How to Become a Medical Billing Specialist

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The overwhelming majority of medical services in the United States are covered by insurers, so managing the claims process is a must for hospitals, clinics and private practices to maintain a positive cash flow. As the healthcare industry expands, medical billing specialists are growing in demand. Here’s how to be a part of this exciting, up-and-coming field.

How Do You Become a Medical Billing Specialist?

Medical billing can be too complex for on-the-job training, there’s so much to learn. But the good news is you don’t need an expensive college degree to become a medical billing specialist. A vocation school diploma program prepares you for an entry-level position in months, not years. You’ll be out of the classroom and earning a paycheck in no time.

What Do You Learn in a Medical Billing Specialist Program?

Vocational school medical billing programs are designed for beginners. You don’t need a background in healthcare. Seasoned instructors will show you the ropes, covering topics including:

Medical Terminology

As a medical billing specialist, you’ll review medical records, including diagnostic and operative reports, for important details about patients’ conditions and treatments, a basic understanding of healthcare jargon is vital. A medical terminology course teaches you to break down complicated words into their primary parts, so you can decipher what they mean without memorizing volumes of definitions. You’ll learn about prefixes, suffixes, root words and how they’re combined to form meaningful medical terms.

Health Information Technology

Most of today’s medical records are stored and accessed electronically. Vocational medical billing programs cover the basics of health information technology from hardware to software.

You’ll learn how data is digitized, shared and used for billing purposes, including audits and fraud detection. Recordkeeping systems and insurer interfaces are covered as well as practice management programs.

Billing Procedures

Healthcare reimbursement models are different from any other business, for most students, it’s a whole new world. Billing procedures encompass a wide range of financial activities in a medical office, from revenue cycle management to how healthcare services are valued. Students in a medical billing program get a big picture view of healthcare finance, so they understand where they fit in, and why what they do matters.

Revenue cycle management is how healthcare facilities track insurance claims, reimbursements and collections. It tracks every patient encounter from the time services are rendered until the final account balance is paid. Programs cover the medical billing specialist’s role in managing the revenue cycle, from how insurance claims are submitted to how cash payments are posted.

Students also learn about the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), how insurers determine how much they’ll pay for services versus actual market rates. Courses cover the different types of private, commercial and state-sponsored insurance policies plus programs that protect the poor and injured workers. You’ll also learn more about the legal and ethical considerations of billing, from patient privacy rights to collection rules.

Medical Coding Systems

Medical codes are a type of shorthand describing symptoms, conditions, procedures, and medical equipment. They condense the volume of information required for billing, reducing what was once multi-page submissions into much shorter forms. There are three major coding systems, including:

ICD-10 – the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, assigns alphanumeric codes to every known symptom, disorder or cause of death. Codes are used for billing and by public health officials to track community health data. Codes are regularly updated.

CPT– Common Procedural Codes, are five-digit numbers given to medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures. Developed by the American Medical Association, they’re used for billing purposes and by healthcare watchdog organizations to gather treatment outcome data.

HCPCS – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, is a two-part system including CPT codes and Level II codes for ancillary medical services and products such as ambulance services and novel drugs. Developed for the federal government, it’s updated every six months.

Each coding system has a distinct purpose and is used in different settings. Students in a medical billing specialist program learn how to use them for inpatient, outpatient and clinical coding.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School?

Vocational schools offer timely, affordable training in relevant fields. Benefits include:

Focused Training Programs

Colleges offer degrees in medical billing and coding, but you’ll have to spend two to four years in school and spend money on elective courses that add to your educational experience but not your qualifications. If you can’t afford to be out of the job market for long and need a good job fast, vocational school training is the quickest way to get it. Why put your educational aspirations on the back burner?

Small Class Sizes

At a big university, you’re just a number. Cavernous lecture halls offer little chance for meaningful interaction with teachers and fellow students. Most students find the small classes at vocational schools more relaxing and personal. Instructors can individualize their teaching plans to make the most of students’ strengths, no one feels lost or gets left behind.

