This program is designed to prepare students for a broad spectrum of entry level employment in the Medical Office and related occupations. A student completing this program can perform many tasks including medical/dental insurance coding & billing, medical/dental transcription, reception duties, medical filling & records, medical secretarial duties, and medical bookkeeping. Graduates will be prepared to gain national certification through testing in Medical Office Administration, Medical Transcription, and Medical Billing and Coding. Read our Medical Office Assistant Success Stories.

NATURE OF THE WORK: Every time a patient receives health care, a record is maintained of the observations, medical or surgical interventions, and treatment outcomes. This record includes information that the patient provides concerning his or her symptoms and medical history, the results of examinations, reports of X rays and laboratory tests, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Medical records and health information technicians organize and evaluate these records for completeness and accuracy.

 

Some medical records and health information technicians specialize in coding patients' medical information for insurance purposes. Technicians who specialize in coding are called health information coders, medical record coders, coder/abstractors, or coding specialists. These technicians assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure. They consult classification manuals and also rely on their knowledge of disease processes. Medical records and health information technicians' duties vary with the size of the facility where they work. In large to medium sized facilities, technicians might specialize in one aspect of health information or might supervise health information clerks and transcriptionists. In small facilities, a credentialed medical records and health information technician sometimes manages the department.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS: Medical records and health information technicians usually work a 40-hour week in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. In hospitals - where health information departments often are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - technicians may work day, evening, and night shifts. This is one of the few health occupations win which there is little or no direct contact with patients. Because accuracy is essential for their jobs, close attention must be paid to every detail.

 

EMPLOYMENT: Medical records and health information technicians held about 170,000 jobs in 2008. About 2 out of 5 jobs were in hospitals. The rest were mostly in offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, out-patient care centers, and home health care services. Insurance firms that deal in health matters employ a small number of health information technicians to tabulate and analyze health information. Public health departments also hire technicians to supervise data collection from health care institutions and to assist in research.

 

JOB OUTLOOK: Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2018 because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. Individuals with a strong background in medical coding will be in particularly high demand. Changing government regulations and the growth of managed care have increased the amount of paperwork involved in filing insurance claims.

 

EARNINGS: The earnings of Medical Office Assistants vary depending on their experience, skill level, and location. Median annual earnings of Medical Office Assistants Assistants were $30,610 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,290 and $39,490. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,440 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $50,060.

 

- Information taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011

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O*NET Code	Title of Occupation Title
29-2071	Medical Records & Health Information Technicians
43-6013	Medical Secretaries

 

 

Registration Fee:	$ 100.
Tuition through Graduation:	$ 10,500.
Books and Supplies:	included*
Total Cost:	$10,600.

 

*All required textbooks, workbooks, software, lab supplies, two sets of uniforms, etc. needed to complete the program are included with tuition. Incidentals such as notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. are not included and must be provided by the student. For more information of tuition policies and additional charges see the college catalog.

 

 

 

Retention Rate: 81%

Graduates Completing within the normal program time: 61%

Graduates Completing withing 150% of normal program time: 89%

 

Average Entry-Level Hourly Wage:$10.29

(This data is taken from information voluntarily furnished for graduates during the time period)

 

Graduate Employment Rate:75%

(This rate is prepared annual using the formulas and methodologies required by our accrediting commission)

 

The following data are the median debt levels for graduates of this program upon graduation.

 

 

*Title IV Loans include Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans

**Institutional Loans would include any money due to the college when the student graduates.