A degree in medical office management is
designed for individuals with an interest in the business side of the
health care industry who prefer performing office-related duties to
providing direct patient care. Those who complete an online associate
degree program in medical office administration or an online program
leading to a bachelor's degree in health care management are qualified
for entry-level opportunities in medical office management.
An online associate degree in medical office management, also
commonly referred to as medical office administration, prepares
graduates to perform administrative and clinical duties that keep the
business aspects of a medical office functioning smoothly. Students gain
an understanding of the administrative duties unique to medical
practices, including medical billing and reimbursement, medical law,
medical ethics, privacy laws and compliance with federal regulations.
Courses help students develop strong administrative skills in order to
work closely with physicians and other medical support staff to organize
and manage patient care services.
An online associate degree in medical office management incorporates
general education requirements with the industry-specific courses needed
to gain entry-level employment within the field. An online curriculum
can range from approximately 60 to 96 credit hours. Depending on whether
they are enrolled part-time or full-time, students can expect to
complete this type of degree program in 16-24 months. In many programs,
all required coursework can be completed entirely online.
Common Online Coursework for an Associate Degree in Medical Office Management
Coursework for an associate degree in medical office management
combines online training in traditional clerical and office skills with
basic instruction in health care and medical business operations.
Traditional clerical skills such as computers and technology, reception,
organization and communication are covered.
Medical Terminology Course
This online course helps students establish a solid foundation of
medical terminology and common abbreviations. Students are introduced to
prefixes, suffixes and root words used in the medical vocabulary.
Emphasis is placed on understanding medical terminology as it pertains
to anatomy, diagnostic procedures, the body systems and treatment
procedures.
Medical Billing and Insurance Procedures Course
Students are introduced to basic coding, billing and insurance claim
procedures used in medical offices and hospitals. The class covers
various classification systems, such as CPT, ICD-9-CM and HCPS, used to
code diagnoses, procedures and conditions.
Anatomy and Physiology Course
Content provides an overview of all major body systems, their role in
the human organism and their interaction with other systems and
structures. Students study the human body as a living, functioning
organism and learn important concepts regarding how cells, tissue,
organs and body systems make the human body work.
Medical office managers oversee the day-to-day operations of health
care organizations, including inventory, billing, insurance claims and
human resources. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of
settings, including general or specialized clinics, private physician
offices, chiropractor offices and physical therapy practices. According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), office managers in
physicians' offices earned an annual mean wage of $48,570 in May of 2009
(
www.bls.gov). The BLS projected job growth within this occupation to increase at an average rate of 11% between 2008 and 2018.
In an online health care management bachelor's degree program,
students learn the administrative techniques, business skills and
medical knowledge required to manage medical offices.. Students study
public and private health care systems, billing, coding, health care
finances and legal issues in health care. The curriculum also helps
build general leadership skills, such as team building, interpersonal
skills and change strategies. This type of online program is typically
designed for adult learners currently working in a health care field.
Combining both general education courses and prescribed coursework
within the health care management major, an online bachelor's degree
typically requires between 130 and 180 credit hours. Online programs
will typically accept transfer credits from a previously earned
associate degree toward general education coursework. At many schools,
all courses are offered entirely online through interactive course
management software, such as Blackboard. Students can expect this type
of degree to require approximately 4 years of study.
Common Online Coursework for a Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Management
Typical coursework for an online bachelor's degree provides the
knowledge needed to assume leadership roles within a variety of health
care organizations. The curriculum provides focused instruction in
health care topics, including management procedures, accounting,
budgeting, regulation and policy.
Health Care Finance Course
Instruction covers the unique structure and procedures of financial
management in the health care industry. Courses teach students how to
understand health care reimbursement procedures, statements of profit
and loss, cash flow statements and balance sheets in order to make
informed decisions regarding operations and resource allocation.
Health Care Organizations and Leadership Course
This course explores roles and duties of supervisors in modern health
care organizations, including techniques for working with organized
medical staff and medical boards. Study topics include professional
development, strategic management, interpersonal skills and leadership.
Risk Management in Health Care Course
The various risk factors associated with conducting business within
the health care industry are introduced. Students study various methods
for managing financial risk in health care organizations, including
reducing liability and maintaining adequate insurance.
Graduates with bachelor's degree in health care management are
prepared for entry-level leadership opportunities with a variety of
health care facilities, including nursing homes, physician practices,
ambulatory care services and hospitals. A bachelor's degree is typically
sufficient enough for management positions at the department level of
health care organizations, in health information management, private
physician practice and in small health care facilities. According to the
BLS, employment opportunities for medical and health services managers
was projected to grow by 16% during the 2008-2018 decade (
www.bls.gov).
As of May 2009, the BLS reported the median annual wage for medical
health care services managers as $81,850. A master's degree is typically
required for those individuals wishing to elevate their careers and
seek administrative positions as department heads with larger health
care facilities.
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