Hands-on Learning

Everyone has a unique learning style. Some students absorb information better by reading it, others need a more hands-on approach. Vocational school medical billing programs emphasize practical skills, so you’ll have the chance to complete projects using the same medical records software and industry forms you’ll use on the job.

Industry-Experienced Instructors

Learning from instructors experienced in the healthcare field is an advantage. They not only teach the required material, but also how to apply it in the most practical sense. Having been there, they know the nuances of the field and can offer tips and tricks to help you get ahead. Impress them, and you might even get a job reference.

You’ll Learn More Than Medical Billing

Education is more than book learning; it’s about developing interpersonal skills that boost your expertise. As a vocational school student, you’ll not only learn the practical skills needed for success in the workplace, but you’ll also discover how to be a better team player through interactions with instructors, peers and future colleagues. You’ll feel more confident about your abilities and how to fit in with coworkers on your first job.

Diplomas Demonstrate Commitment

Medical billing positions attract applicants from new graduates to veteran specialists. You’ll compete with far more experienced candidates for the same positions, so it’s critical to have something to offer. A diploma shows you take training seriously and want to grow in the profession. It demonstrates commitment, something every employer values.

You’ll Be Prepared to Grow Professionally

Graduating from a diploma program is the first step in a career with significant advancement potential. Graduates are prepared for industry certification from accredited organizations based on their career goals, such as the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and the American Health Management Association (AHIMA). Certification isn’t required to work as a medical billing and coding specialist, but it makes job applicants more attractive to prospective employers.

Final Thoughts

Medical billers are the foundation of the healthcare industry. Their work supports reimbursement, improves public health surveillance and enhances the data gathering that improves the quality of patient care. Their role is non-clinical, but they save lives. With demand rising for qualified medical billing and coding specialists, there’s no better time to consider a career in this secure and rewarding field.

Want to Learn More?

Now that you know how to become a medical billing specialist, interested in learning more? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

 

How Do You Prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam?

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Nursing is one of the few careers where the most important exam you take comes after graduation. For Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), passing the NCLEX-PN is the key to licensure. Let’s take a closer at the test and how to prepare for it.

What Is the NCLEX-PN?

NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination, it’s a test given to graduate nurses to evaluate their knowledge. The letter “PN”denotes it’s for practical nurses. The NCLEX-RN is a similar exam for registered nurses.

Tests are produced by the non-profit National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). They’re updated annually with the input of nurses in the field to ensure questions are fair and reflect current nursing standards.

Who Can Take the NCLEX-PN?

Eligibility for the NCLEX-PN exam is determined in part by each state’s board of nursing, but most have similar criteria. Applicants must:

  • Be 18 or older
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Be a graduate of an accredited nursing program

What’s on the Test?

The NCLEX-PN is a computerized exam that evaluates your knowledge in four primary categories and eight subcategories. The purpose is to test your ability to make sound judgments in average nursing situations. Everything nurses need to know is covered in their vocational school training program.

Most questions are multiple-choice, but some have more than one correct answer. Others want the candidate to choose the best of several right answers. Demonstrations of practical skills are not part of the exam. The four primary categories are:

Category #1: Safe and Effective Care Environment

Questions in this category make up roughly 25 percent of the test. Divided into two groups, they assess a nurse’s ability to provide safe, meaningful care. Topics include:

  • Advanced directives
  • Patient advocacy
  • Confidentiality
  • Patient rights
  • Resource management
  • Continuity of care
  • Principles of supervision
  • Task prioritization
  • Legal and ethical responsibility
  • Informed consent
  • Quality assurance
  • Referrals
  • Error prevention
  • Emergency response plans
  • Equipment safety
  • Medical asepsis
  • Infection control
  • Safety devices

