Highly skilled administrative medical professionals are essential in any health care setting. The Business Office Technology, Medical Option, associate degree program prepares students with the competencies and knowledge necessary to excel and contribute as a positive team member in the medical administrative environment. Students become proficient in word processing, medical terminology, computerized communication, health information principles, medical coding and reimbursement, and state-of-the-art medical software simulations integrating Practice Management and Electronic Health Records applications.
The national and local job market continues to be strong for students enrolled in this degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is a direct result of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, which was passed to promote and expand the adoption of health information technology as well as an aging workforce in this specialty area, which is promoting continued demand for these highly skilled health care professionals. Subsequently, the extensive use of electronic health records by all types of healthcare providers will lead to an increased need for Health Information Management professionals to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the healthcare industry.
Upon completion of this degree, graduates gain direct entry into the local medical administrative job market in such positions as:
- Medical Coder
- Insurance Billing Specialist
- HIM Associate
- Health Information Technician
- Medical Records Technician
- Release of Information Coordinator
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Abstractor/Auditor
- Medical Records Clerk
- Medical Data Entry Specialist
- Medical Front Desk Coordinator
- Patient Registration/Admissions Clerk
- Insurance Verification Clerk
Upon completion of this degree, graduates can elect to take the following national certifications in this field:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC) via the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB) via the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)
- Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) via the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) via the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) via American Medical Billing Association (AMBA)
On the Web
The following websites provide additional information related to this field:
- American Academy of Professional Coders
- American Medical Billing Association
- National Healthcareer Association
- Connecticut Department of Labor Market Information
- United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Certificate Programs
This certificate program is recommended for students who are interested in obtaining the skills necessary to gain entry-level administrative medical positions in the health care field. Course work for this program focuses on medical terminology, health information management principles, procedure coding, medical practice management software and electronic health records applications and begin to prepare students to take the NHA national certification examination and gain entry-level employment opportunities.
This certificate program is recommended for students who are interested in developing the skills and expertise needed to gain employment as medical coding or reimbursement specialists. Course work for this program focuses on medical terminology, health information management, medical procedure and diagnostic coding, human biology, foundations of medical insurance, and computerized communication that provides students with the needed skill set to secure entry-level employment opportunities and sit for a national billing and coding certification examination.