MEDICAL OFFICE PRACTICE
Program Description
The Medical Office Practice certificate program, by offering training in either clinical or administrative aspects of office procedure, prepares the students for positions in physicians' private offices or group practices, hospital offices, medical records services, clinics, public health facilities, research and other health related offices.
This program has been designed to prepare graduates for immediate employment in a medical facility. Further, the program has been structured to provide career mobility and to facilitate further study. Courses from the medical office practice program may be used to satisfy requirements in the Medical Office Assistant associate degree program if the student decides to pursue an associate in applied science degree.
A core program, required of all students, provides the basic scientific fundamentals applicable to the medical profession. These courses include keyboarding, medical law and ethics for health care professionals, medical terminology, survey of anatomy/physiology, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. Students develop additional skills by completing either the clinical laboratory option or the administrative option.
Clinical Option
The clinical option provides additional instruction in medical microbiology, pharmacology, clinical office assisting procedures and clinical diagnostic procedures. Medical assistants may advance to other occupations through experience or additional training.
Administrative Option
Choosing the administrative option would provide course work in medical administrative procedures, word processing, spreadsheet, database, slide presentation and computerized office automation. Students may elect to concentrate on specific areas such as medical administrative procedures, medical transcription, or medical coding and reimbursement. With advisement, the student will select courses supporting achievement of these special skills.
Upon successful completion of all required coursework, Medical Office Practice students may elect to complete an internship in a medical office setting. Students will not receive pay for the internship experience.
Many graduates assume positions in medical offices and other health care facilities. Administrative medical office practice graduates may advance to office manager, or qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations. Clinical medical office practice graduates may pursue additional education to become nurses or other health care workers. Other graduates may elect to continue their education and pursue the Associate in Applied Science degree in the Medical Office Assistant program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Recommended high school courses include mathematics, health, biology, typing, bookkeeping, computers and office skills. Applicants must have attained at least an 80 percent average in high school subjects. Volunteer experience in the health care field also is helpful.
Progression
- All developmental, pre-requisites, co-requisites and MA courses may be repeated only once if a grade below "C" or "W" (Withdrawal) is received. MA courses are integrated and sequenced in a specific manner to enable students to attain program competencies. All required courses must be passed each semester in order to advance to the following semester.
- Any two failures (grade below a "C") or withdrawal (W) in any of the required MA courses will result in dismissal from the Medical Office Assisting Program.
- Because of the critical nature of the profession, deviations from professional conduct may adversely affect the patient's well being. Therefore, the department reserves the right to immediately remove the student from didactic, clinical procedures/laboratory and office externship work and/or dismiss that student from the program if the department determines that the student has acted in an unprofessional manner or if the student is unable to provide safe office practices.
Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete all MA courses within a two year limit
- For graduation, students must have an overall QPA of 2.0 and a minimum grade of "C" in MA and OF courses
Degree: Certificate
Hegis: 5214
Curriculum Code: 0980
Total Degree Credits: 36.0 Clinical Option or 31.0 Administrative Option
Campus Location: North