Healthcare Office Assistant

This Healthcare Office Assistant program includes office skills specific to the healthcare industry as well as terminology and procedures. It also includes a practicum to provide an opportunity to use your knowledge in a real work setting.

Healthcare Office Skills & Procedures
• Telephone Techniques & Filing Systems
• Scheduling
• Code of Ethics & Confidentiality
• Medico Legal
• Psychology of Patients Needs
• Patients, Colleagues & Communications
• Office Equipment
• Healthcare Insurance
• Clinical Records
• Vital Signs & Standard Precautions

Medical Office Skills
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Transcription & Typing Skills
• Medical Billing Terminology
• Dental Office Skills
• Dental Terminology
• Dental Procedures
• Dental Insurance and Billing

Pharmacy Assistant Skills
• History of Pharmacy & Interpretation of Prescriptions
• Medication Handling
• Receiving and storing
• Pharmacy Procedures

Computer & Administrative Skills
• Introduction to Technology & Keyboarding
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• Business Communications

Job Search Skills
Practicum
First Aid & CPR
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS)

41 weeks (approximately 820 hours) total

• 38 weeks of classroom training and a 3 week practicum placement

Students Supply:

• Loose-leaf paper & 3-ring binder
• USB Flash drive, if desired
• Pens/pencils/highlighters
• Work appropriate attire

College Supplies:

• Handouts & photocopied materials
• Student Manuals
• Equipment and Supplies for hands-on training

• Confirmation of “mature student status” (19 years of age or older on first day of classes and out of school for 1 full year) OR if under 19, proof of Grade 12 completion or equivalent
• Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
• Entrance Assessment
• English competency assessment may be required
• Some level of touch-typing skills is recommended (speed is not important)

• Application and understanding of commonly used healthcare terminology
• Current computer applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, Internet and Email
• Using a transcriber for medical letters and reports
• Following office protocol relating to professionalism, confidentiality, communication and dispute resolution
• Empathetic listening and customer service skills when communicating with patients or clients
• Handling difficult clients
• Managing incoming and outgoing mail (postal and electronic)
• Office procedures for scheduling appointments, maintaining appointment records, receiving office calls
• Procedures for answering, transferring and screening office calls
• using one or more current software billing programs
• Understanding Release of Information Regulations

• Students are assessed on each module of their program by either a test, project, assignment or demonstration of skills
• Students are assessed of professionalism, conduct, and attendance and their practical training components
• An average of all module grades, as well as the grades for professional conduct and attendance is calculated. Successful completion of the program requires a minimum of a 65% grade in each program module, and successful completion of the practicum component.

Students participate in 3-week practicum near the end of their program.  During this time students take the role of employee, and work diligently to maximize the learning opportunity and create a positive experience for themselves, the college and the practicum host.

As a graduated Healthcare Office Assistant you’ll be confident and prepared to join the administrative team in the growing healthcare industry.

Types of Employment
• Perform office assistant duties in pharmacies, hospitals, dental and medical offices and physiotherapy, chiropractic, optometrist and naturopathic clinics
• Work as Medical Transcriptionists

Where HCOA Graduates are Working
• St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Courtenay Medical Clinic
• Comox Valley Medical Associates
• Comox Valley Family Services
• Powell River Hospital
• Medical Clinic in Parksville
• Alano Club
• Comox Medical Clinic
• Mt. Washington
• Valley Care Medical

• BC is currently facing worker shortages in health occupations
• Employment in this field is expected to grow at an above-average rate
• Population growth, an aging population, and technological advances in diagnosis and treatment are contributing to increasing demands for health services

Work BC

Healthcare Office Assistant Program Fees

Domestic 
Tuition: $10,332.00
Registration: 100.00
Books/Materials: 1,457.49
GST on Books/Supplies: 72.87
Total: $11,962.36

International:
Tuition: $12,915.00
Registration: 200.00
Books/Materials: 1,457.49
GST on Books/Supplies: 72.87
Total: $14,645.36

Please review our Refund Policy.