South Texas College Division of Nursing/Allied Health Medical Assistant Technology Master Syllabus Fall 2011

Transcription

1 As of 08/01/2011 South Texas College Division of Nursing/Allied Health Medical Assistant Technology Master Syllabus Fall 2011 Chair s Information: 1. Name of Chair: Mrs. Abigail A. Rodriguez 5. Telephone #: (956) Office Location: NAHC Rm or (Secr.) 3. Address: aarod@southtexascollege.edu 6. FAX #: (956) Office Hours: M 3:30pm 5:30pm T & TH 1:00 5:00pm F 12:30-1:30pm Course Information: 1. Course Name: Administrative Procedures 2. Course #: MDCA Catalog Course Description: This is a course in medical office procedures including appointment scheduling, medical records creation and maintenance, interpersonal communications, financial processes, coding, billing, collecting, third party reimbursement, credit arrangements, and the use of a computer in the medical office. Prerequisite: Admission to program. 4. Departmental/Program Learning Outcomes: Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of administrative office skills including the use of office equipment, accurate phone techniques, billing and insurance. Demonstrates the ability to interpret objective data by correlating it with subjective and pathologic findings. Demonstrates the ability to document subjective and objective findings accurately in patient records. Demonstrates effective patient/assistant/physician communication skills by using both subjective and objective patient data collection. 5. Course Learning Outcomes: Students will demonstrate appointment scheduling. The student will create, document, and maintain patient medical records. The student will correlate coding, billing, and collecting procedures. Students will perform financial processes. Students will utilize computer software for basic office functions. Students will demonstrate interpersonal communication skills. 6. Departmental Course Requirements, Evaluation Methods, and Grading Criteria: A Unit Exams 30% B Daily Grade/Assignments 15% C Skills Lab 20% 66-74* D PBL Project (5%)+Learn Smart= 15% < 65* F Final Exam 20%

2 * Below required performance, will not be counted for graduation requirements. **Test dates are announced and your attendance is required. If you miss a test, you will receive a zero (0) for that particular test unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Emergency situations and prior notifications will be handled at the discretion of the Instructor. (See #11. Make-up Work for more information.) 7. Required Textbook & Resources: COMPREHENSIVE Medical Assisting, 3 rd Edition by Elizabeth A. Molle, Judy Kronenberger, Laura Southard Durham and Connie West-Stack Study Guide: COMPREHENSIVE Medical Assisting, 3 rd Edition by Elizabeth A. Molle, Judy Kronenberger, Laura Southard Durham and Connie West-Stack Learn Smart by McGraw-Hill as an additional learning resource must be purchased for this class and will provide module(s) for Medical Insurance, Medical Law & Ethics, Electrocardiography, MA Lab Procedures, Procedures in a Clinic Setting. A single purchase expires in 2 years as stated in the publishing company, McGraw-Hill s, website. To purchase a license you must log-on to Upon successfully purchasing a license you will need to sign into the course with a code that will be provided at the beginning of the semester. In accordance with copyright laws illegally copied texts are not allowed in the classroom. 8. SCANS Information: A. Departmental Foundation Skills: (for Academic & Technical Courses) Reading The student will need to read about and understand specific Writing procedures related to administrative functions in a medical Mathematics facility. Arithmetic The student will be quizzed on writing medical claims, Listening writing in appointment books, and personnel files. Speaking The student will also apply simple arithmetic skills of addition and subtraction for calculations in billing patients or for third party reimbursement. The student will need to listen and interpret medical administrative terms. The student will need to say medical administrative terms as well as medical terminology. B. Departmental Workplace Competencies: (for Technical Courses) Thinking Skills: Creative thinking, decision-making, The student will evaluate and apply sources of problem solving, seeing things in the information for administrative procedures and mind s eye. financial reimbursement. Personal Qualities: Responsibility, socialability, self-esteem, self-management, integrity/honesty. Resources: For continued success in the class, the student should be socially active in expressing ideas and responsible for turning in all assignments.

