An entry-level job in health care that doesn't take years of college.
In four courses, the Patient Access Associate Certificate prepares students for the frontline of healthcare services for patients entering a clinic or hospital.
Program location
Skills you'll learn
- Customer service
- Medical terminology
- Registration and scheduling
- Revenue cycle
- Electronic health records
- HIPAA and standards of care
Key classes you'll take
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Human Relations
- Patient Access to Healthcare
Last-Dollar Scholarship
If you're an Iowan, you may be eligible to earn this degree tuition-free.
Where this program can take you
- Patient Access Associate
- Medical Office Assistant
Contact Us
West Burlington Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 208-5155
Text: (319) 250-7144
Email: admissionswb@scciowa.edu
Keokuk Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 313-1923
Text: (319) 220-3266
Email: admissionskeo@scciowa.edu
The Patient Access Associate program prepares students for the front line of healthcare services for patients entering a hospital or clinic. Students will learn customer service skills, medical terminology, registration and scheduling skills, specifics of revenue cycle, and use of electronic health records, HIPAA training and other standards of care, and different types of insurance offerings. The Patient Access Associate will assist patients to effectively navigate health appointments with providers or services. Upon successful completion of the four courses contained in the program the student will earn the Patient Access Associate Certificate.
Pre-requisite; BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
Summary Sheet
The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.
Curriculum Sequence
| Fall Semester I | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| HSC-114 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| MAP-401 | Medical Law and Ethics | 1 |
| MAP-431 | Human Relations | 1 |
| CPC-170 | Patient Access to Healthcare | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 7 |
HSC-114 - Medical Terminology
|
Lecture: 2 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 3 |
This course is designed to study the basic language related to medical science with emphasis on word analysis, construction, definitions, pronunciations, spelling and standard abbreviations.
MAP-401 - Medical Law and Ethics
|
Lecture: 1 |
Credit: 1 |
This course is designed to familiarize the student with legal concepts of standard of care, scope of employment, criminal and civil acts, contracts, negligence and ethical concepts.
MAP-431 - Human Relations
|
Lecture: 1 |
Credit: 1 |
This course includes fundamental principles related to human relations. Basic psychological and developmental theorists, factors that influence behavior, professional attitudes and behavior, self-improvement, and communication in the health care setting are emphasized.
CPC-170 - Patient Access to Healthcare
|
Lecture: 32 |
Credit: 2 |
This course prepares the student for the front line of healthcare services for patients entering a hospital or clinic. This course places an emphasis on customer service skills, patient registration, patient scheduling, the fundamentals of the revenue cycle, billing and reimbursement, HIPAA and practical experience and understanding of electronic health records. Corequisites: HSC-114, MAP-401 and MAP-431.
Megan Massner - Instructor - Medical Assistant
Email: mmassner@scciowa.edu
Diploma, Southeastern Community College
Anne Abel - Instructor - Medical Coding & Billing
Email: aabel@scciowa.edu
CPC Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders
CPC-I Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders
Debra Shaffer - Instructor - Medical Assistant/Program Coordinator
Email: dshaffer@scciowa.edu
AAS, Mount St. Clare College
ADN, Southeastern Community College