Overview
In health services office administration, you’ll be at the centre of a highly specialized environment that requires a unique combination of attention to detail, compassion and managerial skills. The Office Administration – Health Services program will teach you about medical terminology and transcription, billing and patient management, office producers, ethics and research. You’ll also master current software and computer skills that are key components of today’s busy medical office.
Start Dates
- Winter 2024
- Fall 2024
Program Code
- OAM4
Delivery
- Day Time, Full-Time
Credential
- Ontario College Diploma
Duration
- 60 weeks
Estimated Cost
- $30,948 CAD plus ancillary fees
Program Highlights
In addition to the skills you’ll gain from in-class learning throughout the Office Administration – Health Services program, you’ll also gain valuable work experience during a four-week work placement in a medical office environment, or through a comprehensive project-based experience.
Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to start an exciting career in any medical environment with jobs including:
- medical secretary
- medical team assistant
- administrative assistant
- office assistant
- medical records clerk
- medical office coordinator, clerk or receptionist
You might work in a hospital, a medical lab, residential care facility or a community clinic, and you’ll be able to use the accounting, billing and general office skills you’ve earned to work with doctors, surgeons, dentists, chiropractors or other health care practitioners.
This professional, two-year Ontario College Diploma program is designed to provide students with extensive practical understanding and knowledge to perform administrative support in a wide variety of medical environments.
Expert training in computerized medical records systems, billing systems and other office equipment technology applications will be combined with analytical and multitasking strategies to facilitate scheduling, decision making, coordination and task completion. Utilizing these skills, students will be capable of overseeing a variety of medical office environments. Researching, developing, and presenting accurate medical documentation, correspondence and reports will be emphasized. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the program.
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
- manage the scheduling, coordination and organization of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
- coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.
- operate and provide support to others related to the use of office equipment and technologies.
- evaluate, establish and administer health records management systems* to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organized electronic and paper records*.
- produce financial and client billing records* for health services by compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
- produce health documents and reports using available technologies and applying industry standards.
- use interpersonal and client service skills to respond to the diverse needs of clients, their family members and the health care team.
- identify and use non-invasive clinical tasks to support effective and efficient health service operations.
Graduates of Fanshawe Toronto@ILAC’s Office Administration – Health Services program have the skills to find employment as medical secretaries, medical team assistants, administrative assistants, office assistants, medical records clerks, medical office coordinators, clerks, receptionists and similar administrative support positions. Subsequently, with industry experience, graduates can find employment in office management roles or providing senior administrative support.
Typical employers include hospitals, medical laboratories, research facilities, residential care facilities, non-institutional health services, community clinics, insurance companies, educational and government institutions, and offices of physicians, surgeons, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors and other health practitioners.
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe Toronto@ILAC’s Office Administration – Health Services program:
Inpatient Clerk
Contributes to the day-to-day operational support of an inpatient unit.
Medical Receptionist
Serves patients by greeting and helping them, scheduling appointments and maintaining records.
Medical Office Administrator
Ensure all front desk and patient-related activities are run in an efficient manner.
ILAC Pathway 3.3 or IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 (same for SDS program)
A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma, or a Degree
OR
Acceptable combination of related work experience and post-secondary education as judged by the College to be equivalent to the above*
Note:
*Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter that includes details of work experience.
Fanshawe Toronto@ILAC is accepting Duolingo for the programs for 2023-2024. Acceptable language proficiency tests are IELTS, TOEFL, CAEL, PTE, Cambridge English, and Fanshawe College English Language Evaluation (ELE)
Courses
Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
Group 1
ACCT-1034 Accounting Fundamentals
Employees require understanding and an ability to analyze accounting procedures as they relate to accounting principles. This course teaches students the accounting process from an administrative assistant’s point of view for a service and merchandising business. Participants will learn to apply accounting theory and procedures to effectively record business transactions into the proper journal and ledger and to use this information to prepare accurate financial statements. You will learn the importance of adjusting and closing entries and the accounting terminology required to function effectively as an administrative assistant.
