Job Description of a Surgical Room Secretary
A surgical room secretary handles many of the same duties as most secretaries, with a few differences. Surgical room secretaries greet patients, answer phones, fax documents and type reports, much like secretaries and administrative assistants in all industries. However, surgical room secretaries also handle duties specific to the medical field, particularly as they relate to surgeries.
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Basics
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Surgical room secretaries need to record patient information, such as name, age, address and medical history. Since these patients will be undergoing operations, surgical room secretaries also need to record a patient's allergies. Surgical room nurses often handle an array of other duties that can change on a daily basis, from ordering supplies to mailing invoices and bills to interacting with insurance companies and handling mail.
Skills
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Surgical room secretaries must possess an array of office skills. They need to be accomplished typists and feel comfortable using a computer, since that is often where patient data is recorded. They also should be courteous and professional when dealing with patients, both on the phone and in person. Surgical room secretaries also should be excellent listeners, capable of following the instructions of doctors, nurses and other employees in a hospital's surgery unit.
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Background
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Most surgical room secretaries can land a job with no more than a high school diploma and a strong work ethic. Occasionally, they might need or simply want a certificate or associate degree related to clerical work, focusing on courses in business, English, communications and perhaps typing. Many have worked as secretaries or receptionists in other industries, or in other departments within the hospital, such as the emergency room or patient admittance.
Prospects
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As long as operations take place, doctors will need someone to assist them and handle the all-important office duties. That is why opportunities for surgical room secretaries will be at least steady for the next decade and beyond. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of all secretaries is expected to increase by 11 percent through 2018. Surgical room secretaries are likely to see their prospects rise at a similar rate.
Earnings
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Just like any profession, salaries for a surgical room secretary tend to be based on her time on the job and overall responsibilities. According to PayScale.com, medical secretaries earned anywhere from $24,000 to more than $34,000 per year in May 2010. PayScale also reported that 98 percent of medical secretaries in 2010 were female.
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References
- Photo Credit young girl with a telephone receiver image by Ales Masner from Fotolia.com
