What’s The Difference Between a Hospital Unit Secretary and a Medical Secretary?

A hospital unit secretary and a medical secretary are similar but distinct roles of so-called "medical secretaries."  At its core, the job of a medical secretary is to organize and facilitate efficient communication within a healthcare facility.

 

In the case of a hospital unit secretary, it generally means providing support specific to a given unit. This may entail managing patient records, answering questions from visitors, assisting physicians with necessary documents, and performing administrative tasks related to that unit.

 

A medical secretary, on the other hand, typically provides administrative support for an entire healthcare organization without limiting tasks to one area - for example, scheduling appointments across multiple departments or processing patient forms throughout the facility.

 

In either role, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of different software applications are essential for success.

Different Types of Secretaries in Healthcare (Video)

Although the title of "secretary" might conjure up images of someone sitting at a desk typing away, there are a variety of secretaries in the medical field.

 

• For example, hospital secretaries are responsible for managing patient records and handling admissions and discharge paperwork. 
• Medical office secretaries schedule appointments and handle billing and insurance matters. 
• And transcriptionists create accurate written records of doctors' dictation.
• Medical records clerks who maintain patient records. With the advent of electronic health records, many of these positions are now performed electronically, but they still require a high degree of organizational skills and attention to detail.

 

Each type of secretary plays a significant role in keeping the medical facility running smoothly. Without them, patients would have difficulty getting the care they need.