Medical Receptionist

**Required Hours of Work**:
Mon 08:00 - 15:00
Tue 08:00 - 13:00
Wed 08:00 - 13:00
Thurs 08:00 - 18:30
Fri 08:00 - 18:30

**Job Summary**:
Receive, assist and direct patients in accessing the appropriate service or healthcare professional in a courteous, efficient and effective way.

Provide general assistance to the practice team and project a positive and friendly image to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone

**Responsibilities**:

- Ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice
- Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
- Using your own judgment and communication skills ensure that patients who need urgent consultation are seen or assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional in a timely fashion.
- Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary assistance and ensure all Practice procedures are completed promptly.
- Receive and make telephone calls as required. Take messages, ensuring accuracy of transcription and pass them onto the appropriate person promptly.
- Take requests for home visits ensuring careful recording of all relevant details and where necessary refer to the Duty Doctor.
- Action repeat prescription requests and ensure that they are ready for collection by the patient within 48 hours, using both electronic and paper prescriptions.
- Advise patients of relevant charges for private services, accept payment and issue receipts for same.
- Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
- Patient notes and correspondence:

- All new correspondance is stored electronically, though historical records are sometimes required to be retrieved and re-filed ensuring strict alphabetical order is adhered to.
- Photocopying of medical records will be undertaken from time to time.
- Make and serve refreshments, ensure the kitchen areas are kept clean and tidy.
- Ensure the waiting room is clean and tidy
- Premises:

- Open up premises at the start of the day when first to arrive and make all necessary preparations to receive patients.
- When last to leave at the end of the day, ensure that the building is secured and lights are off.
- Ensure that all new patients are registered onto the computer system promptly and accurately
- Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the Reception Manager or other senior members of the team.
- Arrange for specimens to be sent to the hospital and record this as required e.g. cervical cytology samples.
- Receive specimens from patients.

**Confidentiality**:

- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
- Wilful or negligent handling of personal or sensitive information is a disciplinary offence. The Practice takes these matters extremely seriously.

**Health & Safety**:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
- Reporting potential risks identified.

**Equality and Diversity**:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

- Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

**Personal/Professional