Medical Secretary Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How do you become a medical secretary? I'm thinking of re-training, and would like to know more about becoming a medical secretary. Is there a specific course or qualification required - I've googled this and can see that Medical Terminology is one, are there any others? I already have pretty good administration skills.... but would these be enough? Also what are the rates of pay like, and is there room for progression and development? Any info or advice would be gratefully received, thanks you guys!

Answer: I work currently as a medical office in the job that I do right now, and this is pretty similar to being a medical secretary, except with a medical secretary, there is usually more of a concentration on transcription, as well as the clinical and administrative duties. The classes that I took when I was in the medical office assistant program were typing, microcomputers (ms office -- excel, powerpoint, word, access, outlook), business communications (typing letters), medical terminology, medical billing, pharmaceutical terminology, clinical procedures, medical office procedures, Word Perfect, medical transcription, and basic bookkeeping. With the office experience that you have had within the job, you might be able to negotiate with the school on the business communication, microcomputers, and typing courses. The other ones I would recommend that you do, as some of them are complex, and would be hard to challenge. The office component parts, like the ones that I mentioned in the office experience there, you might be able to challenge. The pay rate depending on where you live could be between 13 and 25 an hour for this position to start. I hope that this helps you.

Question: Can somebody give me a helpful tips for my upcoming interview particularly for Medical Secretary? I have an upcoming interview for Medical secretary job, can somebody provide me a helpful tips like a sample for a possible question and answer to that question

Answer: look at this site http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-answer-23-of-the-most-common-interview-questions

Question: Do i have to go to school for medical secretray in order to work as a secretary in any clinic? i worked before in a doctors office filing answering phones and all that im just wondering i was planning to go for medical secretary in school but isnt it the same thing

Answer: If you go to school, it'll help you easy to look for a job in future. For me, go to school for medical secretary is waste money because it's cost you as a medical assistant or little lower, so why don't you go to school for medical assistant (my opp) I went to school for medical assistant and now I got a job for medical secretary and I also do a medical assitant. If you have medical assitant certificate, you can work for medical secretary. In opposite, they don't hired you for medical assistant if you only have medical secretary certificate. Good luck

Question: Interview with NHS for the post of a Medical Secretary? My interview is scheduled for next week. I would appreciate if anyone could give me some useful tips on the type of questions they would ask me? Maybe you are already working as a Medical Secretary within the NHS or have some hints that you can share with me to to be successful in this interview.

Answer: Things that they might ask you: What prompted you to apply for the job in question? Tell me a little about yourself? As a trust we value equality and diversity, how will you bring this into your role as a medical secretary and how would you ensure that this is applied? (Hint: think disabled parking, ramps in the office, leaflets in languages other than english, booking interpreters, valuing workmates from other cultures) Some of our clients get distressed on the telephone. How would you deal with this? How does your prior experience fit this role? HINTS Show that you can work both unsupervised on your own and within a team. Show that you are flexible and happy to help others out. Make the point you are punctual and accurate in your work. Make reference to getting work done on time and correctly. Mention any secretarial qualifications you might already have. There might be tests - eg spelling test and a typing test. These will not be that hard, more like write an appt letter to Mr Brown regarding an appt next Thurs at 10 am. (Hint: When you do this, lay out the letter correctly with date, reference and address, think about putting in doctor's name and title that they will be seeing, details of how to find the clinic (say see attached map), put in that they can bring a friend or family member with them if they wish, state how long the appt might last) Final thoughts: it really won't be as bad as you might think. In my experience NHS interviews are much easier than interviews in corporate life. Be clean, smart, punctual, polite. Go for it.

Question: what If going back to school would be a better choice in medical field medical secretary or medical assistant? what If going back to school would be a better choice in medical field medical secretary or medical assistant?

Answer: Since the MA can do front office & back office & the med sect'y can only do front; MA has more opportunities. That being said, many many MAs can't find a job either due to soooo many being trained out there; so look around your area for what job seems to be in demand.

Question: What is the next step after Medical Secretary/Admin. Assistant? I am interested in becoming a Medical Secretary/Admin. Assistant. I don't know that I am interested in becoming a Medical Assistant. I like the clerical aspect of being a secretary. So where can I go from there career wise? Can I just get more education to get better pay? Can I specialize as a secretary (i.e. ophthalmalogy, gynecology, etc.)? What are my options for moving up?

Answer: You can get a degree in Health Information Technology or Medical Office Administration. You can move up from a secretary to a supervisor role or office manager.

Question: Medical Secretary? Can you tell me what you know about them? I have a one page report on them. So i need help..

Answer: Hi Krissy! 1) Schedule Tests 2) Schedule Procedures 3) Make Patients Appointments 4) Check on Medical Insurances and calls for Insurance Referral's 5) Calls for Pre-Authorization for Tests 6) Makes appointment reminder calls 7) Take down Prescription calls/request 8) Sending letters out to Patients per Doctor in regards to cancellation of an appointment or Clinic if the Doctor will not be in that particular day 9) Filing 10) Typing 11) Putting together Medical Records/Chart or File

Question: How do you become a medical Secretary in UK? I want to study online if possible. I am not in the medical field as of now, but would like to be a medical secratery or something along that line, not a Nurse. Please if anyone has any info or advise on where to start and who to contact it would be great! Thank you.

Answer: Contact your local University.

Question: how do i become a medical secretary? i want to become medical secretary, but my local collage told me they only do courses foe people though hospitals, i live in cheshire UK. do u know an good agencies in this area where i can get training work in this role? or where can i do a course?

Answer: Best way would be to get a job as a junior secretary at hospital and they would send you for training, so, keep looking for them at www.jobs.nhs.uk (best place to get jobs in NHS). However, most nhs employers would want a experienced or atleast a person familier with medical terminology and typing. For that your best bet would be to get medical secretary diploma from distant learning if college near you won't entertain self funded students. There are few out there providing the same... http://www.medical-secretary.co.uk/ ---- They offer quite few levels. http://www.pitman-training.com/diplomas/medical-secretarial-diploma.html ----- There is also Pitman Training institute they offer range of diploma, one for you would be "Medical Secretarial Diploma", give them a ring on 0800 220 454 and ask for further details. Best of luck

Question: I went in for an interview for a Medical Secretary? I went into a Pediatric office for an interview. (Medical secretary) alittle over 2 weeks ago. She told me should would contact me in two weeks, but i havent heard anything. I called her last week, and left a voicemail..so, today Im going too write a followup letter/email.. I've never done this before though..can someone please help me out..give me a rough example of what this should look like?

Answer: Good idea. Keep it short and sweet and positive. Something like: Ms. Jones, I wanted to touch base with you regarding my interview on Jan 1. I enjoyed meeting you and seeing the practice, and I felt like I could handle the position and fit in with the office.... Then maybe you'd like to say something like, "even if you can not use me at this time, I hope you will keep me in mind for any future openings." And close with something like; "if you have any further questions you'd like to ask, please contact me at..." Then thank her for the interview! Good luck

Question: If I am currently a pharmacy technician, am I "overqualified" to be medical secretary? I am looking for another job and I want to apply for one as a secretary at the local hospital. The only requirements are HS Diploma (which I have) and that the person has excellent communication skills. Should I apply? I think I would LOVE that job. It is basically answering phones and scheduling appointments.

Answer: You may or may not be overqualified. Only the receptionist answers phones and schedules appointments. The medical secretary has to do all the word processing, medical records preparation and filing, and may do some accounting, payment processing, and more. How are your computer skills? Which programs? Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook (or other email), scheduling software, what else? How's your spelling? Writing/typing correspondence? It is entirely possible that you are so underqualified that you cannot get a job. Depends on who wants what and what you have to offer!

Question: what is the difference between medical assistant and medical secretary? im going to school for medical specialist my friend is going for medical assistant could some one tell me the difference i go in septmeber of this year

Answer: A medical assistant helps the professional with the medical procedures for patients. This may also involve ordering and storing medication and other medical equipoment. A medical secretary writes letters and minutes etc. and may be required to pay the invoices.

Question: Medical Secretary Position- What should I add besides a resume and cover letter? I've applied online for a secretarial job at one of our local hospitals. I really want the position so I have decided to also send a resume and cover letter to the human resources office. What other things can I add to make myself stand out above the crowd? Any answers are appreciated. Thanks and have a wonderful day! : )

Answer: Make sure your cover letter is PERFECT. No errors at all. Have someone proof it for you-I always do, because a second set of eyes is great. Make sure you put the name of the hospital on the letter, so it is personalized. If you do not have a name to send the letter to, write: Dear Hiring Manager: Your resume needs to be updated and perfect, too. Did you go to school for this? If so, add a copy of your diploma/cert. to the resume and cover letter. After you send it, wait a few days, call and see if it was received. That is about all you can do at this point. GOOD LUCK!

Question: How do I market myself as a self employed Medical Secretary and Private Patients Manager ? Currently I work with three consultants managing their practices which are very part time. I want to expand and get more doctors to use the service. I have a website going live in about two weeks and have regular contacts with staff at the local NHS and private hospitals plus notices in education rooms in the hospital. Any other suggestions or ideas? Suzi

Answer: Email marketing campaign is best for you. 1. You can reach thousands of interested people in your service in short time. 2. Its cheap and very cost effective copaired to other marketing methods. 3. You can control all advertising campaigns. 4. Fast and effective. Here are some best email marketing compnies, http://email-marketingtips.blogspot.com/

Question: How can I break into the world of legal secretarial work? I've been a medical secretary now for the past? 10 years or so, but each time I try to do the same kind of work in a legal setting, I can't get anywhere. Why is this? I've tried agencies and applied for permanent roles, but still nowhere.

Answer: Good legal secretaries are now highly valued members of staff in law firms. When I helped set up a law firm in 1997 I head-hunted a legal secretary from my old employer. She had no formal training in legal secretarial work and minimal knowledge of legal terms. What clinched it for me was:- * fast accurate typing speed * good telephone manner * smart, efficient, polite and presentable * adaptable and willing to learn * a good basic knowledge of IT, especially word-processing (Microsoft WORD is the most commonly used) Larger law firms can pay the highest salaries and will therefore most likely prefer to take on staff who already have knowledge and experience as legal secretaries. For someone without such knowledge and experience I would suggest three possible approaches:- * go on a training course (this is my least preferred because a qualification only shows a theoretical knowledge of the subject and no practical experience) * apply to smaller firms (who may, in any event, sponsor you through some additional training). A smaller firm with a willingness to "break you in gently", perhaps as an assistant secretary in the first instance is a good first step. * apply for a related job. We took on a receptionist/admin assistant some years back. She did everything from answer the phone to making the tea and while she was doing all that she learnt what it was all about. Soon we were giving her small amounts of work such as standard letters etc. Some years later she is now a core member of our secretarial team with primary responsibilty for preparing Legal Aid Bills and complex documents. Hope this helps - and good luck!

Question: how long do you have to go to college to become a medical secretary? medical transcriptionist? i'm interested in both of things & wanted to do both, but i just wanna know how long each would take me so i can do both! thankss.

Answer: At some community colleges, there are 2 year programs that will give you a degree for those occupations. I know for some jobs like that you can complete classes in under a year for a certificate. It depends on the employer really, they may want a degree, or may just require a certificate, but it's totally possible to get some kind of certification in 1-2 years.