What Does a Medical Secretary Do?

The material contained in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not to be interpreted as advice or guidance.

If you're interested in healthcare but drawn to the organizational and administrative side rather than hands-on clinical care, you may be wondering what a medical secretary does. In short, medical secretaries help support the day-to-day administrative operations of healthcare offices, handling the paperwork, scheduling, and record-keeping that support doctors and patients alike. It's a role that typically blends general office skills with a working knowledge of the medical world.

In this article, we'll look at what a medical secretary does day to day, the settings they work in, and the skills the role tends to draw on.

Typical Duties of a Medical Secretary

Medical secretaries are a specialized type of secretary or administrative assistant who work in healthcare settings. A medical secretary’s responsibilities may include processing insurance payments or managing medical records. The role may also involve familiarity with medical terminology and codes and hospital or laboratory procedures.¹

Alongside those healthcare-specific tasks, medical secretaries carry out many of the same core duties as other administrative professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that secretaries generally:¹

• Answer telephones and take messages or transfer calls
• Schedule appointments and keep calendars up to date
• Arrange staff meetings
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail
• Prepare memos, invoices, or reports
• Edit documents
• Maintain databases and filing systems
• Perform basic bookkeeping

In practice, medical secretaries may help healthcare offices operate by supporting administrative functions like using computer software to create spreadsheets, manage databases, and prepare reports and documents. Their specific responsibilities may vary by experience, job title, and the setting they work in.¹

Where Do Medical Secretaries Work?

Most medical secretaries work in healthcare offices and facilities. Healthcare and social assistance is by far the biggest employer of secretaries and administrative assistants overall; according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024, healthcare and social assistance accounted for about 30% of these jobs.² For medical secretaries specifically, that healthcare concentration means work in settings connected to patient care, where familiarity with medical terminology, records, and procedures sets the role apart from general administrative work.¹

Skills a Medical Secretary Uses

Much of a medical secretary's work rests on a blend of organizational ability and people skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights several qualities that matter for secretaries:³

• Decision-making skills: Prioritize tasks and make decisions on their employer's behalf, so good judgment matters.³
• Interpersonal skills: The role typically involves interacting with patients, staff, and others, so communicating effectively and courteously is important.³
• Organizational skills: Keeping files, folders, and schedules in order helps an office run efficiently.³
• Writing skills: Writing memos and emails calls for good grammar, accuracy, and a professional tone.³

In a medical setting, these general skills are paired with the healthcare-specific knowledge, medical terminology, records, and procedures, that the role may require.¹

Exploring a Career in the Healthcare Industry

If you're drawn to this kind of work, a focused program may be one way to build relevant skills. The online Healthcare Associate's degree at Rasmussen University offers a Medical Administrative Assistant specialization, designed to help students develop knowledge and skills commonly associated with administrative and support functions in healthcare settings.⁴

If you're interested in building skills commonly associated with medical administrative roles, learn more about the online Healthcare Associate's degree at Rasmussen University.⁴

Earning a degree does not guarantee employment or specific job outcomes. Employment conditions in your area may vary. Role titles, duties, and requirements vary by state and employer.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-2 (accessed July 7, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-3 (accessed July 7, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
³Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-4 (accessed July 7, 2026). Employment conditions in your area may vary.
⁴Rasmussen University, Healthcare Associate's Degree, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-care/associates/ (accessed July 7, 2026).