Are you hesitating between a technical or a relational profession? Discover the profession of medical secretary as well as its many missions, ranging from human relations to administrative management. A true assistant to the doctor, the medical secretary is also a trusted landmark for the patient.
The medical secretary, also called medico-social secretary, is the guarantor of the proper functioning of the medical practice or the service in which he works. Versatile, the medical secretary acts as the link between the healthcare professional and the patients. He manages the switchboard, sets patient appointments, manages doctors’ agendas, etc. He therefore manages both the physical or oral reception of patients and the administrative part. In a medical office, the medical secretary ensures the reception and information of patients. He registers their arrival and invites them to wait in the waiting room. He also manages the doctors’ mail and medical records patients, which must be kept for 30 years.
In hospital or clinic, the medical secretary takes care of the patients by planning all the appointments necessary for a possible hospitalization. He may also be required to write reports of consultations or operations in order to put the information communicated by the doctor to the proper terms.
The medical secretary is also responsible for assisting the doctor in the management of the practice by purchasing supplies and managing invoices. Finally, he has a role of educator with patients by answering their questions or reassuring them in the event of apprehension.
The main skills and qualities to have
The medical secretary must be versatile and have both technical and interpersonal skills:
- be familiar with the medical activity and the regulations in force;
- have a great command of medical vocabulary;
- know how to manage priorities;
- know how to manage telephone calls;
- have good resistance to stress;
- master IT and management tools;
- know archiving techniques;
- know how to respect medical confidentiality and exercise discretion;
- love human contact;
- be patient and educator;
- know how to remain friendly and diplomatic in all circumstances;
- demonstrate rigor and organization;
- have a great listening capacity;
- know how to adapt to the personality of the doctor (s) to whom he is attached.
Work conditions
The profession of medical secretary is recruiting. It is therefore not difficult to enter the labor market. In the private sector, working hours are often extended. In the public, obtaining a cdi is sometimes more complicated. The medical secretary spends a lot of time in a sitting position.
How to become a medical secretary?
There is no specific diploma for the profession of medical secretary. However, a technological baccalaureate in health and social sciences and technologies (ST2S) is recommended, followed by training in medical secretary. Several organizations offer this training:
- Red Cross school (8 schools in France);
- the CNED;
- private training centers;
- public or private vocational schools.
The profession is also accessible with a patent, BEP or CAP level if the person has three years of experience in a hospital or medico-social environment.
To be able to work in the public service, the candidate will also have to pass a category B competition.
The salary of a medical secretary
As a beginner, a medical secretary earns around 1,400 euros gross in the civil service. In the private sector, his salary will be around 1,500 euros gross monthly. In the public sector, his remuneration will then increase over the years according to the steps of the salary scale of the hospital public service. At the end of his career, his salary is around 2,500 euros gross per month.
The development prospects of a medical secretary
In the public sector, the medical secretary can progress through the ranks of the public service. He can also take other competitions such as the nursing school or the nursing assistant competition. In a private practice, the caregiver can acquire new responsibilities, in particular by training in new IT or accounting tools. He can also become the assistant of several doctors or help in the preparation of care.
Companies that employ medical secretaries
- Doctor’s office ;
- hospital or clinic;
- laboratory;
- radiology practice;
- retirement home.
My job explained to my mother
Mom, my job is to physically or by telephone welcome patients who come to consult in a doctor’s office or in a hospital. I fix the appointments, make sure that the medical file is complete, I manage the schedules of various health professionals and I make the link between the patients and the doctors. An exciting job that combines human relations and technical aspects, even if sometimes I would like to be able to unplug the phone!
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