 
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.
Note: A High School Diploma is required to enroll in the Medical Office Assistant program. If you did not complete High School, you can enroll in Penn Foster High School with a Concentration in Health Care. Graduates of this program will earn a fully accredited High School Diploma along with the basic health care courses needed to accelerate your studies for a career as a Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, or Medical Billing and Coding Administrator.
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.
ALH018: Law and Ethics in Allied Health
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.
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.
ALH016: Body Systems/Terminology 1
Introduction to medical terminology; chemistry/
laboratory; pharmacology; cells, tissues, and
membranes; integumentary system;
musculoskeletal system; blood and cardiovascular
system; respiratory system; digestive system.
ALH017: Body Systems/Terminology 2
Sense organs; nervous system; endocrine system;
urinary/excretory system; male and female
reproductive systems; lymphatic system; oncology
and radiation; surgery and pathology; genetics.
ALH019: Confidentiality in Allied Health
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.
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.)
ALH021: Basic Pharmacology
An introduction to basic pharmacology, as well as the type of drugs by body systems. Includes the drug's generic and trade names, use, side effects and drug interactions.
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.
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.
HIT113: Medical Information Management
and Office Practice
The development of organization, record storage,
information management, and office administration
skills.
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.
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. |
