Medical Administrative Assistants / Medical Receptionists. An employment guide for newcomers to British Columbia

Transcription

1 Medical Administrative Assistants / Medical Receptinists

2 Cntents 1. What Wuld I D? Am I Suited Fr This Jb? What Are The Wages And Benefits? What Is The Jb Outlk In BC? Hw d I becme a medical administrative assistant / medical receptinist? Hw D I Find A Jb? Applying fr a Jb Where Can This Jb Lead? Where Can I Find Mre Infrmatin? Medical Administrative Assistants (NOC 1243) / Medical Receptinists (NOC 1414) Medical Administrative Assistants may als be called: medical secretary ward secretary medical ffice assistant MOA 1. What Wuld I D? Medical administrative assistants perfrm a variety f secretarial and administrative duties in dctrs' ffices, hspitals, medical clinics and ther medical settings. Yur duties can include: schedule and cnfirm medical appintments and receive and cmmunicate messages fr medical staff and patients enter and frmat electrnically based medical reprts and crrespndence and prepare spreadsheets and dcuments fr review interview patients in rder t cmplete frms, dcuments and case histries cmplete insurance and ther claim frms start and maintain cnfidential medical files and recrds prepare financial statements and billing prcedures establish and maintain varius internal ffice administrative supprt prcedures such as dcument tracking and filing and mnthly reprting Last updated: August 12,

3 Medical Receptinists: greet peple arriving at ffices, hspitals and ther establishments; they direct visitrs t apprpriate persn r service. answer and frward telephne calls, take messages, and schedule appintments. Yur duties can include: greet patients schedule appintments, using manual r cmputerized systems receive and recrd payment fr services direct patients t apprpriate areas Mre infrmatin: WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical administrative assistants WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical Receptinists 2. Am I Suited Fr This Jb? Medical administrative assistants shuld have: excellent interpersnal skills strng cmmunicatin skills tact and discretin and strng sense f ethics gd judgment ability t wrk well under pressure They shuld be: Detail-riented Organized Medical receptinists shuld have: strng cmmunicatin skills gd listening skills They shuld be: plite, friendly, and curteus able t remain calm under pressure rganized Last updated: August 12,

4 Medical administrative assistants wrk in the ffices f health care prfessinals (e.g., physicians, medical practitiners, rehabilitatin clinics, etc.). Hurs are usually set by the emplyer's clinic hurs, which may include evenings r weekends. Thse wh wrk as ward secretaries in hspitals may smetimes be required t wrk n a shift system. Medical administrative assistants are als at risk f cntracting illnesses because they are in relatively clse cntact with patients, s precautins are taken t minimize the risk. Medical receptinists wrk behind desks in lbbies r receptin areas and sme must stand fr mst f the wrkday. They may wrk evenings and weekends. Their wrk can be stressful and tiring. Surces: WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical administrative assistants WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical Receptinists Career Cruising database (Prfiles fr Medical Secretary and Receptinist ). Available frm the VPL Online Articles, Encyclpedias & Mre page: 3. What Are The Wages And Benefits? In British Clumbia, the average annual salary fr Medical administrative assistants ranges frm $33,000 - $44,000. In BC, yu can expect t make: Last updated: August 12,

5 Table frm Jb Bank Wage Reprt Many emplyers pay fr vacatin, sick leave, and medical insurance. Sme als pay dental insurance and partial retirement benefits. In British Clumbia, the average annual salary fr Medical receptinists ranges frm $33,000 - $44,000. In BC s regins, yu can expect t make: Many emplyers ffer paid sick leave, vacatin, and medical and dental benefits t full-time receptinists. Sme als prvide retirement plans, life insurance, and visin care plans. Surces: WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical administrative assistants WrkBC Career Prfile fr Medical Receptinists Career Cruising database (Prfiles fr Medical Secretary and Receptinist ). Available frm the VPL Online Articles, Encyclpedias & Mre page: Last updated: August 12,

6 4. What Is The Jb Outlk In BC? Medical administrative assistants: The majrity f new jb penings will result frm retirements. Individuals wh have cmpleted related pstsecndary studies, have gd knwledge f cmputers and sftware applicatins, and have previus experience wrking in the ccupatin will be in high demand. The increasing use f electrnic medical recrds (EMR), which is replacing paper-based recrd systems in many ffices, requires that medical secretaries stay current with technlgical develpments. Mst emplyers nw require the cmpletin f a Medical Office Assistant, r related certificate r diplma prgram. Inexperienced wrkers wh have nt cmpleted pst-secndary studies related t this ccupatin will likely have mre difficulty finding wrk. Last updated: August 12,

7 Medical Receptinists Fr the perid, the emplyment utlk is expected t be fair fr Receptinists (NOC 1414) in British Clumbia. The greatest emplyment ptential is in the Carib, Ktenay, Lwer Mainland, Thmpsn Okanagan and Vancuver Island regins. Surces: WrkBC Labur Market Navigatr fr Medical Administrative Assistants WrkBC Labur Market Navigatr fr Medical Receptinists Jb Bank Canada, prfile fr Receptinists 5. Hw d I becme a medical administrative assistant / medical receptinist? Medical administrative assistants d nt require certificatin in BC. Hwever, cmpletin f secndary schl is a minimum requirement as well as a related certificate r diplma prgram including: ne-year Medical Office Assistant (MOA) certificate training in medical terminlgy r pharmaclgy, management sftware and basic medical ffice prcedures specialized training in EMR (electrnic medical recrds) systems Last updated: August 12,

8 Medical receptinists d nt require certificatin in BC. Althugh sme emplyers will accept applicants with less than Grade 12 educatin, mst prefer candidates wh have cmpleted a high schl diplma and wh have related training and/r experience dealing with the public. 6. Hw D I Find A Jb? Where wuld I wrk? Medical Administrative Assistants and Medical Receptinists may wrk in: dctrs' ffices, hspitals, medical clinics, health insurance cmpanies and ther medical settings Finding Advertised Jbs Jbs are advertised in a variety f surces including newspapers, magazines and nline jb sites. Lcal Newspapers Yu can lk at the Vancuver Sun & The Prvince at Vancuver Public Library fr free. Check the jb pstings daily, the careers sectin in the Vancuver Sun n Wednesdays and Saturdays and, in The Prvince n Sundays. Online Jb Pstings B.C. Health Authrities [five gegraphic, independent regins] [Vancuver Castal Health] [Fraser Health] [Vancuver Island Health] [Interir Health] Last updated: August 12,

9 [Nrthern Health] B.C. Prvincial Health Services Authrity Jb Pstings [specialty institutins such as BC Transplant, Wmens Hspital, BC Childrens Hspital] Prvidence Health Care [faith based Cathlic health care agency perating ver ten health care facilities including St. Paul s Hspital, Munt St. Jseph and Hly Family Hspitals] Admin Jbs.ca [search fr medical ffice assistant r medical secretary r medical receptinist ] Indeed.cm BC Jbs.ca Finding Hidden Jbs Many jb vacancies are nt advertised. The resurces belw will help yu with finding jbs in this hidden jb market. Using Directries t Create a List f Ptential Emplyers Yu can use cmpany directries t prduce lists f medical rganizatins, clinics and dctrs ffices. Cntact them directly t find ut if they re hiring. Canadian Medical Directry Available at the Central Library, Level 4, Reference Resurces, C21 Directry f Canadian Healthcare Persnnel Available at the Central Library, Level 4, Reference Resurces, C21a See sectin cvering hspitals and lng term care facilities in BC. Last updated: August 12,

10 Guide t Canadian Health Care Facilities Available at the Central Library, Level 4, Reference Resurces, C212ca See sectin cvering hspitals, lng term care and health care facilities in BC. Reference Canada G t the "Reference Canada" database, chse the Custm Search buttn, and select bth Keywrd/SIC/NAICS under Business Type and "City" under Gegraphy. In the tp search bx enter physicians and click SEARCH. Select the apprpriate headings. Lwer dwn, select the Prvince, chse the cities, and click the "View Results" buttn. Available frm the VPL Online Articles, Encyclpedias & Mre page. NOTE: Yu can access this database frm a Library cmputer. If yu are using a cmputer frm utside the Library, yu will need a Vancuver Public Library card t lgin t this database. Netwrking, Vlunteering and Temprary Agencies Many psitins are filled by peple wh have been recmmended by smene they knw. Netwrking, wrking as a vlunteer r registering with a temprary emplyment agency are gd ways f helping yu find jbs and meet peple in yur industry. Netwrking and the Hidden Jb Market: When lking fr wrk, be sure t talk t friends, relatives and neighburs. They may knw smene wh is hiring! Wrking as a vlunteer, attending events, and jining clubs and assciatins are gd ways t gain Canadian experience. They are als gd ways t meet peple t learn abut the lcal jb market. Vlunteer pprtunities Vlunteer BC GVlunteer.ca [search health r medical ] Last updated: August 12,

11 Vlweb.ca Vlunteering in Health Care Facilities The fllwing rganizatins accept vlunteers in hspitals, residential care facilities, adult day centres, and ther cmmunity settings. Health Authrities: Vancuver Castal Health Fraser Health Authrity (services and infrmatin fr pregnant wmen) Prvidence Health Care Cmmunity Care Facilities, BC Ministry f Health Other vlunteer pprtunities may be available frm individual care facilities acrss BC Canadian Bld Services [vlunteer wrk includes bld dnatin clinics] Fr additinal tips see: Netwrking fr Emplyment G t [Search Netwrking fr Emplyment] Getting Canadian Wrk Experience G t [Search Getting Canadian Wrk Experience] 7. Applying fr a Jb In Canada, emplyers usually expect t receive a resume and a cver letter that identifies the psitin yu are applying fr and summarizes yur experience. Use Last updated: August 12,

12 the library catalgue, t find bks n writing resumes and cver letters specific t yur industry. Fr mre infrmatin see: Writing Resumes and Cver Letters G t [Search Writing Resumes and Cver Letters] 8. Where Can This Jb Lead? Medical administrative assistants: ften start their career as receptinists fr general practice clinics r recrds clerks fr hspitals. With experience, they may find wrk in a specialist practice r mve int supervisry psitins, such as ffice r clinic manager. Medical administrative assistants have the ability t wrk in varius medical settings, including hspitals, clinics, health insurance cmpanies and dctr's and dentist's ffices. Medical receptinists: prgressin t supervisry psitins is pssible with experience. 9. Where Can I Find Mre Infrmatin? Medical Office Assistants Assciatin f British Clumbia MOAA BC Learn Mre Abut Wrking in BC and Canada G t [Search Learn Mre Abut Wrking in BC and Canada] Questins? Please ask the Infrmatin Staff at the Central Library r telephne Please nte that the infrmatin in this guide is als available nline thrugh the Skilled Immigrant InfCentre website at Last updated: August 12,