Online Medical Assistant and Electronic Health Records Course

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DOES A CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT’S WORK INVOLVE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS?

Electronic Health Records (EHR) act as portable records of a patient’s healthcare experience. According to the NHA, certified medical assistants can enter information into EHR systems. In many cases, medical assistants who take on this responsibility help doctors see and treat patients more efficiently and may help reduce errors in medical procedures and their documentation.

IS CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR A CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT?

While certification requirements vary by location and organization, earning a certification such as the CCMA can help designate a prospective medical assistant as a serious professional. The NHA also notes that many healthcare organizations now require certification for career paths that lead to promotion or emerging roles such as health coach, patient navigator or patient care coordinator.

WHAT DOES AN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST’S WORK INVOLVE?

While a medical assistant works directly with healthcare professionals and patients, the EHR Specialist is focused on the electronic documentation of the patient’s care and condition. EHR Specialist job activities might include:

• Auditing patient records for compliance with government or insurance requirements
• Abstracting clinical information for reporting purposes
• Performing basic coding for reimbursement claims
• Processing Release of Information (ROI) requests for medical records
• Reviewing patient records for completion and accuracy
• Collecting patient information for demographic and insurance reports
• Discussing patient information with physicians and insurance professionals

IS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST A GOOD CAREER FOR REMOTE WORK?

Because electronic records are held and updated online, EHR Specialist is considered an option for a remote or home-based career. ZipRecruiter.com reports that most employers will require that remote team members have strong, secure internet connections and most will require certification.

Course Objectives

• Gain specialized skills needed to contribute to a healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
• Learn the principles and practices of ethical behavior, therapeutic communication, patient privacy laws, medical terminology, and clinical procedures
• Receive a broad overview of the electronic health records (HER) systems
• Gain hands-on experience using real EHR software
• Summarize the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule
• Explain the information contained in various medical records
• Discuss government and private insurances
• Identify the functions of the major body systems
• Demonstrate how to write a chief complaint and obtain a patient history
• Describe how to measure vital signs
• Discuss the importance of medical and surgical asepsis
• Summarize the basic guidelines for the administration of injections
• Identify the three methods used to perform venipuncture
• Managing patient visits, arranging follow-up care, and issuing prescriptions
• Establish the appropriate EHR for a healthcare practice
• Track of vital information such as patient allergies and medications
• Communicate with patients and report public health information
• Prepare to take and pass the NHA’s CCMA and CEHR exams

Prerequisites and Requirements

There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, you will need a high school diploma or GED in order to take the CCMA and CEHRS exams.

Curriculum

1. Medical Terminology
   1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
   2. The Musculoskeletal System
   3. The Cardiovascular System
   4. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
   5. The Respiratory System
   6. The Digestive System
   7. The Urinary System
   8. The Nervous System
   9. The Special Senses, The Eyes and Ears
   10. The Integumentary System
   11. The Endocrine System
   12. The Reproductive System
   13. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
        
2. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
   1. Becoming a Medical Assistant
   2. Managing Stress and Improving Communication
   3. Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
   4. Improving your Medical Office
   5. Computers in the Ambulatory Care Setting
   6. Telecommunications and Patient Scheduling
   7. Enhancing the Patient Experience
   8. Managing Medical Records
   9. Written Communication
   10. Working with Medical Documents
   11. Medical Billing and Coding: An Overview
   12. Daily Financial Practices
   13. The Administrative Medical Assistant as Office Manager
   14. Major Body Systems
   15. Pathophysiology
   16. Pharmacology
   17. Nutrition and Special Diets
   18. The Chief Complaint and Patient History
   19. Recording Vital Signs
   20. The Physical Examination
   21. Specialty Exams and Procedures
   22. Medical Asepsis and Infection Control
   23. Surgical Asepsis and Sterilization Techniques
   24. Surgical Instruments
   25. Assisting with Minor Office Surgeries
   26. Introduction to The Medical Laboratory
   27. Basic Microbiology
   28. Introduction to Phlebotomy
   29. Basic Hematology
   30. Electrocardiogram
   31. Administering Noninjectable Medications
   32. Basic Guidelines for Administration Of Injections
   33. Diagnostic Imaging
   34. Rehabilitation and Treatment Modalities
   35. First Aid Techniques
   36. Emergencies in The Medical Office
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3. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
   1. An Overview of EHR And CEHRS
   2. Steps To EHR Implementation
   3. The EHR Framework
   4. HIPAA Requirements And EHR Systems
   5. The EHR And Record Content
   6. Patient Visit Management
   7. Problem, Medication, And Allergy Lists
   8. Examination/Assessment Notes, Graphics, And Charts
   9. Treatment Plans, Orders, And Results
   10. Medication Orders and Administration
   11. Patient Communications
   12. Coding, Billing, And Practice Reports
   13. Research, Registries, And Reportable Events
   14. Personal Health Records and Continuing Care Records

Instructors

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. EHR clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

Jennifer Della'Zanna

Jennifer Della'Zanna has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having worked as a medical transcriptionist, practice administrator, biller, and coding specialist. She writes courses and study guides on the use of technology in health care and regularly contributes to publications about health issues. Della'Zanna is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Albright College.

Rachael Delekta

Rachael Delekta is an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist. Rachael has been in the health care field for over ten years. She has worked mostly on the insurance side of things, as a customer service manager for dental insurance, a claims and customer service coach, and a workers' compensation case management biller and auditor. She works daily with medical records and healthcare software.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns EHR own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Sharon L. Blackford

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a master’s degree in Organizational Management, a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.