What about managing patient records and checking them in?
In the medical field, the title of Medical Clerk (or Medical Secretary) may not be as respected or revered as, say, the position of physician or nurse. Another name for this profession is Medical Records and Health Information Technician.
In a hospital, doctor's office, clinic, health department or medical center, the clerk is the first person who initiates contact with a patient. It is the office staff person who checks a patient in before his/her appointment, collecting their personal and insurance information and learning or verifying the reason for his/her visit.
Perhaps just as important, the Medical clerk gives the patient his/her first impression of a medical facility. The presence of a friendly, smiling clerk at the front desk will put the patient at ease, helping to ease and alleviate any concerns they may have about their visit.
Conversely, the medical clerk is often the last staffer the patient will see before leaving the office. It is the responsibility of the clerk to present patients with important documents like bills and prescriptions; and to send him/her away with warm wishes for a speedy recovery.
Moreover, the presence of a knowledgeable, professional medical clerk puts doctors and nurses at ease; assuring them that their offices are running smoothly. Healthcare professionals rely on their clerks to provide timely and accurate information about patients and their conditions. They depend on them to maintain patient records, to set patient appointments, to register patient concerns and complaints. As a result, they often treat their medical clerks with the upmost respect; respect that just may translate to salary bonuses for good work.
And, like administrative assistants in other professions, medical clerks are pretty much given the run of the office. They decorate the work space and perform basic cleaning duties, type up memos and answer phones, and must decipher physicians' handwriting in office correspondence; perhaps the biggest challenge of all!:)
Aside from respect and responsibility, the job title of medical clerk carries a number of other benefits. Professionals in this field typically earn at least $30,000 per year; more if they work for large medical facilities in upscale areas, or if they have advanced degrees and/or many years of experience.
Furthermore, one does not have to spend years in medical school, or to complete exhausting hospital internships, to become a medical clerk. Someone who has earned a high school diploma or equivalent is welcome to apply for a position in this field; though most employees do prefer that candidates hold an associate's degree, with an emphasis on math, English, medical terminology, insurance billing, dictation, and word processing skills.
Medical clerks are the collective driving force behind the medical profession. No healthcare facility, be it a hospital, clinic, health department office, or physician's space, can operate without the presence and contributions of this medical profession; so if you truly want to make a difference in the caring profession, check out a career as a medical clerk today.