ADMN-1014 Administrative Documentation 1
Keyboarding speed, accuracy, and technique, combined with word processing proficiency, are essential skills required to work in any type of business environment. Introductory word processing concepts and commands will be applied to the production and formatting of administrative documents. Students will apply proofreading techniques to type error-free e-mails, memorandums, letters, tables, and reports.
MATH-1143 Fundamental Mathematics for Business
This course provides the basic mathematical concepts which prepare students for success in their future courses, in particular focusing on computer applications and accounting. Topics are presented in the context of real world applications which students will encounter in the workplace.
BUSI-1156 Strategies for Success
This course presents and helps to develop some of the skills required to achieve academic and career success. Areas of focus include college resources, study skills, time management, academic integrity and calculating Grade Point Averages, among other skills.
MGMT-3052 Understanding Workplace Behaviours
This course provides an understanding of the field of organizational behaviour through investigating individual, group and organizational behaviours. Students assess their work-related preferences/behaviours using self-assessment surveys and reflect on the match between those and career choices. Students study organizational design, organizational culture, people-centred management, social perception, self-concept & personality, values/attitudes & job satisfaction, motivation theory, group development theory, effective communication strategy, and conflict & negotiation then apply these concepts to the development of an organization’s human resources.
Group 2
TAKE WRIT-1032 OR WRIT-1034
WRIT-1032 Reason & Writing Business 1
This course will introduce business students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking.
WRIT-1034 Reason & Writing 1-EAP
This course will introduce students whose first language is not English to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. Special attention will also be paid to developing academic vocabulary, correcting common ESL errors, enhancing academic listening and note-taking skills, and improving oral fluency and confidence.
Level 2
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
ACCT-3045 Accounting 2
This is the continuation of the first-semester accounting course. Students will continue to study accounting theory with emphasis on inventories, cash control, banking, receivables, payroll, and liabilities. As well, students will use QuickBooks accounting software to manage business revenue and expenses, process payroll, reconcile bank accounts, track inventory, and create useful reports.
ADMN-3006 Administrative Documentation 2
Students will continue to build text and data input speed and accuracy required to meet multiple deadlines encountered in subsequent courses, as well as in today’s business environment. Proper keyboarding and proofreading techniques will be reinforced. Intermediate word processing concepts and commands will be applied to the production of business documents including multiple-page memorandums, letters, envelopes, fax cover sheets, merged documents, tables, and formal business reports.
ADMN-1013 Office Procedures & Strategies
Students will be required to prioritize and complete a variety of tasks that are indicative of the type of work they will be required to complete in today’s office environment. Students will gain confidence in adapting to changing office environments, problem solving strategies, and providing exceptional administrative support. Students will learn the importance of customer service, telephone techniques, mail processing, and time management. A strong emphasis will be placed on learning electronic and manual records management, managing an Outlook account, and preparing for employment.
COMP-1100 Spreadsheet Design & Production
Spreadsheets are a versatile tool for both personal and business use. This course introduces students to the use of spreadsheets in a business environment. Students will learn to organize and analyze numeric data to create budgets, illustrate sales trends in charts, use templates for office expenses and sort data.
COMP-3019 Principles of Dynamic Presentations
This course focusses on acquiring effective presentation skills for the workplace. Students will explore presentation design and public speaking theory through applied experiential activities to build effective presentation design and speaking skills that can be applied in large corporate environments, small businesses, and office meeting environments. Students will learn to analyze a prospective audience, create credibility, improve influence, cultivate their natural presence, and regulate presentation apprehension and nervousness. Students will deliver informative and persuasive style presentations and will learn to give effective feedback through constructive criticism techniques. Students will learn popular presentation software and technology tools to support both face-to-face and virtual presenting.
COMM-3079 Communications for Office Administration
This course, designed for students who plan to work in the field of office administration, focuses on professional written communication skills. Students learn to prepare a variety of work-related documents. In addition, students learn about research methods and documentation formats. The principles of effective writing – organization, grammar, style, clarity and tone – are reinforced throughout the course. The goal of the course is to prepare students for the communication tasks and considerations they will encounter in the office environment.
Level 3
Gen Ed – Take a 3 credit General Education elective course
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
ADMN-3014 Medical Office Procedures 1
This course introduces the student to the core skills and knowledge required to perform administrative support in a wide variety of medical environments. The course emphasizes the interaction of people, technology, equipment, and administrative procedures in the medical environment. The work of the medical administrative assistant is unique. It combines a high level of caring about people and attention to the day-to-day details of running an efficient and organized practice, clinic, hospital department or unit, or allied health care facility. The importance of professional ethics, privacy, and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
ADMN-1050 Medical Concepts & Language 1
This course introduces the student to medical terminology and anatomy. An introduction to anatomy will provide a basic understanding and working knowledge of the human body. The history and composition of medical language will be explored. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
COMP-5047 Medical Spreadsheet Applications
In a medical office, creating, editing and analyzing data in spreadsheets is fundamental to successful practice management. Students will further their Excel knowledge by building complex formulae, manage range names, create tables and lists incorporating Excel’s database capabilities, and apply advanced features to analyze, summarize, protect, and share data. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
ADMN-3002 Canadian Business in the Global Economy
Current issues and trends affecting Canadian businesses domestically and internationally will be addressed. Topics include: types of organizations; significance of global economy; effects of sociology and politics on the conduct of international business; imports, exports, and customs; the nature of business management and management as it relates to social responsibility; organizational structure; financial systems; environmental issues; free trade; marketing processes; and business plans.
ACCT-3049 Electronic Scheduling & Billing1
Students will be taught electronic patient record management, scheduling, Ministry of Health billing codes, and billing methods used in various medical environments. The students will gain hands-on experience with scheduling using one particular billing software application. Professional ethics, privacy, and confidentiality will be emphasized throughout the course.
SFTY-1056 General Health & Safety Field Placement
Ontario Law requires all students who participate in unpaid placements in workplaces to complete the same mandatory training as paid employees. This course covers two of these mandatory topics; Workplace Hazardous Material Information Systems/Global Harmonized System and Worker Health and Safety Awareness.
Level 4
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
ACCT-5016 Electronic Scheduling & Billing 2
This course builds upon the electronic patient record management, scheduling, Ministry of Health billing codes, and billing methods learned in semester one. Hands-on electronic billing procedures will be practiced using one particular billing software application, as the skill set utilized for one specific software application is easily transferable to other billing software applications. Government legislation, provincial billing cycle, WSIB, third party billing, Veteran/Aboriginal Affairs and insurance protocols will be highlighted. Professional ethics, privacy, and confidentiality will be emphasized throughout the course.
ADMN-5004 Medical Office Procedures 2
This course further develops the skills and knowledge introduced in Medical Office Procedures 1. The student will develop high-level technical, interpersonal, problem solving, critical thinking, and organizational skills required to work in todays medical office environments. The importance of professional ethics, privacy, and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
ADMN-5007 Medical Concepts & Language 2
A continuation from Level 1 course. A further study of anatomy along with the history and composition of medical language will be explored in greater detail. Surgical, diagnostic and pharmaceutical studies will be introduced. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
COMP-5049 Medical Database Management
Managing electronic medical records is important to successful practice management. Students will use database software to create, edit, and extract data from a database. Emphasis will be on designing relational tables, queries, forms, and reports. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
WRKE-5001 Medical Work Placement
The first ten weeks of the course will be classroom-based preparing the student to apply for work placement in a medical office environment during the last four weeks of the course. This course will provide the student with practical, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts learned in the Office Administration – Medical Program classroom. Professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be emphasized throughout the course.
COMP-5066 Medical Transcription
This course introduces the student to medical transcription and builds on previously acquired general transcription and keyboarding skills. The student will apply the basic medical knowledge learned in Medical Terminology 1 and concurrently in Medical Terminology 2 in the completion of various medical documents and records. As a transcriptionist, you are charged with the responsibility of assuring that the physician’s words are recorded promptly and accurately. Accuracy, editing skills and reading/writing for understanding and meaning will be emphasized throughout the course. Advanced technology such as voice recognition systems, electronic patient records and electronic signatures directly affect the transcriptionist’s role. The importance of professional ethics, privacy and confidentiality will be highlighted throughout the course.
Gen Ed – Electives
Take 3 General Education Credits –
Normally taken in Level 3
