Description

The Medical Office Specialist One-Year Certificate of Completion prepares students for entry-level medical office specialist employment. With coursework in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, health data content and systems, computer technology, disease processes, beginning coding, and HIPAA, students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to begin a successful office career in the health services field. Employment settings range from a physician's office to a large hospital. Job duties may include maintaining medical records and accounts, word processing, basic accounting, scheduling, professional communication, and general health care facility operations.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Apply principles of data structure, content, and information governance in health information management.
2. Correlate privacy and security regulations and strategies to protected health information.
3. Apply the concepts of health informatics and data analytics.
4. Use components of reimbursement and classification systems.

Entrance Requirements

Academic Entrance Requirements

Required:

• Before enrolling in HIM 103 Introduction to Health Information Management, students must successfully complete CIS 120 Computer Concepts, AH 111 Medical Terminology I, and BA 214 Business Communications.

Other Entrance Requirements

Recommended:

• Keyboarding: 40 words per minute minimum
• Study skills
• Writing skills
• Reading with emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills
• Computer/technology skills (essential)

Required:

• Students entering the HIM program are required to have a criminal history check before enrolling in HIM 103 Introduction to Health Information Management. Students may be prevented from entering the program if there is a felony conviction on their record.

Additional Program Costs (Beyond Standard Tuition/Fees and Textbooks)

Material Costs

Required:

• Total cost depends upon preparatory coursework and extent of completion within the program. Additional costs are approximately $2,500, including textbooks, technology fees, professional practice travel expense, OrHIMA annual conference, criminal history check, etc.

Recommended:

• Students are strongly encouraged to have access to a desktop or laptop computer with a web camera and reliable high-speed internet access.

Course Requirements

Advising Notes

Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor if they have transfer credits and/or are not able to attend full time in order to determine an appropriate course schedule. Additionally, students should reference the course descriptions to determine required lab hours.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Plan