3 Time, money, materials and facilities, human resources. Interpersonal: Team member, teach new skills, serve clients/customers, exercise leadership. Information: Acquires, evaluates, organizes, maintains, interprets and communicates information. Uses computers to process information. Systems: Understand systems, monitors and corrects performance, improves and designs systems. Technology: Selects technology, applies technology to task, maintains and troubleshoots equipment. The student will learn to use available software in all areas of billing and reimbursement and maintain a system of employee files. The student will form groups to discuss different administrative practices and procedures, and identify different insurance programs. They will assist each other in this learning process. The student will understand and evaluate information in a medical facility from the front office to the billing department and personnel. They will express this in their weekly workbook assignments and orally in class. The student will understand the various systems and organizations, which operate within a medical facility. The student will use a computer to access Internet web sites, search engines, and on-line data bases in order to research topics pertaining to different office resources, insurance programs, practices and procedures. 9. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT and EXAMINATION ASSIGNMENT WEEKS Review MAT & NAH handbook 2-Visit website 3-View Delmar s Critical Thinking for MA s Communication Skills DVD 4-Visit the website on 15 things you shouldn t do posted on Blackboard 5-Lab: documentation exercise 6-Learn Smart Modules WEEKS Lab: role play phone calls/taking msgs 2-Student CD Case Study on Maintaining Medical Records 3-Lab: repeat role-playing/msg taking & give appt reminders 4-VIDEO The Art of Effective Communication 5-Case Study 2 on Student CD Managing a Daily grades EXAM I Chs. 1,3,4 Daily grades EXAM II Chs. 5 7 EXAMINATION WEEKS 1 3 WEEKS 4 6

4 Medical Office Emergency & Video Clip procedure 6-1 Giving an appt 6-Computer lab: ch 7 letter writing, folding, fax/memo lab procedure 7-Chs 5 7 student CD review questions 8-Learn Smart Modules WEEKS Lab: release of medical records 2- exercise 3-PBL Project: create a clinic, include MS, Organizational Chart, Hiring Process, Job Description, Procedure 10-1 (5% of Final Grade) 4-Chs 8 10 student CD review quests 5-Learn Smart Modules WEEKS Lab: W-4 forms, purchase orders & check writing 2-Lab: check writing and bank deposits 3-Learn Smart Modules WEEKS Vital Signs video 2-Lab: practice VS documentation & case studies documentation 3-Lab: ht/wt & temp 4-Student CD on VS & Pt Hx forms 5-VS HO questions 6-Lab: VS P, R & BP lab 7-PBL Project presentation 8-Learn Smart Modules WEEK 16 FINAL EXAM (Chs 4, 7, 8, 12, 19) WEEKS 7 9 Daily grades EXAM III Chs WEEKS Daily grades EXAM IV Chs. 11 & 12 WEEKS Daily grades EXAM V Chs. 18 & 19 WEEK 16 FINAL EXAM (Chs 4, 7, 8, 12, 19) 10. GENERAL DESCRIPTION of EACH LECTURE or DISCUSSION Ch. 1 lecture Medicine and Medical Assisting Ch. 3 lecture Communication Skills Learn how medicine has evolved through the years from an era of superstition and magical cures to an age of modern technology. We will explore the various dynamics of communication including patient communication and challenges to communicate with all patients. You will learn skills to effectively communicate.

5 Ch. 4 lecture Patient Education Ch. 5 lecture The First Contact: Telephone and Reception Ch. 6 lecture Managing Appointments Ch. 7 lecture Written Communications Ch. 8 lecture Health Information Management: Electronic and Manual Ch. 9 lecture Computer Applications in the Medical Office Ch. 10 lecture Management of the Medical Office Ch. 11 lecture Credit and Collections Ch. 12 lecture Accounting Responsibilities Ch. 18 lecture Medical History and Patient Assessment Various concepts of Patient Education will be covered including the MA s role in patient teaching. This chapter addresses the administrative duties of a MA beginning with the telephone and the reception area. Responsibility for scheduling and managing the flow of patient care in a medical office or clinic is one the most important duties assigned to a MA. This chapter discusses guidelines for composing letters, writing memoranda, and composing agendas and minutes with proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Health information management, whether maintained on paper or in electronic form, requires adherence to legal, moral, and ethical standards. Health information management, medical records maintenance, and HIPAA guidelines will be covered. This chapter will help you to improve existing computer skills, providing a basic review of computer components. You will learn how the Internet is used in health care settings. Various medical software applications will also be discussed. This chapter provides an overview of medical office management, a medical office manager s specific responsibilities, as well as a discussion of risk management and quality improvement. In this chapter you will learn the process of collecting fees. Whether fees are paid by the patient, an insurer, or a third party, proper collection is essential for the medical practice to succeed. This chapter will review bookkeeping and banking procedures employed by medical practices including maintaining both patient and office account records, petty cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Computer accounting systems and manual systems will be discussed. The chapter will cover the components of a standard medical history form, proper methods to obtain and document the information on the history form and how to

