5 Reasons To Choose A Career As A Medical Secretary

February 14th, 2022 Heath & Fitness Careers

The healthcare industry is a booming field, with plenty of more growth to come. Now is a great time to step foot into this thriving industry or to consider a career in health.

There are many types of healthcare professions, all of which play a vital role in keeping people safe and healthy.

Medical secretaries are one of these important professions, performing a range of clerical tasks and responsibilities to ensure that patients are getting the care they need.

If you have the desire to work in healthcare or have past reception/admin experience and want a career change, then here are some reasons why becoming a medical secretary may be right for you.

What is a medical secretary and what do they do?

A medical secretary, also known as a medical administrative assistant, is responsible for performing clerical duties within a doctor’s clinic or hospital.

A medical secretary is similar to a records clerk or receptionist, as they perform office duties such as setting up appointments and welcoming patients along with organising paperwork and operating office equipment.

A medical secretary is the main point of contact between doctor and patient. Some daily tasks of a medical secretary include:

• Greeting patients and completing intake forms
• Preparing a patient’s medical history for doctor’s
• Arranging appointments
• Overseeing finances
• Organising staff meetings
• Managing medical software
• Maintaining staff calendars
• Maintains office supplies
• Transcribe dictation and prepares medical reports
• Maintains patient records and confidential documents

A medical secretary often oversees admin staff, but they may also work as a personal assistant to a senior member of staff or group of staff, ensuring everything is running efficiently and reliably.

Skills needed as a medical secretary

Becoming a medical secretary doesn’t require formal training, however, employers do favour those with experience or a relevant certificate since you will need to understand complex medical terms and procedures to succeed in this role.

Some valuable skills to have as a medical secretary include:

• High school education
• A relevant health or medical secretary certificate/qualification
• Previous medical receptionist experience
• Office admin/clerical experience
• Understanding of medical terminology
• Strong IT skills
• Great written and communication skills
• Exceptional time management
• Knowledge of patient confidentiality & privacy

Medical secretaries should also demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, as they are one of the first representatives that a visitor or patient will encounter. Since they will be meeting all types of people on a daily basis, it’s important to maintain a positive, welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the clinic door.

Benefits of becoming a medical secretary

1. Ability to fast track your career

The path to becoming a medical secretary is relatively short compared to other professions within the health field. This means you can launch your career as soon as possible! Even if you haven’t got previous experience, a medical secretary course is relatively short, with our own ICI Medical Secretary Course taking just 24 weeks to complete.

2. You get to build relationships with staff and patients

Medical secretaries spend a lot of their time interacting with staff and patients. They often meet people from a range of backgrounds since the medical field houses a diverse community of people. They also have the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives, helping to relax patients and providing them with assistance during their hospital stay or doctor’s visit.

3. Great salary

Medical secretaries have the potential to earn a great income straight away. In Australia, the average base salary for a medical secretary is $60,776 per year.

4. Flexible career options

As a medical secretary, you gain access to many different career paths within the health industry. Often, you’ll be given developmental programs such as on the job training and the opportunity to work across different roles and locations.

5. Ability to work in a team

Medical secretaries frequently work alongside other team members, such as admin staff, physicians, doctors and nurses. This makes the role great for those who value being part of a team and working collaboratively with others.

Start your career in health

If a career as a medical secretary sounds good to you, then consider enrolling into the ICI Medical Secretary Course. This course will give you the skills that employers are looking for and will allow you to fast track your career as a medical secretary, with a certificate of qualification upon completion.

by Gladys Mae

Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.