A medical receptionist is often considered to be a relatively entry-level job, but it can be a great career for someone who enjoys working with people. In addition, those who become a medical receptionist are often able to work full time hours and receive excellent benefits packages. To become a medical receptionist, it is typically only necessary for someone to have a high school diploma, but some higher education may be helpful.
Some people who want to become a medical receptionist choose to pursue an associate's degree or certificate program in medical billing or office management. Additional education such as this can make it more likely that you will be promoted in the future, perhaps into the medical billing department or into an office manager position. Otherwise, most of the training you will need to become a medical receptionist will be received on the job. It is also important to possess solid computer skills before applying for this type of job.
To become a medical receptionist, it is generally necessary to call or visit various physician's offices to determine if they are hiring. As with any job, it is important to present yourself well, and to have a resume for potential employers to view. Be sure to be polite, and to detail any previous work experience you have had that would make you a good choice for the position. Previous experience in customer service or with medical terminology is a big plus.
A medical receptionist is responsible for a number of different tasks during the day, including answering phones, setting up appointments, checking patients in and out, entering records into a computer system, receiving office mail, and accepting co-pays for services, among others. For this reason, it is important that anyone who wants to become a medical receptionist is able to multi-task efficiently and work well in a busy, stressful environment. A medical receptionist also needs to be discreet and respectful of patients' privacy at all times.
Depending on the size of the office, a medical receptionist may also need to work with patient billing. In that case, it will be necessary to make phone calls to insurance companies, enter proper medical billing codes as needed, and fill out any paperwork correctly and accurately. If you want to become a medical receptionist, it is important to have a great attention to detail and to be willing to learn new things every day.