Medical Office Assistant
Medical offices are fast-paced and rewarding workplaces. Medical office assistants (MOA) need relevant, up-to-date training to thrive in this growing industry. Reeves College's 34-week diploma program trains students in the clerical and medical skills necessary to run a modern medical office.
Students are taught office skills such as computer, keyboarding and bookkeeping. Students also learn medical-office-specific skills such as medical transcription, medical recordkeeping, billing software, and administering basic medical tests. Students are prepared to answer basic patient questions, as well as the fundamentals of human anatomy and diseases, pharmacology, and clinical procedures.
Students put their skills into practice during a five-week practicum in a medical office. In addition to their Medical Office Assistant diploma, graduates of this program will also receive a Standard First Aid Certificate and a CPR "C" Certificate.
“Before I attended Reeves College, I was a stay-at-home mom. I took the Medical Office Assistant program and I found the Medical Terminology course and the course on booking the most helpful. Reeves College helped me find a job that I love. Now I am working at a chiropractic clinic. I got hired on from my practicum.” - Dina C., Reeves College Graduate
This program is 34 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Medical Office Assistant
- Admitting Clerk
- Emergency Room Admitting Clerk
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Medical Receptionist
- Medical Billing Clerk
Program Courses
The program outline below is for Alberta.
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| M3020 |
Anatomy and Diseases |
80 |
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- Students will learn through descriptions, illustrations andexercises to identify the major anatomical features andsystems of the body and the common pathologies, whichcan adversely affect these systems.
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| M3045 |
Clinical Procedures |
60 |
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- Students will learn techniques and procedures used toprepare and administer basic procedures and tests utilized inmedical offices.
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| I1010 |
Introduction to Computers |
40 |
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- The first component of this course is designed to introducestudents to basic computer literacy through familiarizationwith the components that make up a computer. Students willalso look at the Windows operating system to learn how tomanage a computer on a regular basis. The secondcomponent of this course will teach the basic to intermediateskills required to work with a variety of business documentsincluding the following Microsoft Office products: MicrosoftWord, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. The thirdand final component is designed to introduce students toconsiderations for living online. Students will look at whatthe Internet is and how e-mail has made a huge impact oncommunicating with others, as well as look at how to findinformation on the Internet and avoid risk to personalsecurity while online.
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| L1040 |
Job Search / Academic Review Techniques |
20 |
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- Students will have the use of our Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques, and to carry out mock interviews. Students review core program concepts and learning in order to market their skills effectively.
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- Using a computer is essential in today’s office environment.This module offers the students an opportunity to familiarizethemselves with a standard keyboard. For the advancedkeyboarder, the module focus is to increase typing speedand accuracy.
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- All businesses need to invoice for services rendered andcollect their revenues as quickly and efficiently as possible.Doctors’ revenue comes primarily from the provincialmedical insurance scheme. Students will be introduced to,and practice the procedures, requirements, and codespromulgated by the provincial government for the invoicingand recovery of the doctors’ fees from the provincial medicalinsurance plan.
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| M3025 |
Medical Office Procedures |
40 |
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- Students will examine the necessities required for operatinga smooth and efficient office environment. Topics coveredinclude basic filing techniques, telecommunications, timemanagement and organizational skills and the use ofgeneral office equipment. Students will also learn thetechniques of both manual and computer based appointmentscheduling by learning to assess and prioritize calls(telephone triage) to most effectively schedule thephysician’s limited time.
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| M3010 |
Medical Terminology |
60 |
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- Medicine, like other professions, has its own language.Students will learn to work with the specialized terminologyof medicine, including the pronunciation and spelling ofterms to describe medical circumstances and situations.
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| M3030 |
Medical Transcription |
60 |
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- Transcription is integral to the efficiency of the medical doctor’s practice, providing the documentary records on patient cases that the physician is required by law to maintain. Students will be introduced to the process of medical transcription using actual dictated medical data in different accents. The emphasis of the module is on speed and accuracy.
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- This subject provides basic drug information including thebasic pharmacological nature and effects of a range ofpsychoactive chemicals. Students will build knowledgerelating drug treatments/usage to various body systems andassociated states of disease.
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| L1015 |
Strategies for Success |
20 |
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stressmanagement and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume andlearn how to write effective cover letters.
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| S1000 |
Sustainable Futures |
20 |
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- Sustainability means meeting humanity’s needs withoutharming future generations. In this course, students willexplore the pillars of sustainability, sustainability’s relation tothe environmental movement, climate change and its effects,the Canadian and other governments’ actions, and how toincorporate sustainable practices into any workplace. Acombination of instructor presentations and timely, hands-onprojects will culminate in a student portfolio touching on thecourse’s key points.