Medical Office Receptionist Program

The goals and values of Ashworth College; time management; creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule; the nature and purpose of assessments; how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination; developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century.

Introduction to the basic operations of allied health careers and the legal and ethical issues students may encounter while working in the many different venues available for these fields.

Review of common workplace technology related to computing and communication, such as common operating systems, software applications for word processing, and spreadsheets, as well as mobile communication tools.

Professionalism and workplace etiquette; phone skills; writing emails and texts; writing and formatting reports.

Definition of bloodborne pathogens; common bloodborne pathogens; exposure accidents in the healthcare setting; exposure control plan; universal precautions in the healthcare setting; HIPAA privacy and security rules; difference between privacy and security; types of protected health information within the medical field.

Fundamentals and origins of medical terms; analyzing, defining, and creating medical terms; identifying major body structures and directional terms.

Anatomy, physiology, and basic terminology related to the integumentary, musculoskeletal, digestive, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, endocrine, and nervous systems.

Anatomy, physiology, and basic terminology related to the urinary and reproductive systems; gynecology, obstetrics, and neonatology terms and conditions; anatomy of the eyes and ears.

An overview of the terminology related to major chronic and infectious diseases as well as surgical treatments for those diseases.

Criminal versus civil law; negligence and abandonment claims; informed consent; the Hippocratic oath; AMA Principles of Medical Ethics; standards of care; the Patient's Bill of Rights; HIPAA requirements.

Verbal and nonverbal communication; effective listening; feedback in patient care; assertive and aggressive behavior; general office safety measures; medical waste; OSHA standards and guidelines; universal precautions; proper body mechanics; telephone techniques and triage; handling difficult callers and emergency phone calls.

Receptionist responsibilities and legal and ethical duties; opening and closing the medical office; obtaining information from new patients; handling angry patients and waiting room emergencies; scheduling systems and equipment; maintaining correct documentation; scheduling hospital admissions and surgeries; ethical issues related to scheduling; conditions for emergencies.

Elements of office flow; HIPAA regulations for medical records; basic office equipment; handling drug samples; letter writing considerations; drafting, proofreading, and editing letters; preparing envelopes; mail service classifications; computer hardware, software, security, and maintenance; ergonomic workstations.

Problem-oriented records; the SOAP charting method; file storage units; alphabetic, numeric, and color-coded filing systems; cross-referencing systems; quality assurance; statutes of limitations; electronic versus paper records; converting to electronic records; HIPAA compliance for electronic records; personal digital assistants.

Determining fees; billing methods and statement preparation; credit policies and collections processes; aging accounts; check writing systems; accepting third-party payments; methods for endorsing checks; recurring monthly expenses; making deposits; reconciling bank statements.

Comparing and contrasting health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and traditional insurance programs; benefits and explanation of group, individual, and government-sponsored health benefits; health insurance forms; medical claim forms and the claims submission process; insurance claim security, tracking, and rejection.

Purpose of diagnostic coding; principles of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM coding; basic rules and principles of CPT coding.