Health Unit Coordinator Student Doing Work on a Computer.

Medical Office Specialist

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The work of a Medical Office Specialist supports the efficient functioning of any medical-related office position. The medical office professional applies the knowledge of customer-service techniques, medical terminology, health insurance rules, and medical billing procedures to perform a wide variety of functions.

The Anoka Technical College Medical Office Specialist program trains medical office specialists to have the skills necessary to help run a medical office. Duties may include:

  • Transcribing reports
  • Composing and processing correspondence
  • Accounting for payments and posting charges
  • Completing insurance forms
  • Coordinating patient care
  • Scheduling patient appointments
  • Recording and delivering messages
  • Maintaining financial records
  • Maintaining patient files
  • Making calls for physicians
  • Arranging hospital admissions for patients 
  • Arranging physicians' meetings/conferences
Learningoptions Blk

Program offered completely online with part-time options

Training Blk

Training from industry experts

Advancement Blk

High growth rate compared to other careers in Minnesota

Potential Jobs:

  • Medical Office Specialist
  • Medical Secretary
  • Physician Office Specialist

Salary Information:
People in this occupation earn on average $18.75 to $23.97 per hour.

Information provided is for Minnesota. See current data at careerwise.minnstate.edu.

Program Details

Program Details (pdf)

The Anoka Technical College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Medical Office Specialist prepares students with the broad range of technical and communications skills needed for success in today’s office work environment with specific study in medical terminology, electronic health records software, and medical office procedures.

This coursework includes learning practice management software to include setting patients’ appointments, maintaining physicians’ calendars, billing and messaging, as well as specific interpersonal communications skills necessary in a medical setting.

Students gain competence in word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software. Keyboarding speed and accuracy is developed while grammar, punctuation and writing skills are polished. Students graduate from the program well prepared for employment in any medical office environment.

The work of a Medical Office Specialist supports the efficient functioning of any medical-related office position. The medical office professional applies the knowledge of customer-service techniques, medical terminology, health insurance rules, and medical billing procedures to perform a wide variety of functions.

Job responsibilities may include greeting patients and screening calls, scheduling patient appointments and arranging referrals, billing patients and third-party payers, processing insurance forms, controlling accounts receivables, transcribing dictation, preparing medical reports, patient histories, operative notes, manuscripts, and correspondence, maintaining office files and patient records, making calls for physicians and other health care personnel, arranging hospital admissions, scheduling surgeries, and arranging  physicians’ meetings and conferences.

Potential locations for employment include medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, private physician practices, public health clinics, rehab centers, medical laboratories, medical supplies and equipment businesses, and pharmaceutical companies.

Wage information is available from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

  1. Exhibits effective interpersonal skills and professional attitudes by demonstrating the ability to communicate with authority figures and peers; follow work rules and expectations appropriately; maintain confidentiality; and recognize an appropriate business appearance.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to express thoughts clearly, concisely, and appropriately in verbal and written format by consistently using correct mechanics, grammar, format, and message approach (direct, indirect).
  3. Demonstrate the use of critical thinking skills to analyze and solve business problems by demonstrating the ability to define problems, find relevant information, synthesize and evaluate information, and implement decisions.
  4. Demonstrate proficiency in keyboarding speed and accuracy and knowledge of correct document formatting.
  5. Demonstrate technical competency by utilizing a wide range of software applications necessary for business office operations; demonstrates initiative in learning to use new technology, and applies new technology accurately in office settings.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of roles and functions of various professionals; collaborate and problem-solve as part of the office team.
  7. Demonstrate ability to set priorities, organize work, and sequence tasks appropriately, and consistently complete projects on a schedule.
  8. Demonstrate the ability to perform mathematical calculations necessary in business applications including accounting, by working with percentages; decimals and fractions; understanding accounting principles as they are applied to business office bookkeeping; and using formulas for creating spreadsheets and databases.
  9. Develop and evaluate customer service skills by ascertaining the characteristics of a customer service organization and using customer service skills in servicing customers professionally.
  10. The Medical Office Specialist AAS degree includes all technical courses along with 15 Minnesota Transfer Curriculum general education credits to help provide a well-rounded education. The completion of a degree shows commitment and dedication and can be advantageous for students seeking jobs beyond entry level or with employers who require a degree.

MnTC General Education Requirements

 This program requires completion of the following fifteen credits of general education from at least three goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). Refer to the MnTC course list for elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Credits
INTS 1000  Critical Thinking Applications for College  (Goal 2) 3
 MnTC Electives   12

Program Sequence

Fall Semester 16
ADSC 1003  Introduction to Keyboarding and Speedbuilding
2
 ADSC 1055  Electronic Health Records
2
 ADSC 1283  Medical Office Procedures
4
 COMP 1002  Computer Technologies for the Workplace
2
 HITM 1110  Medical Terminology for Health Information 3
 INTS 1000  Critical Thinking Applications for College
3
Spring Semester 15
 ADSC 1010  Keyboarding I 3
 ADSC 1031  Business English Skills
3
 ADSC 1045  Administrative Office Procedures
4
 ADSC 1206  Written Business Communications 4
Fall Semester 14
ADSC 1162  Microsoft PowerPoint 2
 ADSC 1171  Microsoft Excel 2
 ADSC 1181  Microsoft Access 
2
 ADSC 1197  Microsoft Word
4
 MnTC Elevctives   4
Spring Semester 16
 ADSC 1054  Office Bookkeeping 4
 ADSC 1142  Integrated Software Application
4
 MnTC Elevctives   8

Students can choose to complete the Office Specialist programs part-time. Part-time students will take longer to complete their program than students who follow the full-time sequence. Because every course may not be offered each semester, it is important for part-time students to reach out to their faculty advisor for help in planning their long-term, part-time course sequence.

Below, new students can find the first semester part-time course options. After the first semester, work with your faculty advisor to plan future semesters. 

First Semester Course Options

ADSC 1003, COMP 1002, INTS 1000

View Course Schedule

Options differ depending on whether you plan to start in the fall or spring semester.

Faculty

Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710

Current Students

register for classes

Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.

Apply to Graduate

Start Dates:

Fall semester: August
Spring semester: January

Upcoming Events:

Mar
22
Apr
04
Spring Open House
  4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
RSVP

Important Dates:

Contact

Deb Catlett
DCatlett@anokatech.edu

Darla Cullen
DCullen@anokatech.edu

Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710

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