Online Medical Office Management Schools: How to Choose

Healthcare delivery is a business, and medical office managers ensure the success of that business by taking care of such matters as hiring or firing personnel, billing, purchasing equipment and keeping track of patient records and appointment schedules. Students interested in this field can find online schools that offer degree programs in health services management and health information management, and also in the related fields of public health and healthcare administration.

How to Select an Online Medical Office Management School

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a master's degree is the usual requirement for a position as a medical office manager, though in some cases a bachelor's degree will suffice for an entry-level job (www.bls.gov). Fields of study for this occupation include health services administration, business administration, public health, health sciences or public administration. Long-term care administration is another potential field of study for medical office managers.

Program Levels

Online degree programs pertaining to medical office management are available at the bachelor's, post baccalaureate certificate and master's degree level. Some of these programs are hybrid, combining online coursework with onsite seminars and instruction.

Program Delivery System

Students will need to have access to a computer with high-speed Internet along with a valid e-mail address to enroll in online courses. They'll have to check the school's software and hardware requirements, and may need to download the latest versions of a Web browser such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, or Safari, as well as updates for software programs such as Adobe Acrobat.
Most online courses are delivered through a Web-based learning management system such as Blackboard, Moodle or Sakai. Some online courses have definite starting and end dates, while students may be allowed to begin other online programs and take courses at any time.
Students may be required to participate in virtual discussions with their fellow classmates and the instructor in an Internet chat room. These discussions may be 'asynchronous,' meaning that students can log on at any time to participate, or they may be 'synchronous,' requiring students to participate at scheduled times.

Certification

Many employers prefer to hire medical office managers who have been certified, the BLS reported. For this reason students may want to look for schools with online programs that have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) or the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). These programs are typically at the post baccalaureate or master's degree level.
Students who complete an approved program may be eligible to test for American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certification (www.ahima.org). Though AHIMA offers several certifications in the health information management field, perhaps the most pertinent AHIMA credential for medical office managers is the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

Online Associate Degree in Health Services Management

This online program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the health services management field. Courses cover business and communication skills, medical office procedures and medical terminology, management principles and medical law and ethics. In addition, students may study topics such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, basic accounting and human resource management.

Online Bachelor of Health Science (BHS)

This online health science program is geared towards students who want to go to graduate school following graduation, or who are entering a non-clinical health care job such as a medical or health service manager. Although the health science courses can be taken online, some of the other required course credits may need to be taken on campus, or transferred from another institution. The curriculum generally includes courses in clinical ethics, medical terminology and information about other health professions and public health policies.

Online Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management

Students who complete this CAHIIM-accredited online certificate program may be eligible to take the AHIMA certification exam to earn an RHIA credential. The coursework in this program covers topics such as physiology and anatomy, psychology and information management systems.

Online Executive Master of Health Administration (MHA)

This CAHIIM-accredited online program is designed for practicing managers and working clinical professionals. Applicants who have prior experience working in healthcare administration will be able to complete the 2-year master's degree program and earn an MHA. This is typically a hybrid program, combining online coursework with occasional on-campus sessions. Students in this program study healthcare administration, financial management and health law and economics. Students may also be required to take an internship as part of their professional training.