PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Medical Office Administration (MOA) program is for the ones who are interested in the health sector and want to be Medical office assistants. Medical office assistants support doctors and other health-care professionals by performing a wide variety of clerical and administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, word processing, bookkeeping, and other accounting, photocopying, filing and answering telephone calls and correspondence. Medical office assistants work in all health-care settings. They may work standard office hours or be required to work some evenings and weekends. Much of their shift is spent on their feet, and they are routinely required to lift items weighing up to 10 kilograms. Our program curriculum is prepared knowing those who work in hospitals and doctors’ offices may regularly be exposed to contagious diseases. By doing so our graduates will be more aware of the risks and be better prepared.
If you enjoy dealing with people, operating equipment such as computers and photocopiers and compiling and organizing information, Medical office assistant profession is the right one for you. If think that you have the following characteristics, then you are an ideal Medical office assistant. Here are the characteristics Medical office assistants need to have;
- the ability to maintain patient confidentiality
- excellent oral and written communication skills
- good organizational and time management skills
- the ability to maintain accuracy while multi-tasking or working under pressure
- a mature attitude toward the human body, wellness and disease processes
- the ability to follow directions closely and accurately
- the ability to establish a professional rapport with and instill confidence in patients
- the ability to deal effectively with the difficult behaviors sometimes exhibited by people in distress
- the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Medical Office Administration (MOA) diploma program at Glenbow College has two tiers, theoretical and practical education. Students at MOA program will start with IT Literacy module providing students keyboarding, basic computer software and applications. Keyboarding is the most important element of this module as it is a must for medical office staff. Keyboarding course gives students an introduction to the fundamentals of keyboarding for their office needs. This course will help the students reinforce their English language skills and develop their ability to key and compose information and develop the proper keyboarding techniques and skills. After this course, the students will develop both speed and accuracy while applying the proper keyboarding techniques. The fundamentals of latest medical assistance knowledge/tools in the industry and specifically in Canada will be followed by Introduction to Medical Assisting. The Introduction to Medical Assisting module covers some sub-units including but not limited to History of Medical Assisting, Education and Training for the Medical Assistant, Role of the Medical Assistant, Professional Qualities of a Good Medical Assistant, Professional Certifying Organizations, and Career Opportunities.
The rest of the program is as follows:
- Medical Language
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Document Processing
- Administrative Medical Assisting
- Professionalism and Medical Ethics
- Canada’s Health Care System
- Observation-Field Trip
- Readiness for Career
- First Aid/CPR
- Practicum
PROGRAM DURATION
Theory Onsite/Online/Online-Self Paced 520 hours.
Practice at workplace (Co-op Work Experience) 300hours
PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
Medical Office Assistant Program at Glenbow College is licensed under the Private Career Colleges Branch of Alberta Advanced Education. Find out more by visiting the Government of Alberta website.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An Alberta Secondary School Diploma or equivalent (supported by transcript)*; or be at least 18 years of age or older and pass an entry test.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Endless career possibilities are available for Medical Office Administration graduates. Medical office assistants are employed as an office assistant, hospital admitting clerk, medical billing clerk, and patient coordinator and etc. in;
- Doctors’ Offices
- Hospitals
- Medical Clinics And Other Health-Care Settings
- Ambulatory/Outpatient Departments
- Diagnostic Lab/X-Ray Departments
- Medical Finance & Administrative Departments
- Health Records Departments
- Long Term & Extended Care Departments
- Various Clinics
- Mental Healthcare Centers
- Allied Health Care Centers
- Walk-In Care Centers
- Daycare & Ambulatory Clinics
- Complementary & Alternative Medicine Clinics Such As Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centers
- Research Facilities
- Lab & X-Ray Clinics
- Physio & Occupational Therapy Clinics
- Community Living Societies
- Group Homes
- Medical Supply Companies
- Insurance Companies
- Wellness & Fitness Centers
- Public And Private Insurance Companies
- Health Software Companies and much more!
In large organizations, experienced medical office assistants may move into supervisory positions.
Medical office assistants are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 1243: Medical secretaries. In Alberta, 88% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance (PDF) industry.
WAGE & SALARY
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
| Starting | $14.00 | $26.22 | $18.61 | $17.75 |
| Overall | $16.00 | $32.00 | $21.72 | $20.00 |
| Top | $18.00 | $34.50 | $26.52 | $25.00 |
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation. Source:https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/medical-office-assistant/
GLENBOW COLLEGE DIFFERENCE
Medical Office Administration program at Glenbow College is designed to equip you with medical, technical and administrative skills that are required to play an integral role in a high-tech, dynamic medical office environment. At Glenbow College, we have continuous enrolment during the year so you can start whenever you are ready. We believe that Practice Makes Perfect so we have 300 hours of practice opportunity for our students. Glenbow College gives you an opportunity to study a certificate program directly related to your career in the future. While studying your major diploma program at Glenbow College, accelerate or expand your career with an extra certificate in Non-Violent Crises Intervention Program which will be great assets for you upon your graduation. The second certificate for you is CPR certification. While studying MOA earn two more certificates at Glenbow College.. Ongoing career services, including resume writing, job interview techniques, employment referrals, and introductions and job search assistance are always available for you. Don’t do settle for less when you have more at Glenbow College. International practicum*opportunity for new beginnings and endless possibilities are waiting for you at Glenbow College. Book an information session to learn the unique opportunities and different schedule options waiting for you at Glenbow College.