6 Ch. 19 lecture Anthropometric Measurements and Vital Signs interview the patients. In this chapter you will learn how to take anthropometric measurements, heights and weights, of patients. You will also learn how to take vital signs which include temperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure and how to properly document anthropometric and vital signs in the medical record. 11. MAKE UP WORK: NO make-up examinations will be given. Any missed exam will be recorded as a zero (0). NO make-up quizzes are allowed. If you miss a quiz, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for that particular quiz. Arrangements should be made to obtain handouts from classmates or the instructor. Arrangements for assignments or tests for any classes that will be missed must be made in advance and at the discretion of the course instructor with proper documentation of the anticipated absence. Documentation must be submitted to the course instructor regarding and justifying the absence. Health, medical excuses must be provided by a licensed and practicing United States physician; foreign documented excuses are not accepted. Bring all required books to each class session. Students will have 2 weeks to purchase/acquire their books. They will be responsible for obtaining their own books/chapter reviews as needed for the class session. Any student missing their books, after the deadline, will not be allowed in class and attendance will therefore be marked as Absent and subject to any zeros (0) for missed quizzes/work during class. Rationale: a student coming to class without the proper books is ill-prepared for the course study and cannot effectively contribute to the learning process. Bring all material (assignments, projects, etc.) to class on time. NO LATE WORK is accepted, NO EXCUSES NO EXCEPTIONS. Late work is defined as material turned in after the instructor has collected any assigned material. Mandatory remediation (to be determined by instructor as indicated on remediation form) is required when failing any exam. Remediation will be such as to improve the outcome of the following exam. Any student not complying with remediation WILL NOT be eligible to take the following exam. This will then be recorded as a zero (0) and is not entitled to any form of make-up. Rationale: a student who has not followed through with the proper remediation has not prepared themselves to take the following exam. Final Exam If a student misses the final exam for personal, health, or family reasons, it is the position of the MAT department that the student tend to their personal, health or family need. The consequences of missing a final exam will likely result in a failing grade. The instructor

7 has the option to grant a make-up exam if the student provides written documentation of their absence. The make-up exam will be administered in a different format than the originally scheduled final exam at a time set by the instructor. Documentation must be submitted to the course instructor regarding and justifying the absence. Health, medical excuses must be provided by a licensed and practicing United States physician; foreign documented excuses are not accepted. 12. ATTENDANCE: Attendance is defined as physically being in class and awake at all times. A student who falls asleep in class will be asked to leave and will be counted absent for that class period. This also applies to video sessions. Attendance is a must and will be recorded each class period within the first 10 minutes of class. It is your responsibility to drop the class if you wish to do so. Do not assume the instructor will do it for you. Potential employers use attendance and promptness as two indicators of dependability and employability. Total class attendance percentage will be part of the final program evaluation for job reference. Attending classes regularly and promptly is an important aspect of the MDCA Program s training. Irregular attendance and habitual tardiness is indicative of an attitudinal problem which might carry over to the job situation. The highly integrated structure of the curriculum requires regular and prompt attendance for successful achievement in the program. Absenteeism can also adversely affect the student who is on a financial aid grant. The college is required to maintain class attendance records in order to verify a student s attendance on a specific day or dates. Students who do not attend classes are not entitled to receive funds and may be asked to pay back funds received. Adherence to the following attendance policies is therefore important. A. Absence from class: Absence does not relieve the student from the responsibility for completing course work. The student is responsible for materials handed out in class and assignments made during class. Arrangements should be made for classmates to obtain handouts. Documentation must be submitted to the course instructor regarding and justifying the absence. B. Absence from exams: Students must take examinations at their scheduled time and date. NO MAKE-UP examinations will be given. NO make-up quizzes are allowed. If you miss an exam or a quiz, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for that particular exam/quiz. C. Accumulated Absence: After students have been absent from class for three sessions, they may be administratively dropped by the instructor for nonattendance, with an F or W (unexcused absences).

8 D. Tardiness: Tardiness is defined as arriving in class after the instructor has taken attendance. Attendance will be taken within the first ten minutes of class. If you are tardy more than ten (10) minutes or leave before the end of the class period or before being dismissed, you will be considered absent; two tardies will constitute one absence. Absences are reserved for extreme emergencies, personal illness, or health conditions which put the students, faculty, classmates, and clients at risk. Therefore, please make ALL appointments with doctors, attorneys, STC counselors, etc. outside of class time. Excessive absences place the students at risk for not meeting course/program objectives. Absences that exceed the maximum number, allowed by semester, will be evaluated by the program faculty. Each class absence can result in multiple zeros as more than one grade is awarded during each class period. Missing one day = or more zeros. There is no such 15 minute rule! If the instructor is running late, do not assume that you can leave. Please check to see that the instructor is OK; check with another faculty member and with the faculty secretary for any instructions on the class before assuming you can leave. Any student leaving before being dismissed will be counted absent. Any material missed by the student for leaving before dismissal will be recorded as a BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES: BE SURE TO BE IN CLASS ON TIME. No pagers or cell phones are allowed in class. First offense will be handled with a written warning, second offense requires a referral to Mike Shannon, Director for Student Life. The student will be dismissed from class and not allowed re-entry until they are seen by Mr. Shannon (this is not an excused absence). Any missed material will be recorded as a 0. Please refer to the secretary s phone numbers to give your family members in the event of an emergency ( , -3116, -3070, -3120). Please remember what life was like before cell phones, we got along without them. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT in the classroom is expected at all times. No foul language, lewd behavior or material will be tolerated. Each student will adhere to all STC policies. Rationale: pagers, and cell phones are disruptive to the learning process thus having a negative effect within the classroom. 14. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY Actions involving scholastic dishonesty violate the professional code of ethics and are disruptive to the academic environment. Students found guilty of scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action that may include dismissal from the program. Scholastic dishonesty encompasses, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and any act designed to give an unfair academic advantage to the student. Examples of scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: CHEATING includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student s work; using materials not authorized by a testing proctor; possessing materials that are not authorized by a testing proctor, such as lessons, books, or notes; knowingly using or soliciting, in whole or part, the contents of an unadministered test; collaborating with or seeking aid

