Our students are in demand

For fast-growing careers, health-care is where it's at. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assistant will be among the fastest-growing occupation through 2016.
Request Information >>

DESCRIPTION
Medical Secretaries are a type of specialized secretary. These workers transcribe various kinds of dictation, prepare correspondence, and assist physicians or medical scientists with reports, speeches, articles, and conference proceedings. They also record simple medical histories, arrange for patients to be hospitalized, and order supplies. All Medical Secretaries need to be familiar with insurance rules, billing practices, and hospital or laboratory procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties of a Medical Secretary can include answering tele- phones, greeting patients, updating, copying and filing patient medical records, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling patient appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling bill- ing and bookkeeping.

Medical Secretaries should have good keyboarding and communications skills, including spelling, punctuation and oral communication. Because Medical Secretaries must be tactful in their dealings with many different people, employers also look for good interpersonal skills. The ability to keep things confidential, good judgment, organizational ability, and ambition are especially important for higher level positions. Continuing change in the office environment have increased the demand for secretaries who are flexible and versatile.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Medical Secretaries constantly interact with others and usually work with professionals in hospitals, laboratories, or in medical offices. Their jobs may involve sitting for long periods. They usually work a standard 40-hour week; however, office work lends itself to alternative or flexible working arrangements if desired.

EMPLOYMENT
Employment opportunities should be quite plentiful, especially for Medical Secretaries with strong skills. Demand for secretaries will rise as the economy grows and as the medical center expands. Growth in health services industries will spur faster then average employment growth.

ADVANCEMENT
Medical Secretaries can advance to a more responsible position by promotion or by specializing in Insurance Billing, Medical Coding, or Medical Transcription. Qualified Medical Secretaries who broaden their knowledge and enhance their skills may be promoted to Office Manager.

*Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2008 (2006-07) Edition