Care Host - Medical Office Assistant

Healthcare facilities are complex and require the assistance of many different types of healthcare professionals. This course provides the essential knowledge and skills for the care host or medical office assistant. The care host provides administrative support to the healthcare office by assisting with greeting patients, registering patients, completing intake paperwork, scheduling appointments, and facilitating payment transactions. They also assist in processing patient referrals to specialists and healthcare facilities, processing insurance information, verifying insurance eligibility, obtaining procedure authorization as necessary, and collecting copayments from patients. Care hosts may also assist in inventory management, answering the telephone, and assisting in quality control and monitoring initiatives. As with all professionals working in the healthcare arena, care hosts must be excellent communicators, apply proven customer service skills, and comply with the many regulatory and legal requirements imposed on the healthcare industry with the purpose of serving patients with excellence keeping their wellbeing and safety in mind and participating as a positive contributor to the healthcare team.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Function effectively in administrative and clerical positions in the medical office.
• Describe the healthcare environment.
• Describe the role of a healthcare office assistant/care host.
• Manage health information and records according to privacy policies.
• Identify the interpersonal skills required in the healthcare environment.
• Demonstrate professional writing skills as required in the healthcare environment.
• Explain the professional use of the telephone and other communication technologies in healthcare.
• Identify the tasks required at the front desk/reception for receiving healthcare patients.
• Complete intake tasks required to initiate a medical encounter.
• Explain basic billing and coding procedures required to process insurance forms.
• Explain procedures for collecting patient payments.
• Explain the basic purpose of medical insurance including types, procedures, and terminology.
• Explain Medicare and Medicaid.
• Explain strategies for management of inventory in a medical office.
• Identify the legal and regulatory requirements imposed on healthcare facilities and personnel including strategies for staying in compliance.
• Explain the proven strategies related to excellent customer service in the healthcare environment.
• Assist in handling medical emergencies.

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the option to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

	National Healthcareers Association (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (MAAC)
	National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.