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Health Care Office Specialist, Certificate

Overview

Narrative

Northampton's Healthcare Office Specialist certificate program is designed to prepare you to enter a modern healthcare setting in a short time frame. The program offers career-specific coursework for a student wishing to complete their studies within three full-time semesters. Each program provides course offerings that prepare you to work as a team player in a specialized healthcare environment.

Your studies will include state-of-the-art office equipment and computer software. You will learn the marketable skills required to work effectively with other people in an office environment. We emphasize development of professional attitudes, values, and ethics. As you progress through the program, you'll gain critical thinking, priority setting, and decision-making skills needed in today's quality-oriented healthcare environment.

Graduates of this certificate program often go on to gain employment and then pursue NCC's Healthcare Office Coordinator associate degree.

Features

This program prepares you for the responsibilities and challenges expected of a skilled administrative assistant in a healthcare setting. Responsibilities of a healthcare office specialist include front-office duties, health services coding, and patient insurance reimbursement, but these responsibilities can vary depending on the size of the practice.

Courses for the healthcare pathways include Basics of Human Anatomy and Physiology, CPT Coding Methodology, and PCS Coding Methodologies.

We have an excellent record of employment for our graduates in the full range of healthcare settings.

Graduates of this certificate program can also continue on to complete the Healthcare Office Coordinator associate degree with ease.

Endorsed by Local Employers

Potential employers for those following this healthcare career pathway include:

  • Hospitals
  • Community Health Centers
  • Ambulatory Surgical Units
  • Outpatient Laboratory Centers
  • Physician's Offices
  • Urgent Care Centers
  • Elder Care Facilities

This program can be completed in the day or evening, on a full or part-time basis.

Please contact the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 or adminfo@northampton.edu for further information.

Career Potential: Medical Receptionist, Medical Secretary, Medical Administrative Assistant, Patient Coordinator, Medical Billing Clerk, Medical Coder, Medical Records Clerk

Outcomes

Students who complete the program will:

  • Identify the appropriate documentation that is required for billing and reimbursement.
  • Categorize patient health conditions and treatments to assign proper codes.
  • Apply the appropriate coding system: ICD codes to diagnosis/procedures, HCPCS codes to medical equipment, supplies, etc., and CPT codes to procedures for health records and billing.
  • Apply patient accounting principles and reimbursements.
  • Analyze patient records to maximize reimbursement.
  • Utilize software to accomplish work-related tasks accurately and efficiently in a health care environment.
  • Utilize analytical skills and administrative techniques necessary to organize, prioritize, and manage the flow of confidential information in a health care setting.
  • Exhibit professionally acceptable attitudes, values & ethics in the health care profession.
  • Explain the basic human resource management principles as related to the health care environment.

Courses

First Semester

BIOS130Basics of Human Anatomy and Physiology

4 credits
OFAD101Keyboarding & Formatting Essentials I

3 credits
ENGL101English I

3 credits
HCOA154Medical Terminology

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:13

Second Semester

ACCT100Accounting for Non-Accountants

3 credits
CISC101Introduction to Computers

3 credits
HCOA172Health Insurance Basics

3 credits
HCOA175ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Methodologies

3 credits
HCOA176CPT Coding Methodology

3 credits
Total Credit Hours:15

Third Semester

BUSA226Human Resources Management

3 credits
HCOA177Health Information Technology

3 credits
HCOA240Medical Office Management Practices

3 credits
HCOA270Advanced Coding for Medical Services

3 credits
HCOA275Capstone Simulation for Coding

2 credits
HCOA276Diversity & Cultural Competency in Healthcare

2 credits
Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 44