Faculty: Vocational School The Medical Documentation and Secretary major focuses on the principles and practices of managing medical records, documentation, and administrative tasks within healthcare settings. Students gain skills in medical terminology, documentation, coding, administrative procedures, patient communication, and office management, preparing for careers in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, and related healthcare environments. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand the principles of medical documentation and administrative procedures. - Develop skills in medical terminology and coding. - Learn effective communication and patient interaction techniques. - Explore medical office management and administrative tasks. - Analyze ethical and legal considerations in medical documentation. - Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills. - Gain practical experience through internships and hands-on projects. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Medical Documentation and Secretary** - Overview of medical documentation principles, history, and current trends. 2. **Medical Terminology** - Fundamentals of medical terms and their usage in healthcare settings. 3. **Medical Coding** - Principles of coding medical diagnoses and procedures for billing and reimbursement. 4. **Medical Records Management** - Techniques for managing and maintaining medical records. 5. **Administrative Procedures in Healthcare** - Principles of handling administrative tasks in medical offices and clinics. 6. **Patient Communication and Interaction** - Effective communication and interaction techniques with patients and healthcare providers. 7. **Medical Office Management** - Principles of managing medical office operations and staff. 8. **Ethical and Legal Considerations in Medical Documentation** - Exploration of ethical and legal standards in medical documentation and administration. 9. **Health Information Technology** - Use of technology and software for managing medical records and administrative tasks. 10. **Billing and Insurance Processing** - Principles of medical billing, insurance claims, and reimbursement processes. 11. **Internship/Practicum** - Real-world experiences in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, or related healthcare settings. 12. **Capstone Project** - Comprehensive project applying medical documentation and secretary skills, such as developing a medical records management system, conducting an administrative audit, or implementing a patient communication plan. **Assessment Methods:** - Medical documentation principles analyses - Medical terminology projects - Medical coding projects - Medical records management projects - Administrative procedures projects - Patient communication and interaction projects - Medical office management projects - Ethical and legal considerations projects - Health information technology projects - Billing and insurance processing projects - Internship/practicum reports - Capstone projects and presentations **Recommended Textbooks:** - "Introduction to Medical Documentation and Secretary" - "Medical Terminology" - "Medical Coding" - "Medical Records Management" - "Administrative Procedures in Healthcare" - "Patient Communication and Interaction" - "Medical Office Management" - "Ethical and Legal Considerations in Medical Documentation" - "Health Information Technology" - "Billing and Insurance Processing" **Prerequisites:** Basic knowledge of healthcare principles, communication skills, and an interest in medical documentation and administration. **Major Duration:** Typically 2-4 years for an associate or bachelor's degree in Medical Documentation and Secretary. **Certification:** Graduates may pursue certifications such as: - Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) - Certified Professional Coder (CPC) - Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) - Certifications in specific medical documentation and administrative technologies **Target Audience:** Aspiring medical secretaries, administrative assistants, medical records technicians, billing specialists, and professionals seeking careers in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, and related healthcare settings. This major equips students with the administrative, organizational, and communication skills needed to excel in medical documentation and secretary roles, supporting careers in various healthcare environments. The program provides a comprehensive education in medical documentation principles, terminology, coding, records management, administrative procedures, patient communication, office management, ethics, health information technology, billing, and practical experience through internships and projects, preparing students for successful careers in the field.