Medical secretaries for the NHS ensure that our frontline workers are able to devote their full attention to the treatment of patients, while personal assistants provide assistance to the organization's top officials.
a day at the office
You would most likely work for a senior member of staff or a group of employees if you decide to pursue a career as a medical secretary or personal assistant. By taking on administrative and secretarial responsibilities, you will provide your assistance to the operation of a department. Take, for instance:
typing
scheduling meetings and keeping minutes
managing diaries
organizing travel
dealing with questions and comments
answering calls on the phone
ordering stationery
coping with incoming letters and electronic messages
producing and maintaining spreadsheets and databases, including updates
You might work in clinical fields including the following:
departments within hospitals of every kind
clinics specializing on a certain medical field, such as cancer treatment facilities or emergency rooms
medical practices and community health centers
It's possible that you'll interact with patients, their relatives, other members of the healthcare team, and even administrative workers.
It is also possible for personal assistants to work in non-clinical settings, such as the buildings that house the NHS headquarters, where there is little to no interaction with patients.
Medical secretaries and personal assistants may be responsible for supervising a group of administrative and secretarial staff members like clerks or typists.
Competencies, interests, and conditions for entry
In most cases, medical secretaries and personal assistants have previously held positions elsewhere in the NHS. As a result, they are familiar with both medical language and the procedures followed by the NHS.
The qualifications needed to become a medical secretary or personal assistant are not predetermined. However, companies anticipate that applicants will have exceptional keyboarding abilities. They could inquire about your level of proficiency in typing or word processing. Employers look for candidates who are literate, numerate, and proficient in the use of technology. They could ask for GCSEs or credentials that are equal to those. If you start out in administrative work, you may be able to work your way up to an apprenticeship, and then, with more experience and education, you might move into more senior positions such as a medical secretary or a personal assistant.
Characteristics unique to the individual
You'll need to be able to do the following if you want to work as a medical secretary or personal assistant:
do your duties in a precise and meticulous manner.
meet deadlines
utilize medical terminology
pay attention to detail
collaborate with one another but also relying on their own initiative
collaborate with a diverse range of individuals.
When interacting with patients and the relatives of patients, it is important to be helpful and comforting.
Skills necessary
great keyboard skills
IT skills
nice spelling and grammar
organizational skills
Training and professional advancement
You are going to get the training that is necessary for you to do the job. This comprises instructions on how to use the information technology and phone equipment, as well as the policies and procedures that should be followed. You may also have training in providing assistance to clients.
There is a possibility that you may be given the opportunity to pursue credentials such as NVQs or those from:
AMS PARA is an acronym for the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, and Administrative Professionals (AMSPAR)
the organization's full name is the British Society of Medical Secretaries and Administrators (BSMSA)
Some medical secretaries and personal assistants decide to join AMSPAR or BSMSA and become members of such organizations. Both AMSPAR and BSMSA provide its workers with opportunities to network with others who do the same kind of job via training, online forums, and publications.