.jpg?sfvrsn=b0cba8a_1)
2nd August 2024
OrthoChats - Grace O'Connor - Medical Secretary
Grace O’Connor is a Medical Secretary to Prof. Kevin Mulhall, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, at Mater Private Network in Dublin.
.jpg?sfvrsn=f0a69868_1)
Can you describe your role as a medical secretary?
In my role as Medical Secretary, I assist Prof. Mulhall and his team in the daily organisation of a busy medical practice, including the scheduling of appointments, assisting patients with their queries, and ensuring all administrative work is carried out efficiently and in a timely manner. To guarantee a positive experience for our patients, I work closely with various departments across the hospital and healthcare professionals in the community, including GPs.
As one of the first points of contact with patients, what happens once they get in touch with you?
When a patient first gets in touch with our practice, I establish the reason for the contact and see what I can do to assist with their query. The queries can range from scheduling an appointment, insurance related questions to medical concerns a patient might have related to any aspect of their care. The main aim of my role is to ensure the patient receives the required assistance in a timely manner.
In what ways do you collaborate with other members of the orthopaedic team?
I remain in constant contact with the members of the orthopaedic team and act as a liaison between them and the patient. Any medical queries are passed on to our team of specialists, which include the advanced nurse practitioner, arthroplasty nurse, and physiotherapists. We encourage our patients to stay in touch with us throughout their treatment and recovery journey and contact us no matter what the query is. This hopefully gives the patient an added confidence knowing that there is always support and help available should they need it.
Orthopaedics
The orthopaedics centre provides elective services for patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues requiring reconstruction or joint replacement.
Learn more
What advice do you give to patients to reassure them if they’re anxious or worried about their upcoming procedure?
It is very normal for many of our patients to feel anxious about attending their appointments and facing any type of surgery or medical intervention. Making patients aware of the wider team behind their care and that there is always someone available to assist them with their queries at every stage seems to always provide immediate reassurance. Giving those extra few minutes to address any concerns makes a significant difference in ensuring positive patient experience.
What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Although my role can be very busy and challenging at times, seeing the patients return to the practice following their procedure and feeling better makes me feel very rewarded as I know I played a role in helping them to get to that stage.
.jpg?sfvrsn=9c2d0711_1)
.jpg?sfvrsn=c48321ac_1)
