Are you thinking about a career as a medical receptionist? If so, this blog is for you! This article will answer the common questions people encounter about pursuing the career of a medical receptionist, including the reasons why it’s a fantastic professional opportunity. We cover the training required to become a healthcare receptionist, the responsibilities and skill-set needed to excel in the role, plus how much you can expect to be paid in New Zealand. Read on to learn more!
First, let’s break down what this role looks like on a day to day basis.
What does a medical receptionist do?
The medical receptionist is the first person people see when they come into a healthcare facility. They provide the all-important first impression for a clinic and are the first point of contact and assistance for patients of all kinds. As well as a customer support role, medical receptionists are often responsible for administrative support to their clinic or practice. This can include updating files and schedules, answering phone calls from patients or visitors and communicating important information with doctors or other staff members.
So what makes this role so appealing? Here are 5 reasons working as a medical receptionist might be the ideal role for you:
1. Fulfilling & Challenging Career – A medical clinic is a purposeful, exciting and busy place to manage. You will be the touchpoint for customer satisfaction, immersed in a bustling atmosphere. Your work will directly support the improvement of peoples’ lives, helping them feel at ease and comfortable in the clinic.
2. Booming Industry – The healthcare industry has always been strong, growing steadily in the last 5 years. In New Zealand alone, revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 0.5%, reaching an incredible $20 billion!
3. Strong Salary – The average salary for a medical receptionist in New Zealand is between $40,000 and $50,000 per year. With an average hourly wage of around $20.
4. Sociable & Skill Building – As well as working in a busy and exciting team with healthcare professionals of all kinds, you will communicate with a range of patients from various walks of life. Enhancing both your healthcare knowledge and your interpersonal skills. You’ll learn how to smoothly deal with most personality types. You’ll become a master of organisation and facilitation too, being able to seamlessly adapt to the needs of those around you.
5. Career Progression – Learning these invaluable skills in your role could lead to further career progression. You may be able to transition up the ladder into another role within the healthcare team, such as a billing or insurance coordinator. Plus, there are many opportunities to work internationally also, so if you have always wanted to see the world, this could be an excellent career for you.
Sound good? Then your next question might be, how do I become a medical receptionist?
While no formal qualifications are required to work as a healthcare receptionist, it’s one of the more popular careers in New Zealand. Meaning roles can be competitive to secure.
Regardless of whether you’re working in a small general practice or a huge hospital, a local dental clinic or an exclusive medical facility, a medical receptionist needs a few key skills to excel. Therefore, it’s often noted that having a short business course under your belt is an excellent way to stand out from the crowd!
Our Medical Reception Course is designed to help you shine in your application or impress in your new role. Being one of the more comprehensive and specific online courses, you’ll cultivate a thorough understanding of both general reception responsibilities, like phone customer service and data entry, and medical and pharmaceutical terminology. You’ll optimise your amazing organisational skills, become a master of multi-tasking and excel at time management. Equipping you with the knowledge to hit the ground running!
Designed from the ground up by industry professionals, our course is specifically created to put you in good stead to develop a strong foundation in the medical industry. Elevating your expertise above others looking for entry-level employment in this highly competitive role.
Looking to make a new career move without missing out? Our online courses are designed to be flexible and affordable. So you can learn when it suits you, even if that’s around your current full-time job. Our materials are available 24/7, with full tutor support throughout. So you can move at your own pace.
Ready to get started today? We can’t wait to meet you!