If you want a great entry-level position in the medical field, one of those is a hospital ward clerk. This position is also known in some hospitals as a unit secretary. To work as a hospital ward clerk, you must enjoy the medical environment and be competent at clerical duties. You will take care of the desk in the hospital ward answering phones, transcribing diet and lab orders from doctors, filing charts and assisting the nurses in communicating with other departments. Several accredited online schools are now offering training courses that offer a diploma for these medical support positions.
Job Responsibilities
Ward clerks are responsible for maintaining the paper work and documents in a hospital unit, ordering supplies, managing inventory, and act as receptionists for the unit answering phones and directing visitors. They also enter orders into the hospital computer system for the laboratory, pharmacy and dietary department. This type of medical secretary usually works under the supervision of a registered nurse, and her tasks help free up the nurse so he or she can have more time to administer care to patients.
Education and Training
- Obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent. The minimum requirement for becoming a hospital ward clerk is a high school diploma or its equivalent. The company of employment is usually the one who provides the on-the-job training for the specific duties to be assigned. If you have secretarial training, customer service training or training in medical terminology from a local or community college, you would likely have the edge over other unit secretary applicants.
- Volunteer at hospitals. Obtaining experience working at hospitals will help greatly in equipping a person towards embarking on a career in the healthcare profession. This will also help boost one’s resume and help one get connected with different people who can point him in the right direction for this career.
Skills
A good ward clerk should be able to work efficiently amidst a very fast-paced working environment. They should be able to effectively follow the hospital’s record-keeping systems and procedures. They should also have the presence of mind to give assistance when necessary. Other needed skills are as follows:
- Good computer skills, especially with Excel and Word Processing
- Good typing speed of at least 35 to 40 WPM
- Good communication skills
- Ability to interact with a number of people and juggle many tasks
- Medical terminology is helpful
Salary and Job Outlook
The starting salary for ward clerks averages about $25,000 per year but with experience can go up as high as $35,000 per year. Working for a major hospital offers benefits for full-time work such as retirement plans, health, vision and dental benefits. They also offer vacation and sick pay for accrued time.
The job outlook for ward clerks is one of the best for medical support personnel. Since many ward clerks go on to complete higher medical education, the position is in constant demand. Hospitals are expanding their inpatient services, which also creates a need for more ward clerks. The exciting news is medical support personnel positions were one of the fastest growing jobs in 2011 and will continue to grow through 2018.
Ward clerks work in hospitals, and they usually work forty hours per week, with the possibility of being assigned a night shift and/or weekend shift. Ward clerks also have the opportunity of working in large HMO clinics as receptionists in different departments. Getting this experience in the medical field is very helpful if you plan on advancing your education. Many ward clerks work on the job while completing their degrees in other health-related fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a records clerk or a medical technician. Efficient ward clerks may be promoted to a supervisory position.
If you’re looking for something outside of the typical administrative assistant career, than becoming a ward clerk is for you. This is one profession that might not entail a lot of training or educational background to get into, and ultimately, it is on-the-job experience and consistently excellent performance that will give one a sense of fulfillment as a ward clerk.