Patient Financial Services 

Hospitals and other medical facilities such as doctor’s offices and clinics, rely not only on direct care providers to deliver excellent patient care but also on trained professional staff to keep their business operations running smoothly. These staff members may be required to admit patients accurately and quickly while exercising an exceptional level of customer service; they may need to apply medical codes to procedures performed in order to be properly reimbursed or they may be responsible for providing clerical and billing support to a small office while managing the patient schedule and addressing patient concerns.

Whether the staff member is expected to carry out only a few of these functions or all of them, the facility is dependent upon them to always make a positive impression on the patients and to perform their job duties accurately in order to maintain accurate medical records, bill appropriately and stay in compliance with many state and federal regulations. Because these positions are evolving and more responsibility lies with this department, professional certification is becoming more desirable than ever before.

There are 3 different fast-track programs in this area, each of them is designed to prepare students for a national certification in their respective field.

• If you wish to seek employment in a hospital, admitting and registering patients or addressing customer service needs, the Patient Access Specialist program will prepare you for the Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) exam offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).
• If working in a fast-paced medical office performing clerical functions with a medical focus is your goal, the Medical Front Office Specialist program will prepare you for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
• Finally, if you desire a position that will make use of your skills in accuracy and detail, a career in medical coding may be for you, the Professional Medical Coding program will prepare you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC).