Physician's Office Assistants primarily work in doctor's offices, clinics, outpatient settings, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Medical assistants, medical secretaries, and medical records clerks are all positions in great demand. The growth and the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system have resulted in a substantial increase in the need for qualified physician's office assistants. As access to health information is changing the ways doctors care for patients, the nation's healthcare system needs to move to the electronic medical record, numerous employment opportunities exist for medical assistants, health information systems staff, patient registration professionals and other related positions. Healthcare professionals with the ability to understand, update and maintain the electronic health record are in great demand.

This program covers information on medical administration and assistance, interpersonal skills, medical ethics and law, medical terminology, basics of insurance billing and coding, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, medical records management and management of practice finances. Additionally, this program prepares learners to understand and use electronic records in a medical practice. The content reviews the implementation and management of electronic health information using common electronic data interchange systems and maintaining the medical, legal, accreditation and regulatory requirements of the electronic health record.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Provide an overview of the healthcare industry and expectations for a healthcare professional
• Understand the role of the medical administrative assistant
• Describe the history of medicine, medicine and the law, medical malpractice, medical ethics, and medical practice specialties
• Understand ethical and legal issues, fraud abuse, and compliance
• Employ office and patient communication techniques, conduct appointment scheduling and general office duties
• Employ technology in the healthcare environment
• Employ basic terminology used in the medical office
• Assist with medical records management, confidentiality of the medical record, initiating a medical record for a new client and filing reports in the medical record
• Implement HIPAA procedures and adhere to the patient bill of rights and confidentiality
• Understand financial and practice management
• Understand health insurance coverage, and billing and coding procedures
• Understand professional fees, billing and collecting procedures, accounting systems and credit arrangements
• Perform medical accounting, financial statements, cost analysis, and budgets for the medical practice
• Understand the fundamentals of specimen collection, laboratory safety and federal and state regulations
• Assist with medical emergencies
• Describe the role of the electronic health record specialist
• Explain the organization, storage, and management of the health record in a medical facility
• Explain the legal requirements related to health records and patient information
• Use EHR software to perform health record tasks
• Explain how the health record information is used to complete the claim information
• Discuss various reimbursement methodologies

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the option to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

	National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
	National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
	National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (MAAC)
	National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Electronic Health Records Management Certification (EHRM)

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.