Hello everyone, have some questions that I'm sure some of you can answer. Simple question: What's a good online, classroom driven (but asynchronous), program for someone wanting to get into medical office as a secretary. More details: My wife wants to start working when the kids go to school, about 2-3 years. She wants to prepare herself now for an entry level position in the health care industy. She has a medical issue preventing her from standing or walking for 8 hours so we were thinking something along the lines of a secretarial certificate or program leading towards an Associates. We would prefer a structured class setting as opposed to cleps or self study. Regionally accreditted is preferred, but not necessary, though FASFA compliance is necessary. We've been looking at the CPS-002 Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding Online Course (30 CEU's) at TESC. We've also been considering Penn-Foster's Professional Secretary degree. Many universities seem to offer the degree or programs we would be interested in, but not all are online. She already has about 24 General Ed credits to transfer so the Associates might be preferred. Actually, it IS preferred as getting into medical billing and coding is hard with no experience, even with the proper certifications. But anything is a step in the right direction, we just don't want to spin our wheels anymore searching this forum, all of the colleges websites, google, and all them stupid degree mills that show up. The most difficult part is the cost. Unless I get a better job right after my graduation this summer from Fort Hays State University (All online, love it, FHSU rocks, ask me if you have any questions), anyway unless I get some serious cash inbound, we can't afford a $350/credit course system...even with Pell. Priorities: 1) Online 2) Cost. The best program means nothing if we can't afford it. 3) Asynchronous, instructor led class 4) Medical Office Secretary preferred over just "billing and coding" as it's more universally applicable 5) Regionally Accreditted 6) Degree over certificate (unless you can tell me the certs are very good and easy to get entry level job with) 7) Arranging for proctors sucks, but we'll deal with it if we have to. Guess that's all I can think of unless there's questions.
Hi, Your wife may be interested in the following programs (all are online and RA, you'll need to research costs, proctored exams, etc..) AIU - Associate of Arts in Business Administration (AABA) with a concentration in Medical Coding and Billing Bryant & Stratton - Medical Administrative Assistant Associate Degree - Not available to residents of NY. A lot of results came up online. Try copy/pasting the following search in Google: "medical secretary OR administrative" degree online OR "distance learning" site:.edu Good luck! - Tom
Mountain State University offers a A.S. in Medical Assisting; http://www.mountainstate.edu/webed/medicalasst.aspx Thomas Edison State College offers a A.A.S. in Administrative Studies which could be tailored towards Medical Administration; http://www.tesc.edu/2399.php You could most likely design a program to your needs with Charter Oak State College's Individualized Studies program; http://www.charteroak.edu/Prospective/Programs/Concentrations/IndividualizedStudies.cfm
Ivy Tech Well, after countless hours searching for the right fit, I think I found one. Ivy Tech offers Office Administration degrees (AAS) with a medical concentration. The school is RA, the tuition is roughly $200/hr, and the classes appear to be structured. A search so far on degreeinfo shows a few people have attended there, with no complaints noted.
One more option to consider; Stonecliffe College (part of Colorado Technical University) - A.S. in Medical Coding & Billing; http://www.stonecliffecollege.com/degree_programs/healthcare-management/asmbc.asp All credits will transfer to CTU's B.S.B.A. in Healthcare Management with several available concentrations; http://www.ctuonline.edu/online-degree-programs/online-bachelors-degree-health-care-management/
