Medical Office Assistant
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Here's how it works: Your program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll employ in your new career as a Medical Office Assistant. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.
You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later.You will also need to have access to the Internet and Microsoft® Office 2007 to complete portions of this program.
HIT100: Introduction
to Allied Health
This course is designed to provide
a discussion of strategies for completing
the allied health programs as an independent
learner. In addition, it gives an introduction
to health care and the role that medical
office assistants, medical coders,
and medical transcriptionists play
in that industry.
BUS090: Office Procedures
This course covers the typical duties
of the administrative assistant
in any business office: task management,
general business machines, telephone
call management, business letter
writing, electronic and print mail
processing, travel
and meeting planning, policy and
procedures manuals, facility care
and maintenance.
HUM106: Interpersonal Communication
Developing more effective personal
communication skills
to increase chances for professional
success; increasing skill levels
involving the use and selection of
words, gestures, tone of voice, facial
expressions, listening skills, as
well as overall physical appearance.
HIT105: Law and Ethics in Medicine
Legal and ethical issues in the delivery
of health care are presented. A
grounding in the parts of tort
and contract
law that affect health-care delivery
is set forth along with broad ideas
concerning the functioning of the
legal system. Special attention is
given to confidentiality, privileged
communications, informed consent,
the elements of and defenses against
malpractice, legal and practical
issues commonly encountered by medical
office professionals,
end-of-life and beginning-of-life
legal and ethical issues, and the
effect of managed care on ethical
issues faced by health-care practitioners.
(Required textbook provided with
the course.)
CSC102: Word and Excel
Computer and Internet basics; computer
hardware and software; digital electronics
and file management; introduction
to Windows®; PC applications
in word processing, spreadsheets.
ENG010: Business English
Business letters, forms, client records,
and memos; organization, grammar,
punctuation, and sentence
and paragraph construction; coherent
paragraphs,
well-organized documents, and purpose-focused
materials; accurate, attractive,
and effective final copies.
HIT107: Medical Terminology
The development of a vocabulary used
in medicine by acquiring skills
to pronounce, define, and spell
terms. Students will analyze and
interpret medical reports related
to specific body systems. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
SCI135: Anatomy and Physiology 1
The anatomy and physiology of the
human body is presented as an integrated
science. Each major body system
is described and analyzed to illustrate
normal function as well as pathology.
Topics include basic biochemical
elements, skin, bone, muscles,
the nervous system, the senses,
and the endocrine system. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Medical Terminology
SCI136: Anatomy and Physiology 2
Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AP2) continues
the introduction to the structure
and function of the human body
that was begun in Anatomy and Physiology
1 (AP1). Like AP1, AP2 uses the
body systems approach and will
cover the cardiovascular, lymphatic/immune,
respiratory, digestive, urinary,
and reproductive systems. AP2 will
also cover special topics such
as pregnancy, human development,
aging, physiology in special environments,
pathophysiology, and genetics.
Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology
1
HIT109: Confidentiality of Health
Information
Ethical and legal rules concerning
the confidentiality of health information
is presented with particular emphasis
on the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act. Background
material will include operation of
the legal system and principles of
legal liability. (Required textbook
provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Law and Ethics in Medicine
MAT102: Mathematical Applications
Percentages; discounts; interest;
pricing; depreciation; insurance;
use of symbols and their applications;
equations and formulas; importance
of statistics. (Required textbook
provided with course.)
HIT115: Reimbursement Methodologies
This course is designed to introduce
the allied health professional
to major reimbursement systems
in the United States. Focus is
on prospective payment system,
third party payers, and billing
and insurance procedures. This
course also covers additional information
including prepaid health plans,
fee-for-service methodologies,
chargemasters, fee schedules, and
managed care. (Required textbook
provided with the course.)
ALH015: Insurance Form Preparation
This course is an introduction to
the process of filing
clean claims using payer-specific
rules and the importance
of information collection in the
claim filing process.
(Required textbook provided with
the course.)
Prerequisite: Medical Terminology
HIT113: Medical Information Management
and Office Practice
The development of organization, record storage,
information management, and office administration
skills. (Required textbook provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Insurance Form Preparation
ALH090: Clinical Procedures
The role of pathogenic organisms
in disease; how to
control and prevent infection; assessing
patients; the three components of
patient examination; assessing vital
signs; diagnostic tests; treatment
procedures, major drug and medication
categories. (Required textbook provided
with
the course.)
Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology
1 and 2
Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School.
After
completing the Medical Office Assistant
Program, you are eligible for the
RMA exam.
The CMA (AAMA) requires additional training. |
