Program Outline
Here's how it works
Your program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the knowledge and skills you'll employ in your new career as a Medical Administrative Assistant. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.
Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows® 10 or later, Microsoft® Office 2019 or Microsoft 365®, and an email account to complete this program.
Note: A High School Diploma, Secondary School Diploma, or equivalent is required to enroll in the Medical Administrative Assistant Program. If you did not complete High School, you can enroll in Penn Foster High School with a Concentration in Health Care. Graduates of this program will earn a fully accredited High School Diploma along with the basic health care courses needed to accelerate your studies for a career as a Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, or Medical Billing and Coding Administrator.
Program Goal and Outcomes
Program Goal: To prepare students for a career as an entry-level medical administrative assistant, to provide basic knowledge in office procedures, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology, and to help students develop written and oral communication skills that they can apply to electronic medical records.
Program Outcomes:
- Identify the procedures for patient record retrieval and reimbursement
- Explain the role of a medical administrative assistant
- Explain the role of a medical administrative assistant
- Recognize laws and issues related to ethics and confidentiality
- Demonstrate effective communication and customer service skills among patients, providers, team members, and third-party payers
- Identify terms and pathological processes related to the various body systems
HIT100: Introduction to Allied Health
In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You'll learn how you can improve your study skills, so you're able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful. You'll then learn about the healthcare professions involved in the United States healthcare system. You'll learn about their common tasks, where they typically work, and how each role contributes to the patient experience. You'll then discover the hard and soft skills required across different healthcare professional roles. The course ends with an overview of the United States healthcare system. You'll examine the different levels of patient care, the differences between public and private healthcare, how facilities bill for services, and how laws and regulations govern healthcare practices.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
- Explain the standard knowledge and skills required in healthcare careers
CRB023: Career Readiness
In this course, you'll learn the personal qualities that employers look for in their employees, such as integrity and dependability. You'll review the baseline responsibilities common to most jobs and the importance of employee handbooks in a successful work environment. Strategies required to be productive and adapt to change are also covered. You'll examine the interpersonal skills needed to ensure positive interactions with diverse populations through various channels of communication and gain strategies for overcoming communication barriers. An understanding of the importance of teamwork, different roles of team members, characteristics of leadership, and strategies for overcoming conflict employed by successful teams are critical elements of interpersonal interactions.
You'll gain an understanding of critical workplace skills. These include time management, prioritization, the decision-making process, the problem-solving process, and open-mindedness, as well as learning how to interact with customers in a professional manner.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Define the personal qualities of integrity, dependability, and professionalism that are essential to effective work environments
- Explain the interpersonal skills, including respect, communication, and teamwork, that are needed to succeed in a work environment
- Describe workplace skills, tools, and technology that are necessary for working in a professional environment
ALH016: Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1
This course will familiarize you with various body systems including medical terms, structure, function, diseases, disorders, and treatments. You’ll also learn drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Define medical terms and regions and structures of the body by analyzing medical terms
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the cardiovascular and hematologic systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the respiratory and endocrine systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems
ALH017: Body Systems and Medical Terminology 2
This course is a continuation of Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1. You’ll continue to learn about various body systems, drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders. You’ll also learn basic medication calculations, storage, how to assist patients with administration, and proper documentation.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the sensory and nervous systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the immune system
ALH021: Pathology and Pharmacology
This course describes healthcare professionals who can identify the four subdivisions of pharmacology and different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals. Pathology and Pharmacology will also prepare you to explain the causes of infectious disease and techniques used to stop its spread. Finally, you’ll review the basic etiology of common diseases and conditions.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe four subdivisions of pharmacology: pharma codynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmaco-therapeutics, and toxicology
- Identify different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals, which a patient may take for a variety of health conditions
- Explain causes of infection, disease, and techniques used to stop the spread of infectious disease
- Explain basic etiology of common diseases and conditions
HIT130: Electronic Medical Records
This course is designed to help you understand the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved. You’ll be introduced to billing cycles and how health information technology is used in medical offices, and learn about basic accounting transaction terminology and apply this information to enter patient charges and payments.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the contents of the Electronic Health Record and security, privacy, and confidentiality practices associated with medical records
- Explain the administrative and clinical roles in the medical office and functions within the EHR that are utilized routinely in these roles
- Describe the billing and reimbursement process
- Complete simulated health records in practice electronic health record software
ALH029: Medical Billing and Health Insurance
This course introduces the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved, such as fee-for-service and episode-of-care methodologies. The course also covers important information regarding payment systems, fee schedules, chargemasters, coding, and the internal audit process. The course also explains the fundamentals of health insurance and types of health insurance.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Discuss various reimbursement methodologies and payment systems
- Define health insurance
ALH028: Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health
In this course, you’ll learn how law affects healthcare practitioners, the origin of law that affects medical professionals, the basics of the process of litigation and its alternatives, the common-law basis for the confidentiality of healthcare information, and the laws regulating healthcare information collected and maintained by government agencies.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Interpret civil and criminal laws related to healthcare
- Assess ethical issues healthcare professionals face today
- Analyze confidentiality laws and regulations
Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster College have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster College International.
Some countries impose certification or registration requirements on certain duties performed by medical administrative assistants. For the education requirements in your area, please check with your department of health or appropriate ministry.
A High School Diploma, Secondary School Diploma, or equivalent is required to enroll in this program.
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