Medical Office E-Ministration Associate's Degree
Do you want to start your career in the fast-growing medical field? As medical offices increasingly turn to computer-based recordkeeping, new workers need to know how to use computers and software that replace paper-based office systems. Keep reading to learn how you can earn your associate's degree in medical office e-ministration. Schools offering Medical Office Administration degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Is Medical Office E-Ministration?
Medical office e-ministration refers to the computer systems used to organize and store patient records, retrieve medical data, and enter billing codes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that as the health care industry moves toward the use of electronic health records (EHRs), the ability of administrative workers to use software, adhere to privacy and security standards, and analyze electronic data will be increasingly important. Some medical office e-ministration professionals specialize in billing and coding or cancer registry.
What Associate's Degree Programs Are There?
You can earn an associate's degree in health information technology, medical billing and coding, medical office administration, or medical office technology. These all prepare you for work with various types of electronic information systems related to the health industry. Most of these programs award Associate of Applied Science degrees and take about two years of full-time study to complete. There are also online programs in the field if you'd like to complete your studies on your own schedule.
What Courses Can I Take?
In a medical office e-ministration associate's degree program, you'll take courses that give you a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, office management, patient care, and computer applications. Your technology-based courses cover billing and coding, medical transcription, insurance, and record management. You'll also take required classes in general education.
These programs also generally provide you with the skills necessary to function in an office that deals directly with patients, so you'll learn about scheduling, oral communications, and office management. Campus-based and online programs also often give you hands-on experience through working directly in a medical office under the guidance of experienced professionals and mentors.
Do I Need Certification?
The BLS reported that employers often prefer to hire candidates that are certified medical office technicians and that some states require you to be certified to work in these areas. Certification is offered by a few different organizations and typically requires you to pass an exam and have received some kind of training. You may need to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management to qualify. There are several different certifications you can obtain, depending on your specialty, such as Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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Associate's Degrees in Medical and Health
