Unit Secretary Jobs: Pros and Cons of Secretary Job Role in Healthcare

Unit secretaries are involved in a number of administrative functions in a healthcare setup. A hospital unit secretary is a known professional juggler of tasks and help caregivers, physicians and patients by providing all the information they need in a timely manner. One of the biggest advantages of choosing such jobs is the chance to work in the healthcare sector, offering clerical support to physicians and also making healthcare services more accessible by processing documents related to hospital admission. You only require a high school diploma to apply for a secretary job in a healthcare center. Those who want to enhance their skills can take up medical terminology, secretary skills and office practices courses in colleges and institutes. 

Rising Demand for Unit Secretary Jobs

While people in various professions are struggling to find a job, opportunities in the healthcare sector are excellent. The reasons for this are probably the increasing population of the aged who require medical attention and a large, existing workforce is nearing the point of retirement. Where physicians are lacking, a greater set of responsibilities is often handed over to the unit secretary who is involved in maintenance of accounts, patient records, diagnostic reports and all other vital documentation in a healthcare center. With the profession looking forward to 41 percent growth from 2010 to 2020 (as per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS), there is no doubt that the demand for unit secretary jobs will increase in the years ahead. According to a Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce report, there will be 5.6 million health care jobs by 2020. This amounts to positive news for candidates seeking jobs in the healthcare sector including that of a unit secretary. 

Cons of Secretary Job in the Healthcare Field

Unit secretaries will need to deal with perplexing patients, difficult doctors and extensive paperwork. While dealing with hard-to-handle clients or doctors, the secretary has to be polite and professional, no matter how hard it is. Another disadvantage to the profession is the low salary it offers. However, unit secretaries can mitigate this disadvantage by gaining skills and applying for jobs in healthcare centers which pay well.