A combination of lectures, guided practices, assignments and workplace simulations will be used. Active learning is an integral part of this coures, and emphasis will be placed on a "hands-on" environment to allow students to work both independently and collaboratively to learn and apply procedures and tasks carried on in a medical office. Both learning activities and evaluations will be structured to stress problem solving, accuracy, and working within time constraints.
Student oral presentations may be included as an assignment at the discretion of the instructor; however, public speaking/presentation skills will not be assessed.
- The Medical Office Assistant Position
- job profile
- professionalism
- working conditions
- salaries, benefits and responsibilities
- Transcription
- use transcription equipment
- transcribe medical information from recorded data using acceptable medical format for:
- referral letters
- consultation letters
- radiology reports
- Medical Ethics and Canadian Law
- medical ethics
- legal issues in medicine
- negligence / assault and battery
- consent
- procedures for the release of information
- MOA role
- confidentiality
- patient's legal issues
- Reception, Public Relations and Professionalism
- image
- attitude
- working as a team member
- conflict resolution
- therapeutic communication
- absenteeism and its effect on the work place
- Appointment Systems and Procedures
- new patient versus established patient appointments
- appointment confirmations and cancellations
- factors disrupting appointment schedules
- referrals
- hospital booking - surgery and ambulant care
- patients with special needs
- Telephone Techniques and Procedures
- managing the phone lines
- procedures for emergency telephone situations/triage
- Inventory Control
- purchasing (petty cash account)
- procedures and controls for drugs, clinical and office supplies
- storage
- Patient Records
- charting SOAP notes and patient registration
- x-ray, lab and other reports
- retention
- Community Resources
- both public and private
- specific to elderly, chronic care, youth, and women
- support services for patients remaining in their home
- Keyboarding
- speed/accuracy drills and timings
- describe the employment entry-level positions in a medical setting;
- transcribe medical letters and/or reports using correct formatting;
- discuss medical ethics and the legal implications of confidentiality in a health care setting;
- identify the techniques used in maintaining an efficient, professional yet friendly office environment;
- maintain an appointment scheduling system (both internal and external);
- use appropriate telephone techniques specific to a medical environment;
- maintain and control office inventory;
- triage on-site and telephone emergencies;
- set up and maintain medical records filing systems;
- identify potential legal issues
- apply PIPA regulations within the office and when releasing information
- identify community resources, both private and government, available to the patient; and
- increase keyboarding speed.
| Simulations and assignment(s) | 20 - 30% |
| Transcription | 5 - 15% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Keyboarding | 5% |
| Midterm | 25% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| Employability skills (criterion based/assessed twice over semester) | 0 - 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students
Medical Administrative Procedures in British Columbia, Latest Edition, Douglas College
Keyboarding software as used in OADM 1206.
and/or other textbooks as approved by department