Medical terminologists combine customer service and secretarial skills with medical knowledge, working in doctor’s offices or hospitals. They manage documents, answer calls, and schedule appointments, requiring proficiency in medical terminology and office equipment. Some work remotely in the field of telehealth.
The position of a medical terminologist combines customer service and secretarial skills with knowledge of medical terminology and procedures. Most medical terminologists will find work in a doctor’s office or hospital, but some positions are also moving to the home office. Medical terminology required for this position generally refers to terms for the body and its functions, illnesses or ailments, and common medications. These terms are used almost every day in the work of the medical terminologist.
Basic duties of a medical terminologist typically include greeting patients, managing or filing documents, and answering or making phone calls. Organizational skills and multitasking are normally a must. Some medical practices still assign the duty to update delinquent patient files and preliminary billing calls to their medical terminologists.
The specific duties of a medical terminologist vary greatly from one medical facility to another. Typically, the terminologist will be the first point of contact for the patient and insurance companies. He or she can schedule appointments for patients, gather medical histories, and answer basic questions about procedures or facility-specific details. The medical terminologist usually files and keeps track of insurance claims from his office, so having a firm understanding of insurance procedures and medical terms is necessary.
Along with typical tasks like transcription, data entry and document manipulation, a medical terminologist may also be called upon to do basic research and compile reports. The terminologist also maintains front office inventory and medical office supplies. Operating office equipment such as a computer, fax machine and multi-line telephone is a typical daily task, so it is vital that the prospective terminologist is proficient with this equipment.
Often, a medical terminologist works 35 to 40 hours a week during typical physician office hours. Those who work in hospitals may have an overnight or even a graveyard shift with light duties. More terminology jobs are also opening up on the virtual plane in the booming field of telehealth. All tasks are assigned and tracked via the Internet, and the terminologist can only report to the real office a few times a month, if ever. This reduces the cost for the medical facility and the terminologist.
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