Medical secretary training H⁺: Anita Portmann's experience - further medical training makes it possible to switch from CT to a medical secretariat

Would you like to train as a medical secretary H⁺do it? Then find out more about the course content and what participant Anita Portmann experienced during her training in this interview.

Who are you and what do you do for a living?

My name is Anita Portmann. I am 47 years old. I originally completed a commercial apprenticeship in a trust office. I then worked at a bank for a few years. After a maternity break, I returned to the fiduciary office. There I deal with bookkeeping and tax issues. I have now trained as a medical secretary.

Which course did you attend at FREI'S schools?

I completed the course for medical secretaries H⁺completed.

What made you decide to train as a medical secretary H⁺motivated?

I was looking for a job with more customer contact. Because I wanted to be closer to people. I had the feeling that if I could combine CT with medicine, that would suit me very well. This has opened up more opportunities for me on the job market today.

Why did you choose FREI'S Schools as your educational partner?

FREI'S schools have a very good reputation in the Lucerne area. In addition, the module fitted very well into my weekly schedule in terms of lesson times.

Are you already working as a medical secretary H⁺?

I am not currently working as a medical secretary H⁺. However, I am looking for possible jobs and am open to a new professional challenge. Being able to work in the medical field and with more customer contact is very important to me.

What are your positive experiences from Medical Secretary H⁺Training?

At FREI'S schools, you are taught by lecturers who come from a practical background - doctors, medical practice assistants, pharmacists or even hospital directors. This high level of practical relevance was very important to me during the Medical Secretary H⁺The training was very interesting, as you learn a lot about examples from their day-to-day work. We had very good contact with our classmates. The class got together very quickly and set up a class chat. We helped each other with learning objectives, exchanged summaries and worked on tests together. The contact is still there today - I think that's nice and enriching.

Were there any challenges for you?

The challenges during training as a medical secretary H⁺were of a private nature for me. The combination of family, work and lots of studying was not always easy. You had to push yourself a bit and set priorities. But basically it was a very nice year that went by quickly.

Which medical secretary subjects were covered in the course?

The following medical secretary subjects were covered in the course:

• Medical terminology
• Anatomy
• Pathology
• Theory of medication
• Practice organization
• Medical correspondence
• Social and health insurance
• Industry knowledge (healthcare)

What learning content helped you the most - professionally or privately?

The learning content of the Medical Secretary H⁺The course that helped me the most was computer science. I learned how to do things a little more easily in my day-to-day work. I hadn't expected that at all, as I had always done them differently without giving them much thought. The social insurance subject from the Medical Secretary H⁺The course helps me - both professionally and privately. Here we learned how the entire healthcare system is structured in Switzerland. This often helps me. The medical terminology was also very exciting for me. At first I thought it was a program for making appointments. Of course, behind the term is the "medical language" of Latin and ancient Greek words. Today I am amazed at where you come across such words in everyday life. Today I know the meaning. I find that fascinating.

What did you like about the lessons on the Medical Secretary H⁺particularly well?

The most exciting thing about the medical secretary course H⁺for me was when the lecturers brought in practical examples. The doctor was able to tell us a lot about this. The hospital director was able to tell us more from the background about what is important in planning and how it works for the employees. It was exciting to hear this on a one-to-one basis.

Who would you recommend a Medical Secretary H⁺Recommend the course?

A medical secretary H⁺I would recommend this course to people who have a basic interest in the medical field. You need to be very willing to learn, because there are a lot of subjects and you have to be able to memorize a lot of content. But it was a great year and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to develop in this direction.

How was the atmosphere in the class?

The atmosphere in the class of Medical Secretary H⁺The course was very nice. We had a good class in which the participants were very supportive of each other. As the course coincided with the coronavirus pandemic, opinions were somewhat divided on the teaching format. Some would have preferred to work remotely as a medical secretary, while others were happy with the face-to-face teaching. In the end, however, we got an optimal mix of both forms of teaching. Through distance learning with teams, we also learned something about this new technology, which also gives you an advantage in your professional life.

What do you like best about FREI'S schools?

I particularly like the good support at FREI'S schools. You get answers to e-mails to the Head of Continuing Education Armin Riebli immediately. He also came into the classroom more often to pass on additional information or to meet students' needs. We were always very well looked after during the medical secretary training year H⁺. You were also allowed to ask the lecturers questions after class. This gave me a very good impression of the school.

Are you training to be a medical secretary H⁺grown personally?

In my opinion, I am a medical secretary during my training H⁺I have grown a lot personally. You become personally stronger, learn to persevere and can set yourself new goals. This has helped me a lot both personally and professionally.

What are the tasks of a medical secretary?

Being a medical secretary requires a love of medicine. You need an understanding of the body and knowledge of medical terminology to write reports. However, empathy with patients is just as important. Otherwise you are unlikely to work as a medical secretary. You should also be a good team player. Medical secretary training involves some of the same subjects as medical practice assistants - but the latter are even closer to the patients and take blood samples and determine laboratory values, for example. These are the kinds of things a medical secretary H⁺not.

What does the medical secretary salary usually look like?

As I receive a rather high commercial salary in the fiduciary office, it will be more difficult for me to receive the same salary as a medical secretary. However, I think that if I can find a job that combines commercial and accounting with medical work, there will certainly be a common denominator. The salary also depends on age and the experience required for the job.

Have you also completed a "medical secretary internship"?

I did not complete a "medical secretary internship" during my training. A specific internship is also not necessary. It is not required for the final examination.

Were there any particular highlights for you during your medical training?

My personal highlight was certainly receiving my diploma as a medical secretary H⁺. I received a final grade of 5.8 and was amazed at myself. My last school experience was 20 years ago. I realized that I could still do it. It was really easy for me to learn because I was so interested in the subject matter and enjoyed it so much. These aspects are important in this medical training. Another highlight was my colleagues in the class. I hadn't expected to meet like-minded people at school and experience this great mutual help.

Overview of training providers for medical secretaries H⁺