GP Medical Receptionist

A Medical Receptionist is the first point of contact for our patients. This role involves greeting patients, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and handling patient enquiries with professionalism and empathy. The Medical Receptionist is also responsible for verifying patient information, processing insurance documentation, and managing patient records. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, the ability to multitask, and most importantly flexibility in a fast-paced environment are essential for this role. In return they are rewarded with the benefits from working within a great team who support each other and have support from our Reception Manager for those more challenging enquiries.

Main duties of the job

• Greet patients and visitors, ensuring a welcoming environment
• Answer and re-direct phone calls, manage patient enquiries
• Verify and update patient information
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Support medical staff with administrative tasks as needed

Skills Required:

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Proficiency with EMIS Web Clinical system
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to handle sensitive information discreetly

This role plays an important part in ensuring a smooth process and enhancing patient experience within the Medical practice.

About us

We are a growing GP Medical Practice with Three GP Partners and salaried GP and we are strongly supported by our nursing team, admin team and management team and our reception staff who are managed by the Reception Manager. We always aim to provide a first-class patient experience which involves the successful candidate to go beyond basic expectations and focusing on making every patient are listened to and treated with respect every time they contact the Medical practice.

Job responsibilities

• 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.

Limits Of Authority

• Personnel: does not have the authority over other members of staff.
• Financial: does not have any authority to commit the practice to spend, without the permission of the Practice Manager or a GP partner.
• Security: has the authority to ascertain the reason for the presence of any unauthorised persons in areas where the practice assets may be at risk.

Job 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 with no prior appointment but who need urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner.
• Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover and ensure procedures are completed.
• Receive and make telephone calls as required.
• Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.
• Receive repeat prescription requests and ensure that they are passed/forwarded to the prescription clerk in order to be ready for collection by the patient within 48 hours.
• Handing completed repeat prescriptions to patients ensuring that their name, address and a signature is collected.
• Check and tidy consultation rooms after surgeries.
• In the event of an IT system failure, prepare lists and notes for all surgeries and clinics held, ensuring completion of all associated paperwork.
• Advise patients of relevant charges for private (non General Medical Services) services, accept payment and issue receipts for same.
• Enter patient information on to the computer as required.
• Make and serve refreshments, ensure the kitchen is kept clean and tidy.
• Switch on all reception computers 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 reception area is tidy and ready for the next day.
• Undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the GP Partners, Practice Manager or Reception Manager.

General Responsibilities:

• Promote a good image of the practice at all times.
• Read practice procedures and protocols issued and displayed in the staff handbook.
• To ensure that the practice uniform is worn at all times, when on duty.

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.