Category #2: Health Promotion and Maintenance

Questions in this category account for up to 12 percent of the test and evaluate the candidate’s understanding of:

  • Data Collection
  • Aging
  • Human development
  • Lifestyle choices
  • Disease prevention
  • Immunizations
  • Self-care
  • High-risk behaviors
  • Health promotion strategies

Category #3: Psychosocial Integrity

Questions about psychosocial integrity make up 9-15 percent of questions and test candidate’s knowledge of:

  • Mental health disorders
  • Spiritual needs
  • Stress management
  • Family support systems
  • Therapeutic communication
  • Substance dependency
  • Grief and loss
  • Coping
  • Crisis intervention
  • End of life care

Category #4: Physiological Integrity

Questions related to body integrity are divided into four groups covering up to 50-percent of the exam. Concepts include:

Basic Care and Comfort

  • Comfort interventions
  • Mobility
  • Assistive devices
  • Nutrition
  • Hydration
  • Hygiene
  • Elimination
  • Sleep

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapy

  • Medication Administration
  • Therapeutic effects
  • Adverse Effects
  • Pharmacological Pain Management

Risk Reduction Potential

  • Diagnostic testing
  • Laboratory values
  • Vital signs
  • Medical treatments
  • Therapeutic procedures

Physiological Adaptation

  • Psychopathology
  • Body system disorders
  • Fluid and electrolyte imbalances
  • Medical emergencies

Is the NCLEX-PN Exam Challenging?

The NCLEX-PN is a unique exam. It utilizes Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) test. Unlike other testing methods, CAT works by assigning questions a progressive difficulty level. It begins with questions graduates should have a 50-50 chance of answering correctly. If you’re right, the next question is harder. If you’re wrong, it’s easier. The process continues until the computer comes to a pass/fail decision.

Answering difficult questions correctly means the test is shorter, you may get as few as 85. Candidates close to the passing standard are asked more questions until the algorithm is satisfied the nurse is qualified. If the test isn’t completed in the allotted five hours, the computer estimates competency based on the last sixty questions, candidates fail if any are answered incorrectly.

Preparing For the NCLEX-PN

The best way to pass the NCLEX-PN exam on your first try is to be well-prepared. Nursing programs “teach to the test,”but there are other things you can do to improve your odds.

Work

The good news for graduate nurses is that most states allow them to work under supervision for a certain period of time while waiting to take the exam. It’s not a replacement for studying, but the weeks between graduation and test day are an opportune time to get valuable experience. Most nurses gain more practical knowledge in two weeks on the floor than in two months in school. If you don’t have a job yet, volunteer.

It’s also a good time to talk to recent NCLEX-PN takers about their experience with the test. Getting a few hints and tips from those who’ve been there and survived gives you an edge by reducing stress.

Study

Instructors suggest devoting as many post-graduation hours as possible to studying. With classes complete, you can focus with fewer interruptions.

Every applicant has strengths and weaknesses, so it makes sense to spend more time reviewing shaky areas. Remember that the NCLEX-PN evaluates a nurse’s judgment ability, so don’t just memorize facts. Get together with a peer group and consider a range of care scenarios, asking yourself how you might approach each differently.

For example, high blood pressure impacts people in different ways, so nursing interventions vary significantly for labor and delivery patients versus older adults. The NCLEX-PN covers all age groups, so consider your course material in context of each.

NCLEX-PN Test Taking Tips

The NCLEX-PN is stressful. Your career depends on passing it, so give yourself every advantage with these tips.

Think About Nursing Priorities

Difficult questions on a topic you’re not familiar with can cause tunnel vision. NCELX-PN creators know that as nurses, you’ll encounter many situations you never covered in school, and they want to evaluate how you would perform. Can you make safe judgments based on the available facts?

A nurse’s most important responsibility on the job is to identify and prioritize needs. That means that if a patient is choking on food in a flame-filled room, the priority is to get them away from the fire, so they’ll live long enough for you to administer the Heimlich maneuver.

