Typing Skills (Excerpt From Steps to Becoming a Medical Secretary)

    

    When I applied for the job as a medical secretary, I had to take a typing test. Now I already knew how to type because I am a writer, but I still had to take the test. And depending on the company you are applying to; you may have to meet a 35-wpm typing requirement.

         The typing test will measure your typing speed, your proficiency, your comprehension, and your spelling. The typing test may also test your knowledge of Word and Excel.

      This is necessary because you may be called upon to type up memos or flyers or to track and input information into a spreadsheet.

        Also, a lot of hospitals are going paperless, so knowing how to work a computer is a must.

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Why Is It So Hard to Get a Job as a Unit Secretary? (Video)

Getting a job as a unit secretary in a hospital is hard! Whether you have prior experience or not, it is tough getting a job. 

Some of my suggestions to work around this is to:

• Apply to work per diem to get your foot in the door
• Apply at another type of medical facility like a Skilled Nursing facility, Rehabilitation Facility, Nursing Home, etc.
• Apply for another job within the hospital that will get you in. For example, I knew a guy who was a Unit Secretary at the rehab facility right next to the hospital, but he could not get a job as a unit secretary in the hospital. So, he took a job as a transporter. He had to wait for six months before he could apply for the position, but hey he was in.

I offer more suggestions in the video above.

Medical Terminology (Excerpt From Steps To Becoming a Medical Secretary)

      One thing that you will learn very quickly is that the medical field has its own language. Some people say that taking a medical terminology course is not necessary, but I disagree.

          As a medical secretary, you'll have to be familiar with abbreviations that are commonly used (example: CBC, which is short for Comprehensive Blood Count). You'll need to know what body parts are called (example: the medical word for the nose is rhino; that's why people have rhinoplasty). You'll need to know what specialty a doctor is (example: an otolaryngologist, is commonly known as ENT, which stands for Ear, Nose, Throat).

          These are things that you must know.

          Example: You will have a doctor put in a consultation with another doctor, and the reason is “Patient Known to You”. Well, if the patient is there for chest pains, but the consult is for Podiatry (which deals with the foot, ankle and lower extremities), then what's the real reason for the consult? That's when knowing medical terminology will help you. You can look at the patient's History and Physical (also called the H&P) and see if the patient has any past issues with their foot or leg.

Check out the video below and don't forget to like and subscribe to my channel. 

Giving Report to the Oncoming Shift (Video)

The primary reason why you should give/receive a report to the oncoming/off going shift is to facilitate continuity of care. Nurses do it all day, every day, all over the world.

Just give a quick update, nothing major of what is going on with the unit and the patients. Give your fellow Unit Secretaries a heads up on how their day can potentially go.

Maintaining Hazard Free Work Environment (Video)

There are ways you can help keep your unit hazard-free.

Place wet floor signs on the floor if you spot anything spilled on the floor. Of course, you should try to wipe it up first.

Make sure the hallways are equipment free. Usually, the only thing you will see plugged in the hallway are mobile blood pressure machines that the CNAs use when they are attending to the patients and a COW (computer on wheels).

  

Make sure that small garbage cans are out of the walkway and are tucked under the counter at the nursing station.

Getting Charts Ready for Medical Records (Video)

When a patient is discharged and you break down the chart, where do you keep the paperwork for Medical Records to come and get?

I’ll give you a hint in the video above.