OVERVIEW

Program Overview

George Brown College's Office Administration – Health Services (S135) program will help you develop the specialized skills you need to work in a variety of health-care settings. These include relevant technological skills like computer applications and specialized software, medical terminology, clinical and office procedures, effective oral and written communication skills and soft skills such as interpersonal skills, teamwork and customer service.

FULL DESCRIPTION

George Brown College's Office Administration – Health Services two-year diploma program will prepare you to work effectively and efficiently in a health-care office environment. These often dynamic settings can require a broad range of skills, including both technical and soft or "people" skills.

Some of the practical and technical skills you'll learn in the Office Administration - Health Services program include:

• computer applications and software
• medical terminology and anatomy
• transcription
• administrative and clinical office procedures
• billing for medical office settings
• health-care law

We'll also prepare you to communicate effectively in a medical office environment by teaching you best practices with respect to:

• active listening
• effective writing for business communication
• oral communication skills

Your Field Education Options

Field experience in this Office Administration – Health Services program plays an important role in preparing you for the real work ahead.

In semester 4, you will be on placement one day per week until the final two weeks of the program, during which time you will have an intensive two-week placement period (five days per week).

While off-site, you will observe, shadow and practise the various technical and time-management skills required to successfully manage the day-to-day tasks that are applicable to the environment you are in. These tasks may include: 

• patient registration
• appointment scheduling
• reception duties
• mail, forms and records management
• working with applicable software and hardware

You may also be involved in projects that require adherence to confidentiality and privacy laws. Projects like these typically draw upon soft skills like critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

To successfully complete the field placement component of this Office Administration – Health Services program, you will be required to demonstrate work-readiness behaviour through exemplary attendance and punctuality as well as professional conduct and attire.

Office Administration – Health Services placement sites vary broadly and can include:

• community and teaching hospitals
• urgent care, long-term care facilities
• clinics and diagnostic facilities
• family practice, medical and surgical specialities
• physiotherapy sports medicine specialists
• chiropractors 
• midwifery

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate demonstrates the ability to:

1. Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
2. Manage the scheduling, coordination and organization of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
3. Coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.
4. Operate and provide support to others related to the use of office equipment and technologies.
5. Evaluate, establish and administer health records management systems to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organized electronic and paper records.
6. Produce financial and client billing records for health services by compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
7. Produce health documents and reports using available technologies and applying industry standards.
8. Use interpersonal and client service skills to respond to the diverse needs of clients, their family members and the health care team.
9. Identify and use non-invasive clinical tasks to support effective and efficient health service operations.