Considering priorities is the most effective way to handle multiple choice questions with what appear to be several right answers. In the above example, clearing the throat obstruction and removing the patient from a dangerous situation are both right answers, but one is more of a priority than the other.

A second trick is to remember your ABCs, airway, breathing, circulation. Approaching needs in that order virtually guarantees a correct answer.

Watch the Time

You have five hours to complete the NCLEX-PN. That gives you less than two minutes per question if you have to answer the maximum. Most candidates don’t, so you shouldn’t rush, there’s no bonus for finishing early. Read questions carefully for red herrings but monitor your pace so you don’t run out of time. You’ll get two breaks during the test at 2 and 3.5 hours.

Eliminate Wrong Answers

Think of responses to ‘select all that apply”questions as true or false. It’s unlikely that they will all be true, so evaluate each potential answer independently. If it’s clearly false, cross it off the list. Eliminating false answers is the quickest way to narrow down the right choices.

 Rest

The brain works in mysterious ways. If you’ve ever woken up in the morning with a solution to a problem you “slept on”overnight, then you understand how your mind needs time to process information.

Stop studying by noon the day before the exam. Give yourself some time off to decompress and treat yourself to some much-deserved time off. Skip the caffeine before bedtime and try to relax. You’ll sleep better and be more refreshed in the morning.

Prepare Logistically

Test day isn’t the time to lose your car keys. Avoid logistical emergencies by preparing for test day the afternoon before. Know where the test center is and plan to leave 30 minutes early in case of traffic delays. You’ll be turned away if you arrive more than 30 minutes late, and test fees are non-refundable.

Have all required documentation ready, including a photo ID. Don’t bother with supplies. Outside materials aren’t allowed in the test center. Candidates are given writing materials and can access the computer’s calculator.

Think Positively

The importance of passing the NCLEX-PN is tough to understate, but once you’ve prepared, there’s nothing left to do. Take a deep breath, worrying only creates stress. Once you’re prepared, trust yourself, if you graduated from nursing school, you have what it takes to pass. Walk into the test center with confidence. You’ve got this.

After the NCLEX-PN

When the algorithm is satisfied you’ve answered enough questions for a fair evaluation, the screen turns off, you won’t know if you passed or failed. The first-time pass rate averages 85-percent. Preliminary results are usually posted within 48 hours, but these are unofficial. Candidates are officially notified by their state board of nursing within six weeks.

If you fail the test, you’ll be disappointed. But more than one amazing nurse didn’t pass the first time. Depending on your state, the NCLEX-PN can be retaken every 45 – 90 days with no limit on the number of attempts. Applicants who fail get a summary of their performance to help them study. Consider it a learning experience that will better prepare you for the next opportunity.

Final Thoughts

From your first day in nursing school to your last, everything you do is in preparation for the NCLEX-PN exam. Graduating is the first step to a rewarding new career, passing the NCLEX-PN exam is the icing on the cake.

Do you still need to complete your practical nursing diploma before taking the NCLEX-PN exam? The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as an LPN.  Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an entry-level nursing position. 

After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, nursing students will further their career to become a licensed practical nurse. There is an overall need for LPNs in response to the aging baby boomer population.

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN at Gwinnett Institute.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Atlanta

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The need for medical assistants is growing nationwide, but demand is rising exponentially in southern states where seniors are flocking to warmer weather. If you live in Atlanta and are considering a job in the healthcare field, it’s a rare opportunity. Let’s take a closer look at how to become a medical assistant, and why it’s such a popular career.

Why Do People Become Medical Assistants?

The healthcare field offers dozens of exciting opportunities. With so many to choose from, why do people become medical assistants?

It’s Fulfilling

Jobs pay the bills, but careers make you feel good inside. Whether it’s guiding the community through a pandemic or helping vulnerable people in need, medical assistants make a difference by helping patients navigate complex health issues.

If you like to work with people, a career in healthcare is an obvious choice. As the liaison for the healthcare team, medical assistants get to know each client personally, forming close therapeutic relationships as they serve them through the years.

As patient educators, medical assistants work one-on-one with patients, helping them cope with new diagnoses and promoting preventive care. It’s rewarding in ways only a people-centered career can be.

There’s Never a Dull Moment

Careers in healthcare are fast paced. Experts in both clinical and clerical procedures, medical assistants have such a broad range of responsibilities that the work never gets old. One day, you might work in the front office triaging phone calls. The next, you’ll be in the lab drawing blood. Some shifts, you’ll be a jack-of-all-trades, doing everything from assisting with minor surgery to giving immunizations.

Medicine continually evolves, and there’s always something new to learn. You’ll be among the first to learn about the latest medical advancements, spreading the word about new treatments and services.

If you like to stay busy and intellectually engaged, being a part of a cutting-edge field may be just what the doctor ordered. Workdays are structured and predictable enough to plan around, yet they’re rarely the same twice.

Medicine Is a Team Sport

Workers in some industries feel like small fish in big ponds. But medical assistants are essential members of the healthcare team. As the first point of contact for patients, they’re empowered to use their skills, supervised but never second-guessed.

They have plenty of support from both peers and professionals, and their opinions and contributions are valued. Few careers that require so little time in school are this impactful.

It’s a Flexible Job in More Ways Than One

Careers in all industries have benefits, but flexibility isn’t always one of them. Family-friendly schedules, for example, are tough to find. Most medical assistants work Monday through Friday with evenings and weekends off. It’s the work-life balance parents crave, and it makes any job more manageable when you have other responsibilities. Medical assistants report high levels of job satisfaction.

Medical assisting also offers a flexible choice of work settings. There are dozens to choose from. Most medical assistants work in doctor’s offices, but roles are expanding in hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies.

Clinically focused medical assistants with a passion for a specialty aren’t limited to working for one type of practice. Physicians from pediatricians and geriatricians to cardiologists and women’s health specialists all hire medical assistants. You can work where it matters most to you, knowing you have the option to try something different if you need a challenge.

It’s a Respected Career

Medical assisting isn’t a new profession. Recognized since 1955, it’s supported by an independent professional organization. The American Association of Medical Assistants has worked hard to earn credibility for medical assistants creating education standards and backing efforts to boost wages. Both patients and clinicians appreciate what medical assistants do and with that comes respect.

How To Become a Medical Assistant in Atlanta

Few adults can afford to spend two-, four- or even six years in college to train for a new career. Whether you’re fresh out of high school or looking for a change, a vocational school medical assisting program can be completed in months, attending full-time. Students graduate work-ready, it’s a short pathway to a brighter future and a steady paycheck.

Atlanta has a large community of healthcare providers, from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Northside Hospital, Soliant Health, and Select Specialty Hospitals to name a few. From physician’s offices to specialist, hospitals, clinics, long-term care and assisted living, medical assistants are in demand in Atlanta and the healthcare community is always looking for newly trained medical assistants to join their teams.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Medical Assisting Program?

While a license isn’t required to be a medical assistant in Georgia, if you live in Atlanta, a diploma offers many benefits worth exploring.

Benefit #1: It’s Comprehensive Education

A medical assistant with a vocational school diploma qualifies for the same jobs as an applicant with an associate’s degree. But how can vocational schools turn out quality candidates in half the time?

Vocational schools in the Atlanta area teach students the same skills as colleges but in less time using a focused curriculum. Training is a combination of classroom and hands-on instruction. Students learn the practical skills they need from seasoned instructors without spending time or money on elective courses that don’t contribute to their job qualifications. It’s a comprehensive, high-quality education.

Benefit #2: It Makes You a More Competitive Job Applicant

Employers are responsible for the actions of their staff, so they want highly trained applicants they can depend on to practice safely and give their patients the quality care they deserve. Practically speaking, higher education is expected.

Optional certification requires a diploma, and only certified medical assistants can do certain tasks, such as entering doctor’s orders into patient’s records. Vocational schools prepare graduates for certification, so employers have everything to gain and nothing to lose by hiring only the best-trained personnel.

Candidates with diplomas need less on-the-job training, costing practices less, and in some cases, it can also lower their insurance costs. As the price of doing business goes up, employers are incentivized to save money where they can, beginning with staff.

Benefit #3: You’ll Enjoy Faster Professional Growth

No one wants to feel like they’re spinning their wheels, a job with no possibility of promotion is frustrating. In some industries, experience matters more than a diploma, but in healthcare, you’ll need both to advance.

Medical assistants with diplomas have a wide range of skills they can build on, growing into specialized or supervisory positions. Staff with less education tend to linger on the lower rungs of the career ladder.

A diploma can also be a stepping-stone to even higher education. After a few years on the job, some medical assistants develop an aptitude for certain types of tasks. Someone with talent in the lab or billing may opt to build on their education to become nurses, laboratory technicians or office managers.

Benefit #4: It Comes with Lifetime Career Services

Vocational colleges in Atlanta partner with local healthcare offices to understand their needs, tailoring their curriculum to teach the most sought-after skills. Hospitals and private practices, in turn, call vocational schools when they need qualified job applicants, knowing they’re well-trained and ready to hit the ground running. It’s a win-win for both employers who need skilled staff and graduates who want to find their dream jobs.

Successfully placing graduates in rewarding roles is a vocational school’s mission. Career counselors evaluate students’ strengths and weaknesses and help them find jobs that are a perfect fit. Finding your first position in a new field is challenging as a new graduate, but vocational colleges are on your side, in many cases, offering lifetime placement assistance.

Are Medical Assistants in Demand?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for medical assistants is skyrocketing. Growth is expected grow by 19 percent in the coming decade. Why? Millions of baby boomers are nearing retirement, and as they do, they will need many more preventive health services. Also, technology is enabling seniors to live longer, healthier lives through early intervention.

The need for more qualified healthcare workers is industry wide. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are in demand, but schools are struggling to keep pace. Medical assistants help ease the burden of too few providers by supporting clinical staff.

This level of job security is one of the many reasons people choose to become a medical assistant. As more jobs become obsolete, replaced by technology, few industries can promise that type of growth.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about a new career in the healthcare field, you have choices to make. Atlanta is a great place to learn and work as a medical assistant. There’s no reason to put your education aspirations on the back burner, vocational schools offer high-quality education at an affordable price with flexible scheduling options to fit any lifestyle.

Did learning about how to become a medical assistant interest you? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

 

The Importance of Communication in Medical Assisting

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Complex therapeutic relationships thrive on a delicate balance of listening, understanding, and educating. Patients are individuals with different needs and learning styles, making good communication is a medical assistant’s most important skill.

What Is Good Communication?

Communication is how we exchange ideas, but what makes it effective is difficult to define. The general rules are simple, yet there is no universal approach, especially in medicine. As a medical assistant, you’ll work with physically and emotionally vulnerable people from diverse backgrounds, each with a unique perspective.

Communication comes in two forms, verbal and non-verbal. Verbal communication is the use of language to express ideas. Non-verbal communication, or body language, consists of the signals we send through our posture, facial expressions, and gestures. We say more with our bodies than our mouths. The exchange of ideas is a two-way street, so whether a medical assistant is speaking or listening, both matter.

Let’s take a closer look at how medical assistants can communicate best with patients by examining the techniques taught in a vocational school program, beginning with active listening.

The Role of Active Listening

Listening is arguably the hardest part of communicating. We process less than half of what we hear, recalling even less. So, when a patient approaches a medical assistant with a laundry list of symptoms, it’s essential to prioritize them.

A barrage