Medical Office Administration

Students gain a working knowledge of reception procedures and office management skills utilized in the medical environment. Knowledge and skills related to scheduling appointments, written and oral communication including telephone techniques, reception duties, and emergency procedures are introduced. Basic psychological concepts that relate to patient care are discussed. Students will learn how computers impact the medical office environment. In addition, administrative terminology, legal, ethical, and safety concepts related to the medical office will be addressed.

Students explore the fundamentals of paper and electronic medical record management, fee determination, billing methodology, and collection processes. Students perform basic bookkeeping, coding, and third-party billing procedures. Financial management of the medical office and various medical insurance plans are discussed along with related terminology and legal regulations.

Students will obtain working knowledge of the fundamentals of an electronic health records (EHR) and practice management system, which can be applied to the different systems utilized in health care. Students will perform administrative and clinical tasks using the EHR, including communication, managing schedules, health history and medication documentation, and order entry. By performing these tasks, students will gain an understanding of functionality of the EHR and the practice management system and their use by health care professionals. In addition, federal legislation, basic billing, and coding principles along with encoder activities will be discussed.

Building on the prior coding, billing, and collection information, this course introduces students to medical practice finance and practice management. Terminology and concepts related to accounting, banking, financial records, and payroll records will be discussed. Diagnostic and procedural coding procedures are reviewed, and customer service concepts are addressed. Related legal and ethics issues will be examined.