2024-2025 Catalog

Medical Office Professional Certificate

45 credits

The Medical Office Professional Program is provided by the Office Professions Department.

Program Description
The Medical Office Professional Certificate of Completion prepares students for office employment in healthcare facilities. Students will gain skills and knowledge in specific courses geared toward the healthcare industry, including medical terminology, legal and ethical issues, foundations of health insurance, medical office procedures and patient registration. Students will enter information into a software simulation program, which is similar to what is used in hospitals, clinics, etc. Students also complete a practical experience in a local clinic, hospital or other healthcare facility.  The curriculum also focuses on skills & knowledge needed for entry-level general office employment including records management and filing, math and calculator skills, word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet applications, customer service skills, business writing skills, and general workplace competencies necessary for office positions.

Career Opportunities
Students completing the Medical Office Professional Certificate will qualify for office positions in healthcare facilities including hospitals, tribal health facilities, health clinics, etc. According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants the current average salary in Montana is $39,450.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Certificate of Completion in Medical Office Professional, graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic medical office skills, including scheduling appointments, patient billing, procedural and diagnostic coding, patients accounts, and banking procedures.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic office skills, including record management, creating business messages, writing meeting minutes, and operating a 10-key calculator.
  • Define medical terms and identify body systems and functions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical/legal aspects of medical office employment.
  • Manage the registration process for patient registration in an electronic medical record via an online simulation.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of health insurance to assist in the patient registration process.
  • Create and maintain spreadsheets, presentations, and word processing documents commonly used in businesses.
  • Discuss considerations for Native American/Alaska Native populations in the workplace.

The Medical Office Professional Program has designated the following courses as embedding the "4 Cs" competencies:  Communication: OFED 261 and OFED 142.  Critical Thinking: OFED 130, CAPP 105. Cultural Understanding: CAPP 140 and CAPP 170. Citizenship: OFED 142. Information Literacy is taught in CAPP 105.

 

Curriculum

Fall

CAPP105Computers for College Success

1

CAPP140Word Processing

3

HIEP105Medical Office Foundations

3

OFED100Office Professions Seminar

1

OFED130Office Essentials

3

OFED142Professional Relationships in the Workplace

3

ELECTIVEOpen 1 cr

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Winter

CAPP161Electronic Spreadsheets

3

ENGL101English Composition I

3

HIEP140Health Insurance

2

HIEP142Medical Office Essentials

3

NASD101History of Indians in the United States

3

SVLN100Community Service Learning

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

BUMG160Personal Finance

3

CAPP170Electronic Presentations

2

HIEP170Patient Registration

3

OFED171Customer Service

2

OFED261Office Communication and Procedures

3

OFED290Office Practicum

2

Total Credit Hours:15

Total Credit Hours: 45