Medical Administrative Assisting A.A.S.

Medical administrative assistants are trained to effectively greet patients, supervise office personnel, schedule appointments, post charges and payments, submit insurance claims using current coding procedures, maintain patient records, calculate payroll, create and update the office procedures manual, assist in improving work flow and office efficiencies, and transcribe letters and patient chart notes.

Students successfully completing the program are awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree. Students may enter either autumn or spring semester.

Students entering autumn semester may complete the program in four semesters as outlined below.  Students entering spring should meet with advisor prior to selecting courses.

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Information Technology; Medical Administrative Assist Option

Missoula College

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 63

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: See Program Director for scope and sequence advising.
Please refer to online schedule for online course availability.

Degree Core Courses

Rule: All Courses Required

Note: ACTG 101 may be substituted for ACTG 100 at the discretion of the program director.
WRIT 101 may be substituted for WRIT 121 at the discretion of the program director.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ACTG 100 - Essentials of Accounting
Offered autumn and spring. Introduction to basic double-entry accounting. Emphasis on analyzing, journalizing, and posting transactions; trial balance, worksheet, financial statements, and adjusting/closing procedures, cash control and completing the accounting cycle.
 4 Credits
Show Description ACTG 180 - Payroll Accounting
Offered autumn and spring. Payroll Topics including Federal and Montana state payroll tax law. The course includes study of workers compensation, independent contractor determination and registration, preparation of payroll, payroll tax returns and deposits, and annual information payroll returns. Students will also be exposed to federal law affecting payroll such as Fair Labor Standards Act, ADA, Family Medical Leave Act, Civil Rights Act, etc. and applicable Montana state laws.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 108 - Health Data Content & Struct
Offered spring. In-depth study of origin, use, content and structure of health records; storage and retrieval systems; numbering and filing systems; documentation requirements; use and structure of health care data sets; and how these components relate to primary and secondary record systems. Additional topics include gathering, compilation and computing of healthcare related statistics, use of research and statistical methods for developing healthcare data into information for various requesters.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHMS 144 - Medical Terminology
Offered every term. Introduction to a medical word building system using Greek and Latin word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 156 - Medical Billing Fundamentals
Offered every term. Prereq. or coreq., AHMS 220 or consent of instr. An introduction to insurance claim processing for the major medical insurance programs. Students will be provided with a basic knowledge of CPT and ICD-9 procedural and diagnostic coding. Emphasis on completing universal insurance forms to maximize reimbursement as well as trouble shoot denied or underpaid claims.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 175 - Medical Law & Ethics
This course will introduce students to the common laws, regulations, and agencies affecting ambulatory medical facilities. Current issues of ethics and bioethics will also be discussed. This is a blended class.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHMS 220 - Medical Office Procedures
Offered autumn. An introduction to the necessary skills and qualities required to function successfully in the medical arena. Emphasis on medico-legal and ethical responsibilities, records management and financial management of the medical practice, and interpersonal communications to include patient reception, telephone techniques and appointment scheduling.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHMS 252 - Computerized Medical Billing
Offered spring, Prereq., AHMS 156; prereq. or coreq. AHMS 220; or consent of instr. A medical package is used to enter and update patient data, enter charges, payments and adjustments, and generate management reports, insurance forms, and patient statements.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHMS 298 - Medical Info Internship
Offered every term. Prereq., last semester in program, minimum of "C" in AHMS/AHMA (MED) courses, and approval of program director. On-the-job training in positions related to each student's career goal in the medical information field. This experience increases students' skills, prepares them for initial employment and advancement on the job, and increases occupational awareness and professionalism. Students work a minimum of 180 hours at an approved site and attend a scheduled one-hour seminar.
 3 Credits
Show Description AMGT 145 - Records Management
Offered every term. Introduction to alphabetic filing techniques and electronic database records management. Current technical developments utilizing automated records systems, biometric access control devices, electronic file organization, ergonomics, the Internet, image technology, and integrated security systems.
 2 Credits
Show Description AMGT 240 - Admin Support for the Office
Offered autumn. Prereq., CAPP 134. Overview of the procedures and scope of the administrative assistant’s role in today’s automated office, including traditional and electronic communications, operation of multi-media equipment, and managing office technology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOH 112 - Human Form and Function I
Offered autumn. Explores the fundamentals of structure and function at basic cellular and tissue levels, in addition to the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.
 3 Credits
Show Description BMGT 216 - Psych of Mgmt & Supervision
Offered autumn. Management theory, research, and the practice of management. Topics covered include leadership styles and techniques, effective communication approaches, time management, decision making, delegation, and the basic functions of supervisory skills.
 4 Credits
Show Description BMGT 245 - Customer Service Management
Offered spring. Designed to prepare employees and managers to meet customers’ expectations. Review of customer service philosophy and techniques. Services marketing, quality issues, service design and delivery, customer interaction systems, complaint handling and service recovery, customer relationships, loyalty management, and operations are addressed.
 4 Credits
Show Description CAPP 120 - Introduction to Computers
Offered autumn and spring. Introduction to computer terminology, hardware, and software, including wire/wireless communications and multimedia devices. Students utilize word processing, spread sheet, database, and presentation applications to create projects common to business and industry in a networked computing environment. Internet research, email usage, and keyboarding proficiency are integrated.
 3 Credits
Show Description CAPP 154 - MS Word
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., CAPP 120 or basic computer experience and consent of instr. Preparation of business forms, correspondence, mail merges, columnar projects, and reports using up-to-date software.  Business related application projects, graphics, and printer operation are included.
 3 Credits
Show Description CAPP 156 - MS Excel
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., CAPP 120; and M 090 or M 095. Emphasis on the use of workbooks and sheets to solve business problems. Includes projects relating to data and graphs/charts.
 3 Credits
Show Description CAPP 254 - Advanced MS Word
Offered spring. Prereq., CAPP 154. Analysis of the concepts of advanced work processing document production underlying mastery of the software. Business-related application projects utilizing critical thinking included. Speed and timing component to increase skills essential for employment.
 3 Credits
Show Description COMX 115S - Intro to Interpersonal Communc
Offered autumn and spring. An overview of the process of human communication with special emphasis on analyzing communication patterns and improving interpersonal communication skills. Credit not allowed for both COMM 110S and COM 150S.
 3 Credits
Show Description WRIT 121 - Intro to Technical Writing
Offered every term. Introduction to technical writing situations that integrate text, design, and graphics. Emphasis is on evidence-based, informative writing that uses design and graphics to visually represent logic and organization. Course focuses on writing as a process and includes student self-assessment. Major assignments include a pure technical document, exploration of credibility, and public science writing. Students are expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage and to have basic computer literacy.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 60 Total Credits Required

Math Requirements

Rule: Any Math Course M 105 or above

Minimum Required Grade: C-
3 Total Credits Required