Medical Secretaries (NOC 1243)

Description

Medical secretaries perform a variety of secretarial and administrative duties in doctor's offices, hospitals, medical clinics and other medical settings.

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Example Titles

medical secretary
ward secretary

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Classified Elsewhere

Medical records clerks (in 1413 Records Management and Filing Clerks)
Medical transcriptionists (in 1244 Court Recorders and Medical Transcriptionists)

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Duties

Medical secretaries perform some or all of the following duties:

Schedule and confirm medical appointments and receive and communicate messages for medical staff and patients
Prepare, key in, edit, and proofread medical records, reports, articles, case histories and correspondence from machine dictation, shorthand and handwritten notes using computers
Interview patients in order to complete forms, documents and case histories
Complete insurance and other claim forms
Initiate and maintain confidential medical files and records
Prepare financial statements and billing procedures
Order supplies and maintain inventory
Determine and establish office procedures and routines
May supervise and train other staff in procedures and in use of current software.

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Skills

Medical secretaries need the following skills and abilities:

an interest in health care and ability to deal with patients in a sympathetic way,
knowledge of medical terminology,
good organizational and time management skills,
excellent oral and written communication skills: good at spelling, punctuation, grammar,
the ability to pay careful attention to details,
be able to maintain confidentiality,
the ability to work as part of a team and get along with people of various types,
skills in operating office equipment, including computers, and ability to learn new software,
may need basic bookkeeping skills,
initiative and ability to make decisions,
be able to work under pressure.

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Employment Requirements

In Manitoba, completion of secondary school is required.
Most employers prefer to hire those with college training in medical office administration and related areas.

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Terms & Conditions

Medical secretaries commonly work in an office environment, usually within doctors offices, medical clinics and hospitals. Some work irregular hours when their workplace is open to the public on evenings and weekends. Those who work in hospitals as ward secretaries may be on rotational shifts. Most medical secretaries work full-time (71%). All are salaried employees.

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Earnings

$23,000 per annum - starting

$31,800 per annum - average

$42,300 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

Programs in medical office administration are offered at the following training institutions:

Red River College
Academy of Learning (Brandon, South, Winnipeg North)
Akonliiwin Training Centre
CDI College, Herzing College
Robertson College
Winnipeg Technical College
Some high schools in Manitoba offers a Business Education program.

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Career Paths

High school graduates who have basic office skills may qualify for entry-level medical secretary positions. Some medical secretaries start their careers as office assistants or clerks.

In large organizations, experienced medical secretaries may move into supervisory positions.

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Outlook

Employment prospects for medical secretaries are expected to be good in the period 2010 to 2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 370.

Employment has been declining in this occupation for some time due to advances in technology. The increasing use of computerized medical records systems and billing systems in medical offices and clinics is reducing the number of medical secretaries required. However, as the population ages, there is more need for medical services and this should ensure on-going employment for medical secretaries. Most opportunities will result from openings created when workers leave or retire. Medical secretaries with good computer skills will have the best employment prospects.

Almost all medical secretaries are employed in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector (95%). A proportionally larger share of jobs are located in Winnipeg.

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