Medical Office Specialist: Administrative Secretary - Degree

Associate of Applied Science Degree Programmhcc.edu/MedicalOffice

medical office

Faculty Adviser

Kaisa Larson: 503-491-7195 | Room AC2789 | Kaisa.Larson@mhcc.edu

An administrative secretary performs a wide range of duties in a health care setting. If you enjoy helping people, working with health care professionals, possess strong communication skills, and have an interest in medical and health issues, this might be a good career for you! Students in this program will learn skills in: reception; medical records; computers; scheduling; coding; and billing. Graduates may be hired to work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, nursing facilities, or insurance companies.

Students without computer experience or who want to brush up on computer skills before beginning this program are encouraged to enroll in BCS090 Computer Basics for College Success, a free course offered through the Learning Success Center.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students should be able to:

  • Discuss the roles of the health care team members, elements of successful leadership and problem-solving strategies
  • Describe medical terminology, including disease processes and pharmacology
  • Differentiate verbal and nonverbal communication, including gender differences, cultural awareness and sensitivity, and the elements of speaking and listening
  • Describe the knowledge and skills required of an administrative secretary
  • Compare and contrast the billing and coding elements
  • Complete a professional résumé
  • Describe job searches and correct interview techniques

Medical Office students are required to complete a criminal background check and possibly provide documentation of immunizations prior to beginning an internship.  However many Medical Office sites do not require immunizations, since students normally do not have direct patient contact. If  your chosen site DOES require immunizations, consult with your advisor for a comprehensive list of those required. Do not complete a background check without first consulting with your program adviser.

General education courses (such as math, writing, health, etc.) can be taken during any term, or before starting the program. 

Note: A minimum grade of “C” is required in all courses.

Plan of Study Grid
First Quarter
FallCredits
BI100 Survey of Body Systems (Course offered online) 4
BT123A Keyboarding Skill Development 3
CIS120L Computer Concepts Lab I (Course offered online) 1
MO110 Foundational Principles for the Medical Office Team (Course offered online) (must be completed prior to starting third term courses) 3
MTH065
Beginning Algebra II (Course offered online) (or higher)
or Quantitative Reasoning I
4-6
 Credits15-17
Second Quarter
Winter
MO111 Medical Terminology (Course offered online) 4
MO230 Medical Coding I: ICD-10-CM (Course offered online) 3
MO116 Medical Office Procedures (Course offered online) 4
Arts and Letters 3-4
 Credits14-15
Third Quarter
Spring
BT110 Business Editing (Course offered online) 3
MO136 Healthcare Documentation (Course offered online) 3
MO231 Medical Coding II: Procedural Coding (Course offered online) 4
MO117 Hospital Administrative Procedures (Course offered online) 3
WR121Z Composition I (Course offered online) 4
 Credits17
Fourth Quarter
Fall
CIS125WP Word Processing (Course offered online) 3
COMM115 Introduction to Intercultural Communication (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course) 4
MO226 Pharmacology and Disease Processes for Medical Office Occupations (Course offered online) 4
WR122Z Composition II (Course offered online) 4
 Credits15
Fifth Quarter
Winter
BA111 Introduction to Accounting (Course offered online) 4
MO140 Understanding Medical Insurance (Course offered online) 3
MO240 Medical Office Billing I (Course offered online) 3
MO250 Medical Law and Ethics 3
PSY201Z Introduction to Psychology I (Course offered online) 4
 Credits17
Sixth Quarter
Spring
HE252
First Aid: Responding to Emergencies
or Health and Fitness for Life (Course offered online)
3
MO141 Patient Advocate for Medical Insurance (Course offered online) 3
MO214 Building a Professional Portfolio (Course offered online) 1
MO241 Medical Office Billing II (Course offered online) 3
WE280MOSD Coop Ed - Medical Office Unit Secretary 4
 Credits14
 Total Credits92-95

MO110 Foundational Principles for the Medical Office Team (Course offered online)

Credits 3Fall/Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

This course is designed to develop work behaviors specific to office teams in the delivery of quality contributions to the workforce. Skills receiving particular emphasis will be cultural awareness, diversity, self-management, leadership, interpersonal dynamics, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These skills will continue to be presented, practiced and tested throughout each medical office program. Students will also gain information about office systems from employers, experienced staff members.

