All About Medical Secretaries
Position Description 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.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Secretary
- Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
- Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
- Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.
- Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners’ diagnoses or recommendations into patients’ medical records.
- Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
- Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Medical Secretary?
Medical Secretaries state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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 for this Occupation:
- Medical Administrative Specialist
- Unit Secretary
- Medical Office Coordinator
- Hospital Secretary
- Ward Secretary
Job Opportunities for Medical Secretaries
There were about 574,200 jobs for Medical Secretary in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 80,800 positions for Medical Secretary per year.
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.
How Much Does a Medical Secretary Make?
The typical yearly salary for Medical Secretaries is somewhere between $25,390 and $51,890.
Medical Secretaries who work in District of Columbia, Minnesota, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Secretaries make in each U.S. state?
| 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Medical Secretaries
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical Secretaries may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Education needed to be a Medical Secretary:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Medical Secretaries Work
Below are examples of industries where Medical Secretaries work:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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