Front line medical receptionist

A front line medical receptionist

Description

Front line medical receptionists greet clients and patients as they arrive at the medical facility and check them in, collect patient notes and make appointments work under the supervision and direction of healthcare institution manager.

Excludes people performing patients treatment.
Excludes people performing assistance in medical treatment.

Front line medical receptionists typically do the following:

  • Greet and attend to patients in person and over the phone.
  • Professionally assist doctors, staff, visitors, and patients.
  • Maintain business inventory such as checking supplies, scheduling equipment, and maintenance repairs.
  • Answer all phone calls in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Maintain confidentiality of all doctor, staff, and patient information.
  • Schedule appointments between doctors and patients.
  • Liaise between medical departments with discretion and professionalism
  • Adhere to policy and procedures during all activates.
  • Assist with admissions/treatment as per agreed protocols.
  • Ensure that stock levels are adequate and orders are made timeously.
  • Communicate medical results to patients under clinical supervision.
  • Complete accurate documentation of patient visits.

Working conditions

Front line medical receptionists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private medical offices, and group practices. They typically work a regular 40-hour week, although some may work evenings or weekends to accommodate the needs of their patients.

Medical receptionists typically work in well-lit, clean, and quiet offices. They spend much of their time sitting at a desk, answering phones, and scheduling appointments. They also may be responsible for handling patient inquiries, verifying insurance coverage, and collecting co-payments.

Medical receptionists must be able to handle a high volume of work while maintaining a calm and professional demeanor.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to front line medical receptionist:

front desk assistant
medical care front line receptionist
front desk receptionist
medical receptionist
receptionist in GP surgery
GP surgery receptionist
medical receptionist front line
medical institution front line receptionist

Minimum qualifications

Most employers require front line medical receptionists to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers prefer candidates who have completed an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in medical administration or a related field. Receptionists who have completed a formal education program in medical office administration can expect to learn about medical terminology, medical insurance, medical record-keeping, medical ethics and medical law.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Front line medical receptionist is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Front line medical receptionist career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to front line medical receptionist.

emergency medical dispatcher
sterile services technician
patient transport services driver
healthcare assistant
phlebotomist

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of front line medical receptionist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of front line medical receptionist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

clinical coder
medical records clerk
chiropractic assistant
waiting list coordinator
medical transcriptionist

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of front line medical receptionist.

  • Customer service: Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer’s or service user’s satisfaction.
  • Health care legislation: The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.
  • Medical terminology: The meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.
  • Administrative tasks in a medical environment: The medical administrative tasks such as registration of patients, appointment systems, record keeping of patients information and repeated prescribing.
  • Health records management: The procedures and importance of record keeping in a healthcare system such as hospitals or clinics, the information systems used to keep and process records and how to achieve maximum accuracy of records.
  • Health care system: The structure and function of health care services.
  • Medical informatics: The processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of front line medical receptionist.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of front line medical receptionist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of front line medical receptionist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

ISCO group and title

4226 – Receptionists (general)


References
  1. Front line medical receptionist – ESCO
  2. Medical Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. Medical Assistant Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
  4. Medical Receptionist Job Description – Betterteam
  5. Featured image: Photo by Cedric Fauntleroy
Last updated on August 1, 2022

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