Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Medical secretaries and administrative assistants play an important role in healthcare by providing administrative support to healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations. They are responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and managing the front office.

Medical secretaries and administrative assistants have a variety of duties, which include:

Answering phones and responding to patient inquiries

Scheduling appointments and coordinating with other healthcare providers

Verifying patient insurance coverage and processing insurance claims

Entering patient data into electronic health record (EHR) systems and maintaining patient records

Transcribing physician’s notes and preparing reports

Billing and coding medical procedures

Performing administrative tasks such as ordering supplies and preparing correspondence.

Medical secretaries and administrative assistants typically have a high school diploma or equivalent, and may also have postsecondary education in medical office administration. They do not require licensure but employers may require certification from professional organizations such as the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) or the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

In addition, with the recent advancement in technology, many healthcare facilities are now using EHR systems and other digital platforms, which has increased the need for medical secretaries and administrative assistants with knowledge of these systems.

In summary, Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants play a vital role in healthcare by providing administrative support to healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations, which helps to keep the healthcare system running smoothly, and allowing healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.