Medical Secretary

Receptionist working at the front desk

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.

Educational Requirements

for Medical Secretaries
The typical entry level education for this occupation is a high school diploma or equivalent. Those with a postsecondary training (non-degree) have a competitive advantage in the labor market.

Knowledge

Examples of the knowledge needed for success in this occupation is listed below, in order of importance.
  • Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

Examples of the skills needed for success in this occupation are listed below, in order of importance.
  • Speaking: Talking to others.
  • Active Listening: Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  • Service Orientation: Looking for ways to help people.

Abilities

Examples of the abilities needed for success in this occupation are listed below, in order of importance.
  • Oral Comprehension: Listening and understanding what people say.
  • Oral Expression: Communicating by speaking.
  • Speech Recognition: Recognizing spoken words.
  • Speech Clarity: Speaking clearly.
  • Written Comprehension: Reading and understanding what is written.

Detailed Work Activities

Examples of the detailed work activities involved with this occupation are listed below, in order of importance.
  • Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
  • Operate office equipment.
  • Operate computers or computerized equipment.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
  • Maintain medical records.