Billing Coordinator
- Physician Office Specialist
- Insurance Verifier
What Kind of Medical Secretary Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 574,200 jobs in the United States for Medical Secretary. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 22.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 129,000 new jobs for Medical Secretary by 2026. The BLS estimates 80,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Medical Secretary are Arizona, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Medical Secretary Average Salary
Medical Secretaries make between $25,390 and $51,890 a year.
Medical Secretaries who work in District of Columbia, Minnesota, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Secretaries make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,050 |
| Alaska | $40,820 |
| Arizona | $36,110 |
| Arkansas | $32,380 |
| California | $42,900 |
| Colorado | $38,890 |
| Connecticut | $42,270 |
| Delaware | $37,110 |
| District of Columbia | $50,370 |
| Florida | $33,520 |
| Georgia | $35,060 |
| Hawaii | $42,010 |
| Idaho | $34,270 |
| Illinois | $36,320 |
| Indiana | $35,030 |
| Iowa | $35,860 |
| Kansas | $34,280 |
| Kentucky | $32,220 |
| Louisiana | $30,660 |
| Maine | $34,390 |
| Maryland | $39,200 |
| Massachusetts | $43,450 |
| Michigan | $35,370 |
| Minnesota | $42,750 |
| Mississippi | $30,760 |
| Missouri | $34,270 |
| Montana | $32,540 |
| Nebraska | $34,160 |
| Nevada | $37,440 |
| New Hampshire | $40,200 |
| New Jersey | $42,670 |
| New Mexico | $32,680 |
| New York | $40,850 |
| North Carolina | $33,790 |
| North Dakota | $37,790 |
| Ohio | $34,450 |
| Oklahoma | $32,080 |
| Oregon | $40,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,550 |
| Rhode Island | $38,160 |
| South Carolina | $35,250 |
| South Dakota | $35,380 |
| Tennessee | $32,720 |
| Texas | $34,150 |
| Utah | $33,090 |
| Vermont | $39,440 |
| Virginia | $37,940 |
| Washington | $42,680 |
| West Virginia | $30,270 |
| Wisconsin | $35,830 |
| Wyoming | $34,760 |
What Tools & Technology do Medical Secretaries Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Medical Secretaries:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- Intuit QuickBooks
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Graphics software
How to Become a Medical Secretary
Learn what Medical Secretary education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Medical Secretary?
Who Employs Medical Secretaries?
The table below shows the approximate number of Medical Secretaries employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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