9 from another student without authorization during the test; substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself, in taking a course test or completing any course-related assignment; using buying, stealing, or transporting some or all of the contents of an unadministered test, test rubric, homework answer sheets, or computer program; using, buying, stealing, transporting, or soliciting a test, test facsimile, answer key, or other written works. PLAGIARISM: includes, but is not limited to, the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means someone else s work and then submitting that work for credit as if it were one s own without appropriate acknowledgment to the author. COLLUSION: unauthorized collaboration with another person in the preparation of an academic assignment offered for credit. A student will be given due process following the Administration of Student Discipline procedure in the STC Student Handbook. The Instructor involved or Program Chair will initiate the process, both verbally and in writing with the student. A student dismissed for scholastic dishonesty is not eligible for readmission to the STC NAH Programs. 15. DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES POLICY STATEMENT: The College s Developmental Education Plan requires students who have not met the college-level placement standard on an approved assessment instrument in reading, writing, and/or mathematics to enroll in Developmental Studies courses including College Success. Failure to attend these required classes may result in the student's withdrawal from ALL college courses. 16. ADA STUDENTS WITH DISABLILITIES STATEMENT: Individuals with disabilities requiring assistance or access to receive services should contact disability Support Services at ( 956 ) COMMUNICATION: STC has a mass notification system that can quickly notify all faculty, staff and students via voice, , and text messaging in case of an emergency. Please support our communication efforts by enrolling in the emergency notification database at You will be able to enter multiple communication methods such as addresses (work, personal), phone numbers (home, work, cell) and opt in to receive text messages. At any time you will be able to go to the above website and add, delete or modify the contact information you have entered. You will be able to enter what you determine to be the best methods to reach you in the event of an emergency. This information will only be used to contact you in case of an emergency notification. Use of is being implemented as the official communication tool for Nursing/Allied Health students. Please check college (JagMail or personal ) and Blackboard mail daily or at least several times/week for important announcements or requests from the Dean, Program Chair or course instructor. For example, reminders and alerts that immunization, TB or CPR updates are needed will be sent to students as required by state

10 regulation. Failure to respond or comply with request will affect continued attendance in clinical until completed. The MAT department has purchased a communication bulletin board posted in the 2 nd floor East building faculty hallway. Please check this bulletin board frequently for upcoming events and information. DO NOT REMOVE any items on the board. Please obtain program permission to post any items onto the board. Any posted announcements without program approval will be promptly removed and discarded. When attempting to reach MAT Faculty please call their office phone directly. If there is no answer the instructor is likely in class or attending other program/college matters. Do not assume the instructor is unavailable to assist you, utilize all methods of communication before making this assumption. Students can leave a voice mail (speak slowly and clearly), leave a message with the secretary , or send an SAFETY PROCEDURES/EVACUATION DRILLS: In an orderly fashion, proceed to the nearest Exit and gather at the basketball courts next to the North parking lot. Refrain from using cell phones as they serve as detonators of explosive items. DO NOT get in your vehicle and leave as this poses a hazard to other students gathering and is obstructive to emergency vehicles entering the facility. Fire drills do not relieve you from attending class, any student failing to return to class will be counted absent and receive a 0 for any missed work. For safety and liability issues children are not allowed in the classroom. 19. STUDENT HANDBOOK: Students will be required to read and adhere to the Nursing and Allied Health Division s Student Handbook which can be found at the following website: The student will also be required to read and adhere to the guidelines found within the Medical Assistant Technology Student Handbook and will be required to sign Form A Receipt of Division/Program Standards Handbook Verification of Notification and Form B Honor contract and will be kept in the student s file. Thank you for your part in keeping an orderly classroom. Statement of Equal Opportunity: No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by South Texas College on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability.