Medical Receptionist Certificate

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Academy of Health Professions

Lowell Campus - Program will be discontinued in January 2017.

Program Description:

The Medical Receptionist Certificate program in the Academy of Health Professions consists of 18 college credits, including both academic and career courses. This program enables the student to build the skills necessary to work at the reception desk in an outpatient health setting. Tasks a medical receptionist in these areas may perform include the following: answering telephones and taking messages, scheduling appointments and greeting patients, data entry and review of patient information, obtaining and/or verifying patient insurance information, explaining patient rights and obtaining signatures as required by state and federal legislation, taking payments and copayments, and working with medical records (paper and electronic). Career exploration is an essential component of this program. In addition, students obtain CPR and first aid certification, as well as strengthen college and academic reading skills.

Career and Transfer Outlook:

Medical receptionists usually obtain employment in physician’s offices, clinics or hospitals. They may also work in laboratories, insurance companies and nursing homes. Hours are usually day or evening, and may include weekends. After completing the Medical Receptionist Certificate program, a student becomes eligible to enroll in either of two Level II Academy of Health Professions certificate programs (Medical Secretary or Phlebotomy).

Graduates of the Medical Receptionist Certificate program are prepared to assume entry-level employment as receptionists in a variety of medical/health care settings, such as hospitals and clinics, or in group and individual physician offices. Upon satisfactory completion of this certificate, students will be eligible to move up the career ladder by taking additional college-level courses and meeting requirements for other certificates or associate degrees in a health career.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information:

In accordance with Federal regulations, Middlesex Community College discloses information about student costs, tuitions, fees and employment statistics to various governing bodies to ensure certification and oversight.

See: Gainful Employment Information

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Medical Receptionist Certificate program are prepared to:

Perform the responsibilities and duties of the medical receptionist in a variety of health care environments;
Demonstrate professional and ethical work habits as they apply to health care environments;
Navigate the Microsoft Windows environment and specific computer applications as required in a medical or dental office setting;
Exhibit proficiency in entering information into a computerized database system.

Required Courses

Total Credits: 18

Program Specifics:

All classes and labs are held on the Lowell Campus at MCC’s Health, Science & Technology Center, located on Middle Street.
Courses are offered in a variety of accelerated formats including days or evening and weekends. Please contact an admisions representative for detailed class times.
Students are responsible for the purchase of textbooks.
In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, the elderly, or other vulnerable populations, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.

Standard/Technical Skills Notice:

To view the list of standard and specific skills required to perform duties in the Academy of Health Professions, visit the Middlesex Community College website (www.middlesex.mass.edu/programs) or the Student Information Centers. These skills are not conditions for admission to MCC programs, but do indicate abilities and characteristics necessary for the successful completion of college Health programs, and to perform the duties of the career upon graduation.

Admission Information:

Current reading score of 56 on the college placement test. English Language Learners will also be required to have course completion through ELL 055 and ELL 075/085.

Requirements After Admission:

Students must submit the Student Health Record form, provided by Middlesex Community College, to the Center for Health & Wellness. Required documentation of health status includes a completed physical examination, a two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) skin test or blood test (T-Spot or Quantiferon Gold) for tuberculosis, a color deficiency test, proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella, and one lifetime dose of TDAP (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis - after 2006).
Students must achieve a grade of ”C” (73%) or better in each of the Academy of Health Professions (AHP) courses as well as Medical Terminology (for Nursing Assistant and Medical Reception) or Basic Anatomy & Physiology (for Medical Office Administration and Phlebotomy) to progress in the program.
Students enrolled in the Academy of Health Professions program must demonstrate a satisfactory level of performance in the clinical courses in order to progress in the program.