Medical Office Assistant / Unit Clerk / Medical Transcriptionist

Program Purpose

This program is a Designated Learning Program and eligible to receive foreign nationals on a study permit.

Medical Office Assistant/Unit Clerk/Medical Transcriptionist works with doctor’s offices, hospitals, medical or surgical clinics, pharmaceutical companies, government health agencies and a variety of other medical office settings.

They are integral members of the health care delivery team and perform many administrative and some basic clinical procedures.  The Medical Office Assistant/Unit Clerk/Medical Transcriptionist primary duties may require them to –

• collaborate with all members of the health care team;
• promote safety, work in a safe manner, practice universal precautions and maintain a clean working environment;
• schedule and confirm medical/surgical appointments, receive and communicate messages for doctors and patients;
• type medical records, reports, case history and correspondence from handwritten notes and machine dictation;
• interview patients to complete forms, documents and case histories;
• complete insurance and other job claim forms;
• initiate and maintain confidential medical files and records;
• prepare financial statements and handle billing procedures;
• plan and initiate procedural set up including those required for patient preparation and maintenance of supplies and equipment;
• assist with simple diagnostic procedures as required; and,
• perform other general office work as required.

Program Outline

Program Admission Criteria

• Grade 11 – English Language Arts, or
• IELTS – Level 6, or
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 95, and
• High school or Post-Secondary Transcripts with official translations if not in English.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Medical Office Assistant program can find employment in general/family practices, dental offices, medical specialists’ offices, clinics, chiropractor/physiotherapy / podiatrist practices, diagnostic imaging clinics, senior/nursing homes and various hospital department. Medical Office Assistants are an important part of the health care system delivering administrative and basic clinical services. Relevant positions include:

• Medical/Dental Receptionist
• Medical/Health Office Assistant
• Medical/Health Office Manager
• Dental Office Assistant
• Medical Transcriptionist
• Hospital Patient Registration Clerk
• Ward Clerk
• Medical Billing Clerk / Secretary
• Administrator in Government Health Agencies

Medical Office Assistants

According to the 2015 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in this occupational group earned on average $24.00 to $29.88 an hour. The overall average was $27.92 an hour.