Health Care Services Secretary

Health care secretaries perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks necessary to keep an office in a specialty practice, hospital, nursing home, or other health care related facility running smoothly. They schedule appointments, organize and maintain files, and transcribe dictation of letters or reports. They need to know medical terminology and hospital, laboratory, and medical procedures in addition to regular general office procedures. Many health care secretaries are responsible for billing and collections for their practices.

Work Environments
Health care secretaries work for physicians in solo and group practices. They also work in clinics, hospitals, health departments, and other health care facilities.

Job Outlook
Employment opportunities are broad for well-prepared health care office personnel.

Length of Training/
Requirement
High school graduates with basic office skills qualify for most entry-level secretarial positions. Secretarial training ranges from high school business and office courses to vocational programs and one- or two-year programs in community colleges or proprietary schools.