A medical specialist performs administrative tasks in a healthcare practice, such as records management, insurance billing, and transcription. They work under the supervision of a physician or nurse and may also handle patient flow and inquiries. Accuracy in coding and billing is crucial, and some specialists may also work as transcriptionists.
A medical specialist works in a health care practice, usually a clinic or private practice, and is tasked with any number of support tasks. These functions may include records management, insurance billing and processing, transcription, and other tasks that do not require a licensed healthcare professional. The specialist can perform many different tasks depending on the size of the office. The specialist may be asked to answer phones, greet patients, and interview a new patient to obtain contact information.
The records management and office support functions performed by the office medical specialist are generally similar to those of an administrative assistant in a non-healthcare environment. Scheduling, archiving, and customer service make up the bulk of the workload. Medical records contain sensitive and confidential information, and laws regarding the release of this information vary from place to place. The specialist is obliged to process requests for information in accordance with the law.
A medical specialist will work under the supervision of a physician in an office setting. He or she will assist the nursing staff in managing patient flow through face-to-face interaction and handling paperwork. In a hospital, medical specialists usually work under the direction of the nurse in charge, managing records and coordinating the transport of patients to various departments, such as radiology or physical therapy. The specialist may also refer inquiries from physicians and family members to the appropriate nurse.
Billing and encoding fees are critical to processing payments and meeting regulatory criteria. Public health programs and private insurers have established a coding system as a type of abbreviation for recording diagnoses and procedures in medical and billing records. A medical insurance specialist is responsible for accurately coding and submitting claims. He or she may also be responsible for billing the patient for charges that are not covered by insurance.
If the clinic or clinic does in-house transcription, a medical specialist known as a transcriptionist is responsible for taking the doctor’s verbal or written notes and typing them into an electronic database or creating a transcribed copy. This is a very specialized field as the terminology can be quite complex. Larger hospitals and clinics may hire medical specialists for this job directly, but many hire a service. Medical transcriptionists can work from home as an employee or as an independent contractor.
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