Program Fee

$1,895

Cost includes online instruction, textbook, workbook, and Voucher for the National Certification Exam. *Must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for the exam. 

Installment payment options as low as $92 per month. 

Program Format

160 hours of online instruction

6 months of access, self-paced 

The healthcare field offers one of the leading areas of opportunities for career growth today. Within healthcare, medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals. US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job openings for medical assistants are increasing faster than other medical profession jobs. 

Data indicates job opportunities for medical assistants will grow by 16% overall by 2031. This is four times the expected average growth for all jobs.

Medical assistants median pay is $37,190 per year, or $17.88 per hour on average, according to BLS data.

WHAT DO MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS DO?

According to NHA, medical administrative assistants primarily work in the “front office” of a medical practice or healthcare facility. Their duties may include coordinating practice correspondence, maintaining files, and scheduling appointments.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND A MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT?

Clinical medical assistants primarily deal with clinical procedures and patient care, while medical administrative assistants oversee organizational tasks, such as scheduling, managing records, and checking in patients.

DO MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS NEED CERTIFICATION?

The healthcare environment thrives on professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a CMAA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.

IN WHAT FACILITIES DO MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS WORK?

Medical assistants commonly work in medical practices, such as physicians' offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES TO TAKE THIS COURSE?

No, there are no prerequisites needed to take this course.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THE COURSE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME PROVIDED?

If you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee will be charged. If you are funded through a third-party organization, approval may also be required. 

Prepare to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam

Master multitasking as it relates to scheduling appointments, processing insurance requests, maintaining records, and corresponding with patients

Learn best financial practices for a medical center

Master the fundamentals of medical terminology and ethical best practices

Understand the basics of working with medical documents, medical billing, and coding processes

BECOMING AN ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANT

Qualities of a medical assistant, working in ambulatory healthcare settings, the healthcare team

MANAGING STRESS AND IMPROVING COMMUNICATION

Types of communication and barriers to effective communication; patient interview techniques

LAW, ETHICS AND HEALTHCARE

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); ethical guidelines for healthcare providers

IMPROVING YOUR MEDICAL OFFICE

The reception area and the medical receptionist; opening and closing the facility

COMPUTERS IN THE AMBULATORY CARE SETTING

Use of computers in the medical office; safeguarding Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Protected Health Information (PHI)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND PATIENT SCHEDULING

Patient portal and scheduling methods; dealing with irate patients

MIDTERM

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: WORD PARTS, PLURALS, ABBREVIATIONS

Importance of medical terminology; understanding word parts: roots, prefixes, suffixes

MANAGING MEDICAL RECORDS

Electronic, paper and hybrid medical records; SOAP notes, Release of Information (ROI) and Personal Health Record (PHR)

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Working with medical documents and records; medical transcriptionist/medical scribe

MEDICAL BILLING AND CODING: AN OVERVIEW

Health insurance terms; code sets: ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS Level II

DAILY FINANCIAL PRACTICES

Improving patient payments; claims denial strategies, accounts receivable and accounts payable

THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANT AS OFFICE MANAGER

Qualities of an office manager; Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)

FINAL

Hilary Khouri

Hilary Khouri has ten years of experience in the medical field. After college, she began her medical career working in the front office of a group practice handling daily administrative tasks. Her medical experience also includes working at a healthcare consulting firm, where she reviewed electronic health records for completeness and educated providers on documentation improvement in addition to performing risk adjustment coding. She holds a bachelor's in fashion merchandising from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) through the University of Alabama.

LaTisha Cottingham

LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute. LaTisha's field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Lydia S. Stewart

Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Bunny Reeves

Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Stacey O'Brien

Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.