What Does A Medical Receptionist Do?

A good receptionist is key in any organisation and this is certainly true for a medical receptionist. Landing a job as a medical receptionist is a great way of getting into the health sector where you can climb the ladder to more senior positions. Continue reading to learn more about the daily responsibilities of a medical receptionist and whether it might be a career choice for you.

 

Daily Responsibilities Of A Medical Receptionist 

The day to day of a medical receptionist is busy. Between scheduling new appointments, greeting patients and filling out patient forms, taking and delivering messages, they have to fit in ordering medical equipment, daily contact with nurse and doctors, the list goes on. Essentially, the receptionist is responsible for the smooth running of the entire clinic, practice or hospital. They are the touchstone between doctors, nurses, staff, and patients. Below is a list of just some of the day-to-day tasks of a medical receptionist.

 

• Welcoming patients and visitors, answering the telephone and answering any inquiries.
• Scheduling appointments and keep those appointments on time.
• Assisting patients with completing necessary forms and documentation.
• Keeping a clean and calm reception area.
• Processing billing and payments, using medical software
• Liaising with Medicare and private health funds
• Faxing, scanning, filing, and mailing documentation.
• Comforting distressed patients – this may range from simply fixing any appointment issues that may arise, through to being the voice of comfort during times of extreme stress and emergency.
• Equipment sterilisation and cleaning.
• Monitoring and ordering stationery and clinical supplies.
• Booking and organising staff and doctor meetings.
• Maintaining information confidentiality at all times.
• Liaising with other medical departments such as radiologists, medical specialists or psychologists with professionalism and discretion.

 

Importance of a medical receptionist

The receptionist is the first impression the patients have with a clinic. No matter if it is through a phone call or face to face, the receptionist will be the face and voice of the practice. This means the receptionist will help in forming the view the clients get of the practice but also the view of other medical departments, subcontractors and professions.

A good receptionist brings tremendous value to any type of organisation and a medical receptionist allows doctors and nurses to concentrate on what they do best, treating people. Needless to say, the importance of a medical receptionist cannot be underestimated.

A medical receptionist always seem to have the solutions to problems that pop up at the most inconvenient of times.  From handling tricky phone calls, transacting medical accounts,  calming down distressed patients to fixing the copy machine, a great receptionist is able to think fast, solve complications, and make clients feel that they’re in good hands.

You can rely on a receptionist for their flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations. Whereas most employees in the office will focus on their own duties and do not necessarily get involved in other areas of the company, the receptionist interacts with people throughout the whole organisation and will get involved in all departments.

 

Characteristics Of A Medical Receptionist

A good communicator:

To be a good medical receptionist you need to be able to convey your messages clearly. However, sometimes this is not all about what you say, but how you listen. This is true for a good medical receptionist. Listening to the patients and make them feel like you understand their problems, is of the hallmarks of a good medical receptionist.

 

Organised:
Nothing beats a receptionist that knows where important documents are stored or where the phone number to the specialist doctor is. An organised receptionist means an organised practice.

 

Multitasking and ability to work in stressful situations:
People are waiting in line, patients need help filling out forms and the phone is going off for the fifth time. Keeping cool during stressful days and being able to juggle between tasks is essential for an amazing receptionist.

 

Professionalism:
As stated before, the receptionist is the face and voice of the business. Therefore, a professional appearance and attitude is a must if you are considering a career within medical administration. Understanding and abiding by confidentiality regulations, ensures trust is established across the clinic.

 

Future career opportunities
Being a medical receptionist opens up many options for you in the health care sector. Becoming an office manager, personal assistant, medical practice manager,  or medical secretary are the typical next steps for a receptionist.

 

Qualification however, is the first step. Wesley Training’s 4-week Medical Reception short course is the perfect way to pick up the skills required to become a great medical receptionist, or students can consider the full Qualification. Find out more information about our medical reception courses here, or call us today: 1800 001 256.

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