68-Medical secretaries

Job Title: 

Medical secretaries

Job Description: 

Perform secretarial duties utilizing specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory policies, procedures and practices.

Summary: 

Medical secretaries, using specialized knowledge of medical terminology and health care delivery procedures, assist health professionals and other workers by performing a variety of communication, documentation, administrative and internal coordination functions, to support health workers in medical facilities and other health-care related organizations

Tasks: 

Job activities and tasks include:

  • scheduling and confirming medical appointments and communicating messages for medical staff and patients
  • compiling, recording and reviewing medical charts, reports, documents and correspondence
  • interviewing patients to complete forms, documents and case histories
  • completing insurance and other claims forms
  • maintaining medical files and records and technical library
  • preparing financial statements and billing procedures
  • assisting in the preparation of budgets, drafting of contracts and purchasing or acquisition orders
  • supervising the work of office support workers and other office staff
Knowledge: 

Performing and coordinating a medical office?s administrative activities

  • Storing, retrieving, and integrating medical and related information for dissemination to staff and clients
  • Serving as information and communication managers for an office
  • Planning and scheduling meetings and appointments
  • Organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files
  • Managing office projects
  • Conducting research and disseminating information by using the telephone, mail services, websites, and e-mail
  • May handle travel and guest arrangements
  • High level word processing skills and use computers to do tasks previously handled by managers and professionals; such as creating spreadsheets, composing correspondence, managing databases, and creating presentations, producing reports and documents using desktop publishing software and digital graphics
  • Negotiating with vendors, maintaining and examining leased equipment, purchasing supplies, managing areas such as medical laboratories and providers, stockrooms or medical libraries, and retrieving data from various sources
  • Providing high-level administrative support for an office and for top medical practitioners and/or executives of an organization; performing generalist clerical tasks than do secretaries and more information management
  • Arranging conference calls and supervising other clerical staff, they may handle more complex responsibilities such as reviewing incoming memos, submissions, and reports in order to determine their significance and to plan for their distribution
  • Preparing agendas and managing arrangements for meetings of committees and executive boards
  • Preparing correspondence and medical papers such as complaints, motions, and responses under the supervision of a medical practitioner or health services manager/ executive
    • Work Context: 

    Managers and professionals have assumed many tasks traditionally assigned to medical secretaries and medical administrative assistants, such as keyboarding and answering the telephone. Because they do less dictation and word processing, they now have time to support more members of the medical fraternity. In a number of organizations, medical secretaries and medical administrative assistants work in teams to work flexibly and share their expertise. Many provide training and orientation for new staff, conduct research on the Internet, and operate and troubleshoot new office technologies. Specific job duties vary with experience and titles; such as medical secretary, medical practice manager or medical office administrative assistant.

    Education: 

    Diploma in medical secretaries and medical administrative assistants or related field of work, higher qualification or equivalent.

    Required Work Experience: 

    2 - 3 years and above

    Probable Employers: 

    SEHA, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, NMC Hospital

    Occupational Size: 
    Less than 5,000
    Expected Earnings: 

    Above the industry average

    Projected Growth: 
    Very good
    Alternate Titles: 

    Examples of job titles:
    Medical secretary - Medical practice manager - Medical office administrative assistant - Hospital ward secretary - Patient care secretary - Medical stenographer - Medical insurance assistant - Billing secretary - Pathology secretary - Medical transcriptionist - Medical stenographer
    Examples of some related occupations:
    Medical records technician - Medical assistant - Medical office receptionist - Secretary (general)

    UAE Industry Groups: 
    Community, health and social services
    International Careers(ISCO): 
    Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
    Source Of Info: 
    Occupations and Careers Handbook for UAE Nationals(Copyright NQA ). Referenced from New York University, Abu Dhabhi