Medical Office Assistant - Erie Community College

Medical Office Assistant from Erie Community College is a Campus Associate Health Administration degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. Program Description Rapid changes in health care delivery have increased the demand for competent medical assistants . Graduates of the Medical Office Assistant curriculum are prepared for employment in a variety of medical and health care settings. Specifically, medical office assistants are ready to assume office administration responsibilities without direct supervision, to serve as receptionists, to assist in clinical areas, to perform laboratory tests and to provide secretarial services. The goal of this program is to produce graduates who possess the necessary knowledge of contemporary medical office practice and the skills to be an efficient medical office assistant. Through a series of specialized courses, laboratory work and practical field experience, students acquire the competencies and standards of proficiency which are required for certification by the American Association of Medical Assistants . The program also provides a broad base of information which allows graduates to successfully continue their education in related medical field. This curriculum includes a 24.5-credit hour core of liberal arts, social science, and science courses chosen from the areas of anatomy/physiology, microbiology, social science, and English. The remainder of the coursework has been designed to build clinical, administrative, and secretarial skills. Lectures help students build a professional vocabulary of medical terminology and teach present medical ethics, basic medical assisting theory and concepts. College laboratories are well equipped with modern instrumentation to allow students extensive and varied training in a simulated office setting. Students learn clinical office assisting techniques and clinical diagnostic procedures on campus. Computers are used by the students in these laboratories for patient data recording and for retrieval of patient data. In office management and administration courses, computers are used for the word processing of written communications and for office billing procedures. Courses in medical transcription, medical coding and reimbursement provide additional useful skills. In the final semester, students participate in an off-campus supervised externship. Each student is assigned to an approved physician's office for additional training for a minimum of 160 clock hours. Students shall not receive pay for the externship experience. Many graduates of the Medical Office Assistant Program immediately assume positions as medical assistants in private doctors' offices. Others work in various health care facilities. Many graduates continue their education and transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing , medical technology, medical records, administration, or other related medical fields. View more details on Erie Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Health Administration courses.