How To Hire A Medical Receptionist
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Medical Receptionist hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
Medical Receptionist Recruitment Guide
What does a Medical Receptionist do?
A Medical Receptionist works in a healthcare environment and is responsible for welcoming guests and patients, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and other general administrative support.
Day to day tasks of a Medical Receptionist
- Handle personal information of patients with confidentiality at all times.
- First point of contact for patients and visitors.
- Liaise with doctors and other medical professionals for appointments
- Answer telephone calls and attend to inquiries.
- Schedule appointments of patients and ensure to keep them on time.
- Assist patients in their inquiries and any concern in documentation.
- Ensure accounts are properly charged and process payments from outgoing patients.
- Coordinate with a healthcare provider partner about insurance packages.
- Monitor stationery supplies and request order when necessary.
Medical Receptionist definition
A Medical Receptionist’s primary responsibility is to serve patients by welcoming and greeting them, scheduling appointments for them, attending to any of their concerns, and maintaining their records. Because of this, they should have a good customer service orientation as they are interacting with different patients and visitors everyday.
HIRING PROCESS
Medical Receptionist Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Medical Receptionist
A Medical Receptionist must be customer-focused and compassionate. They will be dealing with several patients and visitors everyday, and since they will be the first point of contact, it is important to be engaging and professional.
- Scheduling
- Confidentiality
- Communication
Pro Tip
For entry-level roles, you may receive more applications compared to a senior role. Keep in mind to clarify the skills and qualities you are looking for and highlight the expectations for applicants so they can determine if they are the right fit.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a Medical Receptionist job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Medical Receptionist job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a Medical Receptionist must be professional and empathetic, but it would be nice to have a calendar management experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Medical Receptionist
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Question 1
Scheduling
Question Type: Text
Explain the meaning of a task priority and how you would use it in scheduling.
Question 2
Communication
Question Type: Audio
The clinic needs a new answering machine.
Please record one following the script below.
Hi there, your call is important to us. You have either called outside business hours or all of our receptionists are with patients. If your call is an emergency, please hang up and call (EMERGENCY NUMBER). If you would like to hold and speak with a receptionist, please dial 1. If you are calling for test results, please dial 2. If you would like to leave a message, please dial 3.
Question 3
Confidentiality
Question Type: Text
As a Medical Receptionist, you will be responsible for the “Handling of personal and sensitive information”
Explain what this means to you? What kind of information? How do you act, what do you do with it, be elaborate and think in a medical setting.
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Medical Receptionist
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a Medical Receptionist?
The US average for a Medical Receptionist according to Glassdoor.com is $33,290. Meanwhile, Salary.com reports it at $37,184. The salary range usually falls from $28,000 - $40,000. Salaries vary depending on education, additional skills, years of experience, and the location.
Medical Receptionist Salary United States
Medical Receptionists’ salaries in the United States range from $28,000 – $40,000. While the average falls between $33,000 – $37,000, it can still vary depending on the credentials and experience of the applicant. Some employers can also offer additional pay through bonuses, tips, and commissions.
Source: Glassdoor.com; Salary.com
Medical Receptionist Salary United Kingdom
Medical Receptionists’ salaries in the United Kingdom range from £14,000 – £43,000 (GBP). While the average falls between £17,376 – £24,465, it can still vary depending on the credentials and experience of the applicant. Some employers can also offer additional pay through bonuses, tips, and commissions.
Source: Glassdoor.com; Payscale.com
Medical Receptionist Salary Australia
Medical Receptionists’ salaries in Australia range from $35,000 – $68,000 (AUD). While the average falls between $48,459 – $58,990 (AUD), it can still vary depending on the credentials and experience of the applicant. Some employers can also offer additional pay through bonuses, tips, and commissions.
Source: Talent.com; Payscale.com
