Healthcare Office Assistant (HFA1)  Technical Certificate of Credit


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Healthcare Office Assistant Certificate is designed to provide educational opportunities to individuals that will enable them to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to secure an entry-level position as a receptionist in a physician's office, hospital, clinic, or other related areas. Technical courses apply to the degree or diploma program in Business Healthcare Technology.

The standard curriculum for the Healthcare Office Assistant Certificate program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the program any semester. The certificate generally takes three (3) to four (4) semesters to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 32-36 credit hours.

Requirements

  • Submit a completed application;
  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

  • Tuition/Fees: $2,774
  • Books/Supplies: $750
Curriculum Outline (36 hours)
General Core (6 hours) 6
COLL 1040

(Prerequisite: None) This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/technical program of study. Topics include: Computer Applications/Technology Skills, Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communication Skills, and Career Exploration.

3
ENGL 1010

(Prerequisite: ENGL 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score AND READ 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score) Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.

3
Occupational Courses (26-30 hours) 30
BUSN 1015

(Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2300/ALHS 1090) This course is designed to increase efficiency and streamline administrative procedures for healthcare insurance billing and reimbursement. Topics include documentation in the medical record, types of insurance, Medicare compliance policies related to documentation and confidentiality, and HIPAA and other compliance regulations.

3
BUSN 1440

(Prerequisites: The ability to key 25 gross words a minute on 3-minute timings with no more than 3 errors, COMP 1000 or guided elective) (Co-requisites: COMP 1000 or guided elective) Reinforces the touch system of keyboarding placing emphasis on correct techniques with adequate speed and accuracy and producing properly formatted business documents. Topics include: reinforcing correct keyboarding technique, building speed and accuracy, formatting business documents, language arts, proofreading, and work area management.

4
BUSN 2340

(Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2310/ALHS 1011and BUSN 2300/ALHS1090, COMP 1000 or Guided Elective) (Co-requisites: BUSN 1440) Emphasizes the essential skills required for the business healthcare office. Introduces the knowledge, skills, and procedures needed to understand billing purposes. Introduces the basic concept of business healthcare administrative assisting and its relationship to the other health fields. Emphasizes healthcare regulations and ethics and the healthcare administrative assistant's role as an agent of the physician. Provides the student with knowledge and the essentials of professional behavior. Topics include: introduction to business healthcare procedures, healthcare regulations ethics, healthcare records management, scheduling appointments, health insurance billing/collection, work area management, resource utilization, and office equipment. Program students will take exit exam when enrolled in this course. 

4
BUSN 2350

(Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2310/ALHS 1011and BUSN 2300/ALHS 1090, COMP 1000 or Guided Elective) (Co-requisites: BUSN 1440) This course provides a study of the content, code sets, storage, retrieval, control, flow, retention, maintenance of electronic health records, and computerized office management. Topics include: electronic healthcare information management, electronic data exchange, coding standards, health record and office management software, point of entry data entry, electronic coding from health records, speed data entry in processing healthcare records, analysis of records to improve patient care, confidentiality, release of information, security of electronic healthcare record, communication, technology, insurance payment, managed care, posting to accounts, appointment schedules, practice management, report generation, customizing medical documents, claims management, collections management, and HIPAA security. 

3
XXX xxxElective (3 hours) 3
Choose One (3 hours) 3
COMP 1000

This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.

3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
Choose One (6-10 hours)
You may choose to take these three courses OR (10 hours)
ALHS 1090

(Prerequisite: Provisional Admission) Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.

2
ALHS 1011

(Prerequisite: Regular Admission) Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

5
MAST 1120

(Prerequisites: ALHS 1011, ALHS 1090, ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010) (Co-requisites: MAST 1080, MAST 1100) Provides review of anatomy and physiology per body system and fundamental information concerning common diseases and disorders or each body system.  For each system, the disease or disorder is highlighted including: description, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, management, prognosis, and prevention.  Topics include:  review of anatomy and physiology and diseases of the body systems.

3
You may choose to take only this course (6 hours) 6
BUSN 1010

(Prerequisites: None) This course focuses on medical terminology, anatomy, and diseases and disorders of each major human body system: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Sensory, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive Systems of the Male and Female, and Development, Heredity, and Genetics.

6
Approved Electives: ACCT 1105, ACCT 1120, ACCT 2140, BUSN 1100, BUSN 1190, BUSN 1240, BUSN 1250, BUSN 1320, BUSN 1330, BUSN 1400, BUSN 1410, BUSN 1420, BUSN 1430, BUSN 2160, BUSN 2375
Additional Approved Elevtives: CIST 1001, CIST 1601, CIST 2127, CIST 2128, MGMT 1100, MGMT 1105, MGMT 1110, MGMT 1115, MGMT 1120, MGMT 1125, MGMT 2115, MGMT 2120, MGMT 2130
Faculty
Advisor

Business Technology Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 2, Office 2123

Advisor

Business Technology Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 2, Office 2123

Advisor

Business Technology Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 804

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