Required Coursework
ALH 205 Pharmacology* | 3 credits |
ALH 218 Medical Terminology* | 3 credits |
ALH 232 Administrative I – Medical Office Procedures* | 4 credits |
ALH 233 Administrative II – Advanced Medical Office Procedures* | 4 credits |
ALH 250 Medical Law& Bioethics* | 3 credits |
ALH 281 Medical Administrative Specialist Practicum* | 3 credits |
BIO 101 Human Biology* | 3 credits |
OR | |
BIO 210 Human Anatomy & Physiology I* | 4 credits |
AND | |
BIO 211 Human Anatomy & Physiology II* | 4 credits |
BUS 111 Contemporary Business & Technical Communications* | 4 credits |
BUS 222 Medical Keyboarding/Word Processing* | 3 credits |
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers and Software* | 4 credits |
COM 110 Interpersonal Communications* | 3 credits |
Business Focus – Add these courses
ACCT 109 Payroll Accounting* | 2 credits |
BUS 105 Business Mathematical Applications* | 3 credits |
BUS 260 Small Business Management* | 3 credits |
Coding Focus – Add these courses
ALH 111 Diagnostic Coding | 3 credits |
ALH 210 Procedural Coding | 3 credits |
ALH 240 Insurance Claims Processing | 3 credits |
Total: | 45-50 credits |
*Course has a prerequisite |
- The student must achieve a “C” or 2.0 GPA in all curriculum courses.
- Qualifications for the practicum requires that students have all course work completed and an overall 2.5 GPA or above.
- All instructors must recommend the student for practicum.
- The process of determining who will enter the program will be selective.
Effective: Fall 2011
Current as: 7/16/14
Employment Information
This certificate can also be applied toward
the Associate of Applied Science in
Allied Health degree, for those seeking
increased responsibilities, supervisory
roles and health care office management
in physician offices, health care clinics,
hospital-based clinics, hospitals and small
health care businesses.
Medical Administrative Specialists are multi-skilled in medical records and health information and play key roles in the medical office, clinic or hospital setting. They organize and manage health information data, insurance processing, coding and billing, practice finance and fundamental office management tasks. A Medical Administrative Specialist is very familiar with clinical and technical concepts required to coordinate administrative office functions in a health care setting.
Jobs are available in physicians’ offices, health clinics, outpatient facilities, medical laboratories, hospitals, health insurance companies, medical supply and equipment businesses, and pharmaceutical companies.
Duties and skills vary by the size of office. In a small practice, the job may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, composing and processing correspondence, collecting and recording payments, maintaining financial reports and patient files. In a large office, the job will focus on more of the non-patient, office duties and work more directly with the facility’s administrative office team.
Physician office coding specialists are in high demand; these medical records employees classify diagnoses and procedures to facilitate billing
and reimbursement from insurance companies.
Employment Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the 2016 median salary for medical records or health information technicians was $38,040 per year and for secretaries and administrative assistants was $37,230 per year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth in employment of health information technicians of 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations and for administrative assistants of 3 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages. Those who have experience with coding, word processing and create spreadsheets, should have the best job prospects.
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