Additional Course Fee: $15.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate ability to listen effectively, receive and respond to instructions and communicate information orally and in writing
  2. Describe the interpersonal skills that are essential for the successful healthcare professional.
  3. Discuss the ways in which our society is becoming more multicultural and ethnically diverse.
  4. Explain the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and discuss the privacy issues surrounding HIPAA.
  5. Explain the responsibilities of all healthcare providers under the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS).
  6. Identify different kinds of teams, team roles, the concept of teamwork, inter-team communication and how to be an effective and flexible team member
  7. Identify the benefits of effective professional communication and behavior.
  8. Identify work-related problems and demonstrate strategies for handling conflict effectively
  9. Identify, choose, evaluate and implement alternate solutions to problems
  10. List the qualities of successful leadership, explain personal leadership skills and identify areas for improvement
  11. Create an academic program plan, after meeting with the MO Program Advisor.

MO111 Medical Terminology (Course offered online)

Credits 4Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

A study of medical terminology by body systems with related word elements, disease processes, diagnostic tests and abbreviations. This course covers basic word structures, terms pertaining to the body as a whole, suffixes, and prefixes of the human body systems.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Analyze medical terms by dividing them into component parts and relating the medical terms to the structure and function of the human body
  2. Apply the correlation of understanding of word elements with basic anatomy, physiology and disease processes of the human body
  3. Identify the structural organization of the body as to cells, tissues, organs and systems
  4. Name the organs, anatomical positions, pathological conditions, functions, and laboratory tests of the human body systems.

MO116 Medical Office Procedures (Course offered online)

Credits 4Fall/Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

This course is designed to cover the basic procedures in a medical office. Topics include how medical office teams operate within various medical office settings; how rules of etiquette, standards from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and ethics are applied to office and telephone interaction; how computers and electronic medical records impact the medical office; how to use multiple telephone lines and how to communicate appropriately and effectively in writing as well as on the telephone. Students are instructed in how to manage a medical office, organize and file a patient's medical record and perform bookkeeping procedures and clerical functions.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Apply basic daily financial practices in relevant assigned course work
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in creating and maintaining an office procedures manual as well as electronic and paper medical records, including documentation, flow of information, recognition of various insurance identification cards, and alpha and numeric filing
  3. Discuss the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), office safety, legal and ethical issues and Universal Precautions
  4. Recognize the roles, duties and credentials of the members of the healthcare team
  5. Show ability to use office equipment, including FA,X phones, copiers and computers

MO117 Hospital Administrative Procedures (Course offered online)

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

Students gain information on how acute care departments function independently and together in a hospital, the responsibility of each team member within a department as well as how teams work together. Students learn how orders are processed, who to go to for answers, how to manage complicated situations, admission/discharge procedures, and how to manage/track multiple tasks. Acute care etiquette, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), ethics & effective communication are covered. Students learn to recognize and act on reports such as lab reports, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), computed tomography (CTs), & telemetry data. The use of EHR (Electronic Health Record) is introduced.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Apply rules of etiquette, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and ethics to hospital procedures
  2. Demonstrate an ability to communicate orally, in writing and on the phone
  3. Demonstrate an ability to manage and track multiple tasks and complicated situations
  4. Demonstrate and practice ability to follow written and oral instructions
  5. Describe how a hospital or acute care setting works, including various departments
  6. Describe the composition and functions of the teams in the acute care setting
  7. Describe the use of the Electronic Health Record in a hospital or acute care setting
  8. Discuss appropriate disaster relief and emergency responses in hospital settings
  9. Discuss the job descriptions of various health professions in the hospital setting

MO136 Healthcare Documentation (Course offered online)

Credits 3Fall/Spring

This course covers the fundamentals of healthcare documentation. The course introduces students to the electronic health record (EHR) as a technology-based representation of healthcare data. This course provides examples of various types of charting and highlights scenarios of correct and incorrect documentation practices. The class covers the health record format, its use, and required information. Students examine the basics of healthcare information technology as required under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), with emphasis on data security, privacy in health records, and the flow of healthcare documentation. Students navigate the EHR in a simulated lab.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Identify the essential components of the basic formats of healthcare documentation
  2. Demonstrate the ability to navigate healthcare records in a simulated lab setting
  3. Describe how the transition from paper health records to electronic health records is implemented in the healthcare setting
  4. Describe the basics of health information technology as required under Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)
  5. Discuss patient safety and risk management and the importance of completing accurate healthcare records
  6. Discuss privacy and data security encompassed by HIPAA
  7. Discuss the core functions of electronic health information in the varying healthcare settings, including medical offices, hospitals, and long-term care settings
  8. Identify characteristics of effective documentation methods
  9. List the multiple purposes for medical record documentation
  10. Recognize common documentation errors

MO140 Understanding Medical Insurance (Course offered online)

Credits 3Fall/Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better, or placement above stated course levels.

