What Are the Classes in a Medical Administrative Assistant Degree Program?
Medical administrative assistant degree programs include core courses in medical terminology, basic anatomy, medical transcription, coding, records management and other courses with the intent of providing students with the education necessary to assist in the operations of medical-related facilities. Read on for more details on these core classes.
<h3 id="section---CoreClassesOfAMedicalAdministrativeAssistantDegreeProgram">Core Classes of a Medical Administrative Assistant Degree Program</h3>
<p>Degree programs for medical administrative assistants focus on the specific technical skills required to assist healthcare teams in clinics, hospitals, physician's offices and other medical-related settings. Students might learn skills such as office reception and medical coding. Most medical administrative assistant degree programs include classes in:
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<ul><li><b>Medical Terminology:</b> Students learn the root structures and forms of basic medical terms that are commonly used in medical environments.
</li><li><b>Basic Anatomy:</b> Anatomy and physiology are introduced to provide familiarity with the functions and structures of bodily organs and systems.
</li><li><b>Medical Transcription:</b> Students learn to efficiently and effectively transcribe medical reports or letters.
</li><li><b>Medical Coding:</b> Courses cover classification systems and coding guidelines.
</li><li><b> Medical Records Management:</b> Student explore the systems used to manage medical records and they might develop the ability to properly collect, record and store patients' medical information.
</li></ul><h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisFieldOfStudy">Important Facts about This Field of Study</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td> Prerequisites </td><td>English and math courses and demonstration of typing proficiency may be required</td></tr>
<tr><td> Online availability </td><td> Fully</td></tr>
<tr><td> Degree levels </td><td> Certificate and associate's degree programs available</td></tr>
<tr><td> Continuing education </td><td> Required to maintain professional certification</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$37,450 <i>(Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants)</i></td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>8% growth <i>(Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants)</i></td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
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<h3 id="section---OtherMedicalAdministrativeAssistantCourses">Other Medical Administrative Assistant Courses</h3>
<p>Medical administrative assistant degree programs vary in their curricula. Some programs provide more in-depth instruction in medical procedures while others focus on the building of administrative skills such as computer applications. Additional classes in the core curricula may include:
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<ul><li>Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
</li><li>Billing Systems and Procedures
</li><li>Business Mathematics
</li><li>Insurance Policies and Procedures
</li><li>Healthcare Law and Ethics
</li><li>Scheduling Procedures</li></ul>