Occupation

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Human Advantage 69%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.4 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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.

Also Known As: Administrative Support Specialist, Appointment Scheduler, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMMA), Client Service Coordinator, Clinic Office Assistant, Dental Front Desk Receptionist, Dental Office Receptionist, Dental Receptionist +38 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
  2. Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
  3. Complete insurance or other claim forms.
  4. Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
  5. Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
  6. Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
  7. Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff.
  8. Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.
  9. Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.
  10. Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.
  11. Perform various clerical or administrative functions, such as ordering and maintaining an inventory of supplies.

Supplemental Tasks (4)

  1. Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners' diagnoses or recommendations into patients' medical records.
  2. Compile and record medical charts, reports, or correspondence, using typewriter or personal computer.
  3. Schedule tests or procedures for patients, such as lab work or x-rays, based on physician orders.
  4. Prepare correspondence or assist physicians or medical scientists with preparation of reports, speeches, articles, or conference proceedings.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
48%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
26%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
20%
Less than a High School Diploma
5%
Some College Courses
1%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Epic Systems
  • Google Docs
  • Henry Schein Dentrix
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software

Software (52)

  • Accounts payable software
  • Accounts receivable software
  • Addressing software
  • Allscripts Payerpath
  • Allscripts Professional PM
  • Amazing Charts
  • Billing software
  • CPSI CPSI System
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Data entry software
  • Database software
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Electronic health record EHR software
  • Email software
  • Google Drive
  • Graphics software
  • HMS
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • IDX Groupcast
  • Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale
  • MEDENT
  • MEDITECH Medical and Practice Management MPM Suite
  • McKesson Lytec
  • Medical condition coding software
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsys MicroMD
  • NaviMedix NaviNet
  • Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
  • PracticeWorks Systems Kodak WINOMS CS
  • Scheduling software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Web browser software
  • Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance CMS Secure Net Access Portal C-SNAP
  • Word processing software
  • dBASE Plus
  • eMDs Medisoft

Tools & Equipment (13)

  • Credit card processing machines
  • Desktop computers
  • Dictaphones
  • Hospital intercom equipment
  • Laptop computers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Laser printers
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment
  • Scanners
  • Switchboards

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Health Data & Administration Education

Zone 2
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants You are here
Zone 5
Historians 77% match

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