The Work Bench · Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Prepare reports, letters and records

The task, from O*NET: Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.

Typical length 25 minutes. Time split: documents 70%, systems 30%. About 150,105,167 hours a year of desk work across the US go to this task.

Passes, one attempt by Claude Fable 5.1. The rubric was written 2026-10-01 03:34 UTC, before the attempt (2026-10-01 03:41 UTC); the grade came last (2026-10-01 03:44 UTC).

One attempt at one task on one date, with constructed material: it is not a statement that the job, or this task in a given workplace, can be done by AI. The rubric, the attempt and the grade were made by the same model in one session, in that order; a person's check of a sample of grades will be published beside them.

The brief

You are the medical secretary at Harbor Street Family Clinic. Dr. Elena Marsh saw a patient this morning and left a dictation summary with the visit note. Prepare two things. First, the referral letter to the orthopedic practice she named, in the clinic's letter format, carrying the clinical facts she dictated and nothing more. Second, the updated problem list and follow-up entries for the patient's record summary. The patient is fictional; use the details exactly as given. Do not add clinical content the doctor did not dictate.

The material

Constructed for this example; the names, figures and documents are invented.

PATIENT (constructed): Daniel Okoro, date of birth 03/14/1979, record HSFC-20481. Visit October 1. Insurance: Lakeside Health Plan, member 77A-55019; the plan requires referral authorization for specialist visits.

VISIT NOTE (nurse intake): BP 128/82, HR 72, weight 196 lb. Chief complaint: right knee pain for 6 weeks, worse on stairs, swelling after activity. No injury recalled. Takes ibuprofen 400 mg as needed, about three times a week. Allergies: penicillin (rash). Past history: hypertension, controlled on lisinopril 10 mg daily.

DICTATION SUMMARY (Dr. Marsh): "Right knee: medial joint line tenderness, mild effusion, full extension, flexion limited to about 120 degrees by pain, McMurray's equivocal, ligaments stable. X-ray today, two views: mild medial compartment narrowing, no fracture, no loose body. Assessment: medial knee pain, possible meniscal tear versus early osteoarthritis. Plan: refer to Dr. Samuel Reyes at Northgate Orthopedics for evaluation and consideration of MRI. Continue ibuprofen as needed with food, not more than three days a week given the blood pressure history. Follow up here in six weeks, or sooner if locking or giving way. Add 'right knee pain, under evaluation' to the problem list. Please send the X-ray report with the letter. Patient prefers appointments on Tuesday or Thursday mornings."

CLINIC LETTER FORMAT: a letterhead line 'Harbor Street Family Clinic'; the date; the addressee; a line 'Re: [patient name, date of birth, record number]'; the body; the closing 'Elena Marsh, MD' followed by 'Dictated by Dr. Marsh; prepared by [initials]'.

The rubric, written before the attempt

1. The referral letter follows the clinic format completely. Evidence: Letterhead line, the date October 1, Dr. Samuel Reyes at Northgate Orthopedics as addressee, the Re line with name, date of birth and record number, the body, the closing with the dictated-by line.
2. The clinical facts are carried exactly as dictated and noted. Evidence: Six weeks of right knee pain worse on stairs with swelling after activity and no injury; the examination findings (medial joint line tenderness, mild effusion, full extension, flexion to about 120 degrees limited by pain, equivocal McMurray's, stable ligaments); the X-ray findings; the assessment; the request for evaluation and consideration of MRI; ibuprofen as needed, lisinopril 10 mg daily, hypertension, penicillin allergy with rash.
3. No clinical content is added. Evidence: No diagnosis beyond the doctor's assessment, no medication or dose not dictated, no advice beyond the plan.
4. The practical items are included. Evidence: The insurance plan and member number with the authorization requirement, the X-ray report enclosed, the Tuesday or Thursday morning preference.
5. The record summary is updated as dictated. Evidence: Problem list gains 'right knee pain, under evaluation'; a follow-up entry for six weeks or sooner if locking or giving way; the ibuprofen note (as needed, with food, not more than three days a week); the referral logged with the date and specialist.
6. Patient details are exact throughout and nothing is mis-transcribed. Evidence: Daniel Okoro, 03/14/1979, HSFC-20481, member 77A-55019; every number matches the material.

The attempt, one pass, unedited

Claude Fable 5.1, written 2026-10-01 03:41 UTC from the brief and the material only.

REFERRAL LETTER

Harbor Street Family Clinic

October 1

Dr. Samuel Reyes
Northgate Orthopedics

Re: Daniel Okoro, date of birth 03/14/1979, record HSFC-20481

Dear Dr. Reyes,

Thank you for seeing Mr. Okoro, whom Dr. Elena Marsh evaluated today for right knee pain.

History: six weeks of right knee pain, worse on stairs, with swelling after activity. No injury recalled. He takes ibuprofen 400 mg as needed, about three times a week.

Examination (Dr. Marsh, October 1): medial joint line tenderness; mild effusion; full extension; flexion limited to about 120 degrees by pain; McMurray's equivocal; ligaments stable.

Imaging: right knee X-ray, two views, today: mild medial compartment narrowing, no fracture, no loose body. The X-ray report is enclosed.

Assessment: medial knee pain, possible meniscal tear versus early osteoarthritis.

Request: evaluation and consideration of MRI.

Medications: ibuprofen 400 mg as needed; lisinopril 10 mg daily. Allergies: penicillin (rash). Past history: hypertension, controlled.

Insurance: Lakeside Health Plan, member 77A-55019. The plan requires referral authorization for specialist visits; please let our office know if you need anything further for it.

Scheduling: the patient prefers Tuesday or Thursday mornings.

Sincerely,

Elena Marsh, MD
Dictated by Dr. Marsh; prepared by [initials]

Enclosure: X-ray report, right knee, October 1


RECORD SUMMARY UPDATES, Daniel Okoro, HSFC-20481, October 1

Problem list: add "Right knee pain, under evaluation" (October 1).
Referrals: October 1, Dr. Samuel Reyes, Northgate Orthopedics, for evaluation and consideration of MRI; referral letter and X-ray report sent; Lakeside Health Plan referral authorization required (member 77A-55019).
Medications: ibuprofen 400 mg as needed, with food, not more than three days a week (blood pressure history), per Dr. Marsh, October 1. Lisinopril 10 mg daily, unchanged.
Follow-up: return visit in six weeks (about November 12), or sooner if the knee locks or gives way. Scheduling preference: Tuesday or Thursday mornings.
Imaging: right knee X-ray, two views, October 1: mild medial compartment narrowing, no fracture, no loose body.

The grade

Graded 2026-10-01 03:44 UTC against the rubric above, by the same model.

Overall: passes. A faithful letter and record update. The attempt added a sentence inviting the specialist's office to ask for anything needed for the authorization, which is administrative and reasonable. It did not restate the vital signs in the letter, which the dictation did not ask for.

How the examples are made and graded: the method. Every task of this job, with its length and when it comes within reach: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.