Medical Administration

Medical Administration Overview

Do you enjoy interacting with others? Would you want to apply administrative and computer skills in a field that could help people improve their lives? Consider a career in Medical Administration. Learn how you can become an important team member in one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy & healthcare! When patients receive healthcare, a record is maintained of the observations, medical or surgical interventions, and treatment options.

This record includes information that the patient provides concerning:

• Diagnoses
• Treatment plans
• The results of examinations
• Symptoms and medical history
• Reports of x-rays and laboratory tests

Medical Administration professionals organize and maintain these records for completeness and accuracy.

This program provides students with the medical education and computer skills necessary for career-entry employment in a variety of medical office settings.

What You Can Learn in Medical Administration

Through hands-on interactive learning, the student focuses on:

• Medical Terminology
• Transcription
• Insurance and Coding
• Pharmacology
• Medical Ethics
• Computerized Medical Office Skills including Spreadsheets

Where You Can Go in Medical Administration

Entry-level employment of graduates is typically at:

• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Medical and Dental Offices
• Insurance and Billing Firms
• Government Health Organizations

Degree Objectives

Program Purpose

This program will prepare students to schedule and coordinate the medical office so that there are enough resources available to properly care for patients. The student will learn methods that ensure the organization gets paid for the services it provides. Medical office managers work with patients to ensure insurance guidelines are satisfied and provide behind-the-scenes assistance with medical paperwork.

Program objectives include:

Students learn about medical terminology, use of computers in healthcare, how a medical office is efficiently managed, and medical coding and billing procedures.

About the Profession

Medical administrators work primarily in a variety of medical care settings such as doctors' offices and hospitals. Medical administrators function as members of the healthcare delivery team and perform administrative procedures.

Requirements for Typical Employment Opportunities (i.e., background checks, drug screening, security clearances.)

Employment requirements vary but may include a physical examination, CPR certification, graduation from a Medical Administrative Program or similar education and training for the desired position, certification as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, Certified Billing & Coding Specialist, and possible background check.

Entry Level Employment Opportunities By Job Title and/or Industry

Graduates may seek employment as Medical Administrators, Billing Specialists, Office Managers, Front Desk Coordinators, or Transcriptionists. They may work in many different healthcare environments.

Physical Requirements

A physical examination is required and should be noted on the Physical Form.

Certifications Recommended for Entry Level Career.

Certifications are not required for completion of this program but are encouraged. ECPI University provides vouchers allowing students to take certification exams at a greatly reduced cost. Students may wish to become certified as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant or Certified Billing & Coding Specialist, and they may seek a CPR certification.

Student Evaluation

Students must achieve a grade of 'C' or better in program specific courses such as CSA 113, MED 147, MED 256, MED 112, and MED 155. They must also be able to type 35 words per minute in CSA 112 to progress to CSA 113, for which they must type 45 words per minute to pass.

Externships are opportunities for students to gain mentored, practical experience in a "real-world" job setting. Career opportunities may be greatly enhanced for graduates who complete an externship. Each student will be assisted by Career Services in finding a suitable externship opportunity. In order for students to go out on externship they must complete all courses prior to MED 296. They must complete the Exit Sheet provided by Career Services with the required signatures for clearance of the specific departments listed.

Program Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Admissions test with passing score

Core Curriculum

¹The certifications listed in the "Potential Certifications" column are the actual certification exams that students may be prepared to take following achievement of student learning outcomes from a course or a set of courses. Some certifications may require additional outside preparation prior to taking the exams; and receipt of one or more certifications is not guaranteed. Students are strongly encouraged to take all appropriate certification examinations for their program of study. To facilitate student access to the certifications, ECPI offers its students access to the certification exams at a significant discount. Some programs may require the student to obtain one or more certifications as part of the curriculum.

Future Possible Careers For This Program

Success

Q

How long will it take to complete this program?

A

The program is designed to take 15 months to complete. 24% of graduates from this program finish in this time.

The median time for graduates to complete this program was 14.1 months.

Cost

Q

How much will tuition and fees be?

A

The cost of tuition and fees is: $25,800

Q

What about the cost of books and supplies?

A

The cost of books and supplies is: $1,000. Foundation course requirements can result in additional costs and increase the time to graduation.

Financing

Q

What are my financing options to pay for the program?

A

In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, graduates used loans to finance their education. The median debt for program graduates is: