Diploma in Medical Office Administrator Health Unit Clerk with Practicum

This program combines the basic knowledge of a Medical Office Administrator with the specialized competencies of a Health Unit Clerk.

Medical Office Administrators and Health Unit Clerks perform a variety of administrative duties in doctors’ offices, hospitals, medical clinics and other medical settings as well as support of managers and professional employers. They are employed in offices throughout the public and private sectors.

Medical Office Administrators type correspondence, reports, invoices and related material from handwritten copy or machine dictation, using a computer. This may include the preparation of presentation materials. They also prepare routine correspondence and compile data, statistics and other information. Some administrators assist committees by taking minutes.

The duties of Medical Office Administrators also include specialized tasks: schedule and confirm medical appointments, deliver messages between doctors and patients, type medical records and reports from handwritten notes, and interview patients to complete forms and case histories.

They also make sure doctors get paid, by completing insurance as well as other claim forms and handling billing procedures. They may order medical supplies as well as regular office supplies. It should be noted that medical administrators are very often referred to as medical office secretaries, and related training programs in this province may also use that title.

Health Unit Clerks are responsible for managing a variety of clerical and administrative duties. They are responsible for helping manage a patient’s care plan by coordinating diagnostic tests, lab work, and treatment plans for patients including arranging transportation. They are also responsible for maintaining the patient’s electronic medical record and making sure it is kept up-to-date and accurate.

The occupational objective of the Health Unit Clerk program is to prepare the student to gain employment in the settings such as the following: hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, public health care agencies and long-term care facilities where they will perform non-clinical tasks usually under the supervision of nursing staff and provide the link between patients, physicians, nursing staff and other departments. Job duties and environments vary by place of employment. Some Hospital Unit Clerks are employed part-time or work evening or weekend shifts.

The job outlook for qualified health unit clerks is very good due to advances in medical technology. According to the Health Careers Center, job opportunities are expected to be plentiful for health unit clerks, with growth mirroring that of all health care professions.

A typing speed of 50-65 words per minute may also be required for employment. Changes in technology, such as the increasing use of electronic medical records (EMR), means these workers must be comfortable adapting to new software programs. Some employers may require specialized training in EMR systems.

This program includes a practicum placement. This experience within a workplace enables instructional staff to observe the student in a practice situation while providing the student with the opportunity to gain direct exposure to the chosen career field.