Unit secretary vs medical receptionist

The differences between unit secretaries and medical receptionists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a unit secretary and a medical receptionist. Additionally, a unit secretary has an average salary of $32,153, which is higher than the $31,960 average annual salary of a medical receptionist.

The top three skills for a unit secretary include patients, patient care and medical terminology. The most important skills for a medical receptionist are patients, customer service, and check-in.

Unit secretary vs medical receptionist overview

	Unit Secretary	Medical Receptionist
Yearly salary	$32,153	$31,960
Hourly rate	$15.46	$15.37
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	69,543	118,048
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Associate Degree, 28%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	2	2

What does a unit secretary do?

Unit secretaries are administrative workers in a medical facility, usually a hospital or a clinic. They are in charge of religious activities in the unit or department they are assigned to. They manage incoming and outgoing mail, phone calls, and even appointments. They handle filing and recording of the documents of the department. They also take minutes of meetings and ensure that action plans are followed through. Unit secretaries should be familiar with the individuals in the department. They should also be accustomed to the schedule of members of the unit. Unit secretaries should be organized, dedicated, and trustworthy.

What does a medical receptionist do?

Medical receptionists are responsible for manning the front desk at a medical facility such as a clinic or a hospital. They manage schedules and appointments in the clinic or hospital. They help patients to their respective appointments. They also assist doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners by ensuring that the schedule for the day is being followed. They are also in charge of assisting visitors by directing them wherever they would need to go. Medical receptionists also answer inquiries by patients or visitors. Medical knowledge, great customer service skills, and a friendly attitude are needed.

Unit secretary vs medical receptionist salary

Unit secretaries and medical receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Unit Secretary	Medical Receptionist
Average salary	$32,153	$31,960
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	California	Maine
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	CENTER FOR SIGHT
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between unit secretary and medical receptionist education

There are a few differences between a unit secretary and a medical receptionist in terms of educational background:

	Unit Secretary	Medical Receptionist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Associate Degree, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Health Care Administration
Most common college	-	-

Unit secretary vs medical receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between unit secretaries' and medical receptionists' demographics:

	Unit Secretary	Medical Receptionist
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4%	Male, 5.2% Female, 94.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between unit secretary and medical receptionist duties and responsibilities

Unit secretary example responsibilities.

Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management.
Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Manage the medical unit by supervising its activities, accurately transcribing physician orders, and prioritizing tasks.
Conduct 6 mass vaccination campaigns, manage protein-calorie malnutrition, coordinate epidemiological surveillance, and direct health facility rehabilitation
Assist patients with their daily routine, including feeding, cleanliness and basic needs.
Post anesthesia recovery care for ophthalmology, ENT and plastic surgery patients

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Medical receptionist example responsibilities.

Conduct analysis to address long wait times which lead to faster triage, shorter wait times.
Evaluate all EOB's to insure accurate payment is received and when necessary will file appeals to achieve optimal payments.
Greet and check-in patients, including obtaining accurate patient demographic information, patient registration, and checking insurance eligibility.
Learned and operate chiropractic equipment (decompression; Leander) & x-rays; enabling Dr to have more time for patients.
Resolve concerns of terminally ill patients with compassion and professionalism.
Identify patients' specific scheduling requirements while demonstrating care and compassion via telephone.

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Unit secretary vs medical receptionist skills

Common unit secretary skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Customer Service, 7%
Patient Charts, 4%
Physician Orders, 4%

Common medical receptionist skills

Patients, 30%
Customer Service, 9%
Check-In, 6%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Patient Care, 4%
Front Desk, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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