Medical Office Specialist

Medical Office Specialist Diploma

The growing demand for quality health care has created a need for trained medical office specialists who have the knowledge and skills to help keep a medical office running smoothly. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts more new jobs will be in health care than in any other industry through the year 2020.*

Medical office specialists play a key role in running an efficient, productive medical office by performing tasks such as bookkeeping and preparing medical charts. If you are interested in a career in health care, training to become a medical office specialist could offer the potential for a bright future. Kaplan College in Modesto, CA strives to prepare you with the relevant education and training to enter this field.

Medical Office Skills Training

As a student in our medical office specialist program, you could develop the skills specific to the needs of local health care practitioners. Through a unique blend of classroom instruction and hands-on lab training, you can receive an in-depth education in medical office administration including written and spoken communication, office administration, medical transcription, and medical office operations. Specific classes provide training in these areas:

• Computer data entry of patient information, patient files, filing systems and records, and admission and discharge forms
• Insurance claim filing for both group and private practice insurance
• Medical coding using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) and Diagnosis Related Group (DRG)
• Transcription of physicians' instructions

In addition to courses in management, communications, and computer applications, you could receive training in health care administration; insurance theory and claims management; legal aspects of health care, including HIPAA, OSHA, and cultural diversity; and medical emergencies, including preparation for CPR/first aid exams.†

Medical Office Specialist Responsibilities

Whether you seek employment in a doctor's office or a hospital, the duties of a medical office specialist focus on keeping the medical office running smoothly. Graduates of this program may perform the following administrative duties in various medical settings:

• Diagnostic and procedural coding
• Accounts payable and receivable
• Patient billing and scheduling
• Medical chart, report, and correspondence preparation
• Medical records processing

Medical Office Specialist Career Opportunities

As a graduate of our medical office specialist program, you may seek various entry-level positions in health care settings:

• Hospital or physician’s office receptionist
• Medical transcriptionist
• Insurance specialist billing/collection specialist
• Front office assistant manager
• Insurance benefits assistant
• Medical office bookkeeper
• Medical records clerk

Real-World Externship Experience/Certificates

Prior to graduating from Kaplan College, Modesto, CA campus, you will be required to complete an externship at an approved facility. The externship program allows you to interact with medical professionals and gain experience to help prepare you to pursue entry-level employment after you graduate.

The program is designed to help eligible students prepare for the Insurance and Coding Specialist certification and the National Certified Medical Office Assistants examination.†

The program is also designed to help eligible students prepare for the Medical Practice Coder (MPC) exam sponsored by American Certification Agency for Health Care Professionals (ACA).†