Students are given an introduction to the dynamics of commercial, state and federal health plans. Special emphasis is given to terminology, health plan components and how these components impact the patient regarding medical services. Students investigate the components of medical insurance contracts used in a medical provider's office and how these details impact a patient's ability to receive care.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate communication skills required to collect patient information regarding patient financial obligations
  2. Find and explain health insurance plans from online resources
  3. Identify and locate provider fee schedules
  4. Identify occupational claims and personal injury claims
  5. List the components found in medical providers' insurance contracts
  6. List the components of commercial and government medical plans

MO141 Patient Advocate for Medical Insurance (Course offered online)

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: MO140 each with a grade of "C" or better.

In this class, students practice the communication skills necessary to explain to patients the parts of their healthcare coverage contract. Students explain what the patients' financial obligations are and help them to identify services allowed by their contract so they can make informed decisions. Students describe and explain the Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate ability to assist patients in understanding their health plans and benefits unique to their coverage
  2. Demonstrate ability to interpret Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to patients
  3. Demonstrate communication skills required to educate the patients on how they can advocate for themselves regarding their health plan
  4. Find and explain health insurance plans from online resources
  5. Interpret and describe plans so patients have a better understanding of how their plan works with their healthcare provider
  6. Locate healthcare benefits on line

MO214 Building a Professional Portfolio (Course offered online)

Credit 1Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

This course is designed to provide professional development skills in the office setting: resume formats (written and electronic), portfolio possibilities, cover letters, interviewing skills, networking, job applications and follow-up procedures.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Complete a professional resume (written and electronic) with cover letter
  2. Complete, if appropriate, a portfolio (written and electronic)
  3. Demonstrate ability to make professional contacts and network
  4. Dramatize through role-plays, interviewing techniques
  5. Practice and demonstrate Internet researches for jobs
  6. Practice and successfully complete job applications (written and electronic)

MO226 Pharmacology and Disease Processes for Medical Office Occupations (Course offered online)

Credits 4Fall/Spring

Registration Requirement: MO114 and MO115 or MO111.

This course is an introduction to the principles of pharmacology and the pharmacologic action of common drugs administered in disease processes affecting the individual body organs and systems. Drugs are studied from a body systems and disease process approach. Students learn within each system, which categories of drugs are used in the treatment of disease. Principal disease processes are studied in relation to their etiology, pertinent diagnostic procedures, signs and symptoms, pathological changes, prognosis and preferred treatment modalities.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Define common drug abbreviations including units of measurement
  2. Define key pharmacology terminology specific to disease for which the drug is used to cure/manage a specific disease
  3. Demonstrate the proper use of drug reference materials
  4. Describe the pharmacologic action of common drugs within all major drug categories by body system and by the disease process under consideration
  5. i.e., knowing which drug is used for leukemia, COPD, etc.
  6. Identify the 100 most prescribed and the 100 most sold drugs
  7. List six routes of drug administration and give one advantage and disadvantage for each
  8. Pronounce and spell common generic and trade name drugs and their classifications

MO230 Medical Coding I: ICD-10-CM (Course offered online)

Credits 3Fall/Winter

Registration Requirement: Co-requisite: MO111.

Students are instructed on the use of ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification), Volumes I and II. Students will understand the importance of proper ICD-10-CM coding and its effect upon the medical office, particularly in regard to reimbursement and regulation. ICD-10-CM is one of the coding systems recognized by the insurance industry, the physician and the medical office as the standard for billing and reimbursement.

Additional Course Fee: $35.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Describe the coding conventions used in ICD-10-CM
  2. Discuss the basic coding guidelines and how to access the updated guidelines via applicable internet sites
  3. Discuss the importance of referencing the most current reference material
  4. Identify and assign appropriate ICD-10-CM Codes
  5. Identify the system used for diagnosis coding (ICD-10-CM)

MO231 Medical Coding II: Procedural Coding (Course offered online)

Credits 4Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: MO230; or instructor consent.

This course is designed to provide instruction and training with the use of HCPCS codes. This class will give the student skills and knowledge necessary to assign HCPCS codes for surgery and ancillary services. Advanced techniques for efficient reimbursement strategies and compliance will be taught. HCPCS as well as ICD-10-CM are the two coding systems recognized by the insurance industry, physician and medical offices as the standard for billing and reimbursement.

Additional Course Fee: $35.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate ability to dissect medical terms for definition in order to correctly interpret and assign appropriate HCPCS codes
  2. Discuss Medicare coding requirements nationally and locally
  3. Identify and demonstrate the use of all HCPCS reference materials

MO232 Medical Coding III: Evaluation and Management (Course offered online)

Credits 3Summer/Spring

Registration Requirement: MO230 and MO231.

This course covers the evaluation and management, medicine, radiology and lab sections of CPT. Students continue to expand their knowledge of ICD-10-CM. This course is for students who want advanced knowledge and training in accurate and up-to-date reimbursement and coding for healthcare facilities.

Additional Course Fee: $35.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate the ability to assign the appropriate CPT code given the type of Evaluation and Management service you are asked to code (Inpatient, Outpatient, Nursing home, Emergency room, et cetera)
  2. Locate and demonstrate the ability to assign the appropriate laboratory and radiology CPT codes upon review of the laboratory and radiology section of CPT
  3. Recall and demonstrate the ability to assign correct ICD-10-CM codes from review of actual patient encounter notes
  4. Recall and demonstrate the ability to locate and assign appropriate CPT codes from the Medicine section of CPT
  5. Recognize and demonstrate the ability to determine the correct level of Evaluation and Management service from the review of actual patient encounter notes

MO234 CPC Review

Credits 2Summer/Spring

Registration Requirement: Must have completed MO230, MO231 and enrolled in or completed MO232.

This course is to help prepare the students to take the National Certified Professional Coding exam. This examination is required to find a position working as a coder with any facility.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Expertise in reviewing and assigning accurate medical codes for diagnoses, procedures, and services performed by physicians and other qualified healthcare providers in the office or facility setting (eg, inpatient hospital)
  2. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology necessary to correctly code provider diagnosis and services
  3. Proficiency across a wide range of services, including evaluation and management, anesthesia, surgery, radiology, pathology, and medicine
  4. Understanding of how to integrate medical coding and payment policy changes into a practice's reimbursement processes

MO240 Medical Office Billing I (Course offered online)

Credits 3Winter/Spring

Registration Requirement: MO114 and MO230.

This course covers the basics in physician medical office billing procedures. This class primarily addresses the issues that influence payments. The topics covered include documentation, information flow, insurance forms and the CMS-1500 form. Special emphasis is given to understanding the various types of health insurance and comparing the billing requirements and benefits of each.

Additional Course Fee: $35.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Complete simple CMS-1500 forms
  2. Describe the requirements for coverage under government and commercial plans
  3. Describe the roles and responsibilities of a Billing Specialist, including applicable knowledge of regulatory considerations
  4. List the stages of an insurance claim and prepare a clean claim for multiple carriers
  5. Show ability to locate and utilize the information on an insurance identification card

MO241 Medical Office Billing II (Course offered online)

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: MO230 and MO240.

This course covers more advanced billing procedures, including using a computerized billing program. Emphasis is on common errors that delay claims processing, office fee schedules, compliance with laws and guidelines, applying charges and payments (understanding Explanation of Benefits), insurance and collection follow-up (denials and appeals). Other areas covered are military plans, Workers Comp and Disability.

Additional Course Fee: $35.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Accurately complete complex CMS-1500 claim forms
  2. Define and give examples of conversion factors and RVU (relative value units). Create an office-based fee schedule
  3. Demonstrate ability to compose effective letters and make appropriate telephone calls for collection
  4. Describe the requirements for coverage under the Military lnsurance plans, Workers Comp and Disability
  5. Use a computerized billing system, sequence claims when there are multiple payers or secondary insurance and accurately post and balance both a charge and payment batch

MO242 Applied Billing and Coding

Credits 3Summer

Registration Requirement: MO230, MO231, MO240 and MO241.

Students participate in a simulated office setting, where they complete Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) forms, match International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for mock reimbursement and bill mock insurance carriers. They also analyze and identify problems from Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) from insurance companies.

Additional Course Fee: $25.00

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Consistently remit clean claims to insure prompt payment
  2. Defend the coding protocol to a physician
  3. Demonstrate ability to bill claims correctly using the HCFA-1500 form
  4. Identify correctly information and charges on a superbill/fee slip and apply to billing form
  5. Read patient data from charts and forms and organize onto claim forms
  6. Use a basic encoder application

MO250 Medical Law and Ethics

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: RD090 and WR090, or IECC201R and IECC201W, each with a grade of "C" or better; or placement above stated course levels.

This course presents the medical/legal concepts and issues pertinent to medical offices and hospitals for the medical office worker. The student is provided with a basic knowledge of law, ethics and bioethics applicable to the medical office settings. The implications for delivery of healthcare by medical office workers are discussed.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Describe various laws that affect the allied healthcare professional
  2. Describe various laws that affect the healthcare industry in general
  3. Examine the various legal, ethical and bioethical issues in healthcare today

Online option regularly offered

Cultural Literacy course