Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Medical Office Receptionist Duties

Medical office receptionists are an integral part of a doctor's office.


According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, medical office receptionists perform clinical and administrative tasks in a doctor's office, medical building, practice or hospital. They may work with many different types of doctors including pediatricians, obstetricians, chiropractors and dentists. Medical office receptionists, also known as administrative medical assistants, perform duties that vary according to the size of the office, practice or environment. These duties may be performed in combination with clinical duties depending on the needs of the office.


Medical Records and Clerical Duties


Medical office receptionists often pull and file medical records, updating and changing them when necessary. They may create new patient files or modify transferred files. Additionally, medical office receptionists often enter patient information into the office or hospital database. These workers are often responsible for locating and moving files so they are easily accessed by other medical personnel. In addition to performing record keeping duties, clerical medical assistants are also often responsible for organizing and maintaining the front desk environment. They may monitor waiting rooms, assist patients with check-ins or check-outs and answer questions. Additionally, medical office receptionists may coordinate supply deliveries, arrange pharmaceutical representative appointments and answer telephones or make reminder phone calls. Other clerical duties may include taking information for prescription refills, calling pharmacies and sending correspondence to patients.


Insurance Tasks


Medical office receptionists sometimes perform various medical insurance tasks. They may have to call insurance companies to verify coverage, get prior approval for patients with certain medical conditions or assign diagnosis codes to patient files. Additionally, medical office receptionists may have to send information to insurance companies or follow up on insurance claims.


Appointments and Referrals


Medical office receptionists are often responsible for setting appointments and helping patients with referrals. They may have to be able to utilize electronic scheduling software, monitor and maintain appointment books or update calendars. Additionally, medical receptionists may have to call specialists or other personnel in order to schedule special procedures, surgeries or lab work.


Billing and Bookkeeping Tasks


Medical office receptionists may also function as bookkeepers or billing clerks. They may have to send billing notices, report information to other billing agencies or coordinate payments with patients. They may also need to collect patient payments for services and provide receipts upon checkout.







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