A medical specialist is tasked with a variety of support duties in a healthcare office, usually a clinic or private practice. Records management, billing and insurance processing, transcription, and other tasks that do not require a licensed healthcare provider are examples of these responsibilities. Depending on the size of the office, the specialist may perform a variety of tasks. The specialist may be required to answer phones, greet patients, and conduct contact information interviews with new patients.
The office medical specialist’s records management and clerical support functions are usually similar to those of an administrative assistant in a non-healthcare setting. The majority of the work consists of scheduling, filing, and customer service. Medical records contain sensitive and confidential information, and the laws governing its release vary jurisdiction. The specialist is responsible for processing information requests in accordance with the law.
In an office, a medical specialist will work under the supervision of a doctor. Through personal interaction and the handling of paperwork, he or she will assist the nursing staff in managing patient flow. Medical specialists in hospitals usually work under the supervision of the charge nurse, managing patient charts and coordinating patient transport to various departments such as radiology and physical therapy. Inquiries from doctors and family members may also be directed to the appropriate nurse the specialist.
Billing and coding responsibilities are critical for processing payments and adhering to regulatory requirements. A coding system has been established public health programs and private insurers as a type of shorthand for recording diagnoses and procedures in medical and billing records. The accurate coding and submission of reimbursement claims is the responsibility of a medical insurance specialist. He or she may also be in charge of billing the patient for expenses not covered insurance.
If the practice or clinic uses in-house transcription, a transcriptionist is in charge of taking the doctor’s verbal or written notes and typing them into an electronic database or producing a transcribed hard copy. Because the terminology can be quite complicated, this is a very specialized field. Although some hospitals and large clinics hire medical specialists directly, many others hire a service. As an employee or as an independent contractor, medical transcriptionists can work from home.