Program Overview
This program is designed to provide students with the administrative skills needed to function in today’s modern healthcare environment. This includes understanding associated terminology, health records management, communication, privacy, law, and ethics. The program has a common core and then offers students professional concentration elective options. The professional concentration electives allow students to choose from medical office administration; medical records, billing, and coding; medical assisting; or pharmacy practice. The degree is awarded to students after earning 60-semester credits.
Core Courses
Students must complete 21 credits in core studies. After completing the core courses, students are expected to be able to:
• Name and describe the structure and function of the various body systems and identify the pathophysiologic conditions and disorders, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options for each.
• Accurately and professionally perform the duties of a medical office professional.
• Explain federal and state laws and regulations that affect the healthcare industry.
Professional Concentration Elective Options
Depending on the elective courses chosen, students are expected to be able to:
Option 1: Medical Office Administration
• Compile and maintain patients’ electronic medical records, and ensure completeness, accuracy, security, confidentiality, and compliance with regulations.
• Describe the processes, procedures, and terms related to the medical billing cycle.
• Communicate effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing.
• Perform administrative functions relating to the medical environment.
• Demonstrate professionalism in every aspect of their role as a medical office professional.
• Protect the security of patient records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
Option 2: Medical Assisting
• List and discuss best practices for preparing, administering, and documenting medications and immunizations following the six rights of medication administration.
• Identify best practices for safety and infection control in a medical office.
• Describe the role of the medical assistant in preparing the patient for and assisting with patient examinations, surgical, and lab procedures commonly performed in a physician’s office.
Option 3: Medical Records, Billing, and Coding
• Accurately translate reports from healthcare providers into appropriate medical codes using ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS code sets and enter the codes into a form and/or software.
• Create and submit accurate claims, create patient bills, and apply industry-standard payment methodologies.
Option 4: Pharmacy Practice
• Identify the knowledge, skills, and job responsibilities of a pharmacy technician.
• Use standard pharmacy reference sources.
• Identify the top 200 drugs and list their uses and side effects.
• Carry out dosage calculations.
• Identify the information contained on medication orders, prescriptions, and drug labels.
To assist students in choosing the elective course options, we assess coursework that students have completed for credits that transfer to the degree and meet with students to review their educational goals. In collaboration with each student, a degree plan is created to guide students in the requirements to complete the desired professional concentration and the credits required to earn the degree.
For individual course summaries, please click here