Is a unit secretary at the hospital/doctors the same as a medical secretary?

Question

Is a unit secretary at the hospital/doctors the same as a medical secretary?

Answer 1

No, a medical secretary works directly for a doctor or doctors.  A unit secretary is the secretary for a unit in the hospital such as Pediatrics or Labor and Delivery.  In short the unit secretary makes sure that the unit, as a whole, runs smoothly.  A unit secretary handles scheduling tests for patients on the unit, paging whoever needs to be paged, adding records to charts, etc.  It is a demanding job but also very interesting.

Answer 2

A medical secretary utilizes knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures, takes and transcribes notes and dictation, compiles and records medical charts, reports, and correspondence, answers telephone, screens and directs calls, schedules appointments, and greets and directs visitors and maintains the physician's files. They may also be involved in accounting and billing work.  Whereas, a unit secretary or unit clerk performs a variety of clerical and administrative support activities in a medical facility. They prepare and compile medical records from nurses' records or physicians' orders and instructions into patient's medical records. Operate computers to enter and retrieve data. Prepare notice of a patient's discharge to inform business office. Requisition supplies designated by staff. Answer telephone and intercom calls and provides information or relays messages to patients and medical staff.  Direct visitors to patients' rooms. Distributes mail, newspapers, and flowers to patients. Compile census of patients.

Where one is more of a secretarial function, the other is more of a clerical function.  For this reason it usually takes more training to be a medical secretary, and medical secretaries make more money on average.