Online: Medical Administrative Assistant & Electronic Health Records Specialist Training

• Medical administrative assistants are one of the most in-demand support roles in healthcare, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS data indicates job opportunities for medical assistants will grow by 23% overall by 2028, which equates to over 150,000 new jobs.
• Medical Records Technicians/Specialists will see similarly job growth. According to CareerExplorer.com, job opportunities for medical records specialists are expected to grow up to 13.5% by 2026.
• In working with healthcare providers and professionals, NHA has seen a growing need for medical administrative assistants to work with EHR systems. According to PayScale.com, such highly qualified EHRS specialists can expect to earn $49,000 per year, on average.

HOW DO MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS USE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SYSTEMS?
According to the NHA, medical administrative 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.

WHAT DOES ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS WORK INVOLVE?
EHR work 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 CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR A MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT?
Getting a focused certification, like the CEHR, proves one’s ability to handle a broader set of responsibilities in a healthcare facility. The NHA also notes that many healthcare organizations now require certification for career paths that lead to promotion.

• Prepare to take and pass the NHA’s CMAA and CEHR exams
• 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 administrative procedures
• Gain hands-on experience using real EHR software
• Summarize the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule
• Summarize the basic guidelines for the administration of injections
• 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

PREREQUISITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, you will need a high school diploma or GED to take the CMAA and CEHRS exams.

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

• Introduction to Medical Terminology
• The Musculoskeletal System
• The Cardiovascular System
• The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
• The Respiratory System
• The Digestive System
• The Urinary System
• The Nervous System
• The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
• The Integumentary System
• The Endocrine System
• The Reproductive System
• Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology

CERTIFIED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT

• Becoming a Medical Assistant
• Managing Stress and Improving Communication
• Law, Ethics and Healthcare
• Improving Your Medical Office
• Computers in the Ambulatory Care Setting
• Telecommunications and Patient Scheduling
• Medical Terminology: Word Parts, Plurals, Abbreviations
• Managing Medical Records
• Written Communication
• Working with Medical Documents
• Medical Billing and Coding: An Overview
• Daily Financial Practices
• The Administrative Medical Assistant as Office Manager

CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST

• An Overview of EHR and CEHRS
• An Introduction to MOSS 3.0
• History of EHRs
• Steps to EHR Implementation
• The EHR Framework
• HIPAA Requirements and EHR Systems
• The EHR and Record Content
• Lists, Treatment Plans, Orders, and Results
• Patient Visit Management
• Coding, Billing, and Practice Reports
• Patient Communications
• Practice Reports, Research, Registries, and Reportable Events

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.