Course Syllabus

 

 

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

 

Course Prefix/Number:                                               ALMA 110                                                                      

Course Title:                                                                Medical Assisting I                                                                                     

Division:                                                                      Outreach and Workforce Development                                                                                

Program:                                                                      Medical Assistant                                                                   

Credit Hours:                                                              3.0                                                                              

Initiation/Revised Date:                                              Fall 2005                                                                        

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION

 

Vocational

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course introduces students to the general, administrative, and professional procedures required as part of the administrative and transdisciplinary competencies and outcomes established by the Commission on Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs in their Standards and Guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs. It is designed for students wishing to enter the health care industry or advance from an existing entry level health care position.  Students will demonstrate course competencies in the

 Medical Assisting I lab course.

 

PREREQUISITES AND/OR COREQUISITES

 

Prerequisite: Admission to the college and medical assistant program.

Corequisite:  Medical Assisting I Lab

 

TEXTS

 

Required:

Young, Alexandra Patricia, Kennedy, Deborah B., (2003). Kinn’s the Medical Assistant an Applied Learning Approach, 9th edition. St. Louis:  Saunders.  ISBN: 0-7216-9012-2

Chapters 1- 23

 

Morton, Tammy B., (2003). Student Study Guide to accompany Kinns the Medical Assistant an Applied Learning Approach, 9th edition. St. Louis:  Saunders.  ISBN: 0-4160-0116-6

            Chapters 1-23

 

 

 

COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES (as Required)

 

The student should be able to:

 

1.      Describe How To Perform Medical Office Clerical Functions

Describe the scheduling and management of appointments

            Compare how to schedule inpatient and outpatient admissions and procedures

            Explain the organization of a patient’s medical record

            Describe how to file medical records

 

  1. Relate How To Perform Medical Office Bookkeeping Procedures

Discuss the preparation of a bank deposit

            Discuss the posting of entries on a day sheet

            Summarize accounts receivable procedures

            Identify correct performance of billing and collection procedures

            Describe how to post adjustments

            Relate how to process a credit balance

            Explain the processing of refunds

            Describe how to post NSF checks

            Describe how to post collection agency payments

           

  1. Explain How To Process Insurance Claims

Define managed care policies and procedures

            Apply third party guidelines

            Relate the performance of procedural coding

            Discuss how to perform diagnostic coding

            Describe how to complete insurance claim forms

           

  1. Respond to and explain Professional Communications in the Medical Office

            Respond to and explain methods to initiate written communications

            Recognize and describe responses to verbal communications

            Recognize and respond to nonverbal communications

            Describe good telephone techniques

 

  1. Identify and respond to issues related to Medical Office Legal Concepts

            Identify and respond to issues of confidentiality

            Perform within legal and ethical boundaries

            Discuss the establishment and maintenance of the medical record

            Discuss how to document appropriately

            Identify risk-management procedures

 

  1. Discuss the performance of  Operational Functions performed in the Medical Office

Describe policy for an inventory of supplies and equipment

      Discuss the performance of routine maintenance of administrative and clinical equipment

        Describe computer software requirements to maintain office systems

       


 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

I.          Introduction to Medical Assisting

            A. The Medical Assisting Profession

            B.  Professional Behavior in the Workplace

            C.  Interpersonal Skills and Human Behavior

            D.  Medicine and Ethics

            C.  Medicine and Law

 

II.        Administrative Medical Assisting

A.    Computers in the Medical Office

B.     Telephone Techniques

C.     Scheduling Appointments

D.    Patient Reception and Processing

E.     Written Communications and Mail Processing

F.      Medical Records Management

 

III.             Financial Management

A.    Professional Fees, Billing, and Collecting

B.     Basics of Diagnostic Coding

C.     Basics of Procedural Coding

D.    The Health Insurance Claim Form

E.     Third-Party Reimbursement

F.      Banking Services and Procedures

 

IV.             Medical Practice and Health Information Management

A.    Medical Practice Management

B.     Medical Practice Marketing and Customer Service

C.     Health Information Management

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

Internet, Lecture, CD Rom Activities, Workbook and Group Assignments, Discussion, Guest Speakers, Collaborative Projects, Demonstrations, Concurrent Laboratory Course.

 

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION

 

Students will be required to complete online assignments, reading assignments, chapter reviews, case studies as assigned, participate in discussions with other classmates on topics determined by instructor, complete assignments and examinations of knowledge, and demonstrate skill competency.

 

The student must participate in all activities, as well as accurately complete assignments and examinations in order to receive a passing grade in this course

 

The comprehensive final examination for this course will take place during the scheduled finals week of the enrolled semester.  Further details and information will be provided closer to time of exam.

 

GRADING SCALE

    

                90-100%                      =         A

            80-89%                        =          B

            70-79%                        =          C

            60-69%                        =          D

            59% or less                  =          F

Attendance Policy

 

Absences that occur due to students participating in official college activities are excused except in those cases where outside bodies, such as the State Board of Nursing, have requirements for minimum class minutes for each student. Students who are excused will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work or receive substitute assignments from the instructor and should not be penalized for the absence.  Proper procedure should be followed in notifying faculty in advance of the student’s planned participation in the event.  Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of the planned absence.

 

Unless students are participating in a school activity or are excused by the instructor, they are expected to attend class.  If a student’s absences exceed one-hundred (100) minutes per credit hour for the course or, in the case of on-line or other non-traditional courses, the student is inactive for one-eighth of the total course duration, the instructor has the right, but is not required, to withdraw a student from the course.  Once the student has been dropped for excessive absences, the registrar’s office will send a letter to the student, stating that he or she has been dropped.  A student may petition the chief academic officer for reinstatement by submitting a letter stating valid reasons for the absences within one week of the registrar’s notification.  If the student is reinstated into the class, the instructor and the registrar will be notified. 

 

Academic Integrity

NCCC expects every student to demonstrate ethical behavior with regard to academic pursuits.  Academic integrity in coursework is a specific requirement.  Definitions, examples, and possible consequences for violations of Academic Integrity, as well as the appeals process, can be found in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and/or Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

 

Cell Phone Policy

 

Student cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class times. Faculty may approve an exception for special circumstances.

 

 

 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT GAIN

 

Assessment of student gain will be measured by comparing the student’s knowledge of the subject when the class begins and then by using the same measurement at the close of the class.  This measurement will be done via pre and post tests over the stated course competencies, through skills competency assessment tracking sheets, and competency evaluation exams.

 

 

NOTE:

Information and statements in this document are subject to change at the discretion of NCCC.  Changes will be published in writing and made available to students.

 

NOTE:

 

If you are a student with a disability who may need accommodation(s) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Advising and Counseling, Chanute Campus, Student Union, 620-431-2820 ext 280 or the Dean, Ottawa Campus, 785-242-2607 ext 312, as soon as possible.  You will need to bring your documentation for review in order to determine reasonable accommodations, and then we can assist you in arranging any necessary accommodations.

 

·         The Director of Advising and Counseling in now located in the Student Union on the Chanute Campus.

·         The Assistant Dean’s phone extension on the Ottawa campus is 305.