The first person you usually see when you enter a doctor’s office is the medical receptionist. This person will gather our insurance information and inform the doctor that you have arrived. These are only two of the duties that you will be responsible for if you think that working in a doctor’s office is something you might like. Most community colleges offer a medical receptionist course, but you can start by taking some classes that relate to the job in high school.
English is a subject that you should focus on, and not just the language. You need to know how to write documents in the office, and you need to know the proper grammar to place in the documents so that they are professional. A computer class is also a good suggestion as much of your time will be spent on a computer in the office.
When you are in college, you should take courses that are related to business administration or medical terminology. You will need to know various abbreviations and how to do shorthand so that you can copy the notes of the doctor into a file that is readable. Most offices won’t require a degree, but if you have one, then you could earn more money and have more job opportunities available.
When you use the computer in the office, you will likely need to be proficient in database, spreadsheets, word documents and scheduling appointments. There are usually programs in the system that have a basic sheet to use, but you will need to know where to enter the correct data.
There are codes and ethics that you will need to follow while in the office. You can’t release information about patients to anyone except for those who the patient list on the privacy form. You need to have a professional manner when dealing with the doctor and any representatives that come into the office, but you also need to be friendly and have a pleasant demeanor for the patients. Some of them might have illnesses that they are afraid of, and it will help to see a smiling face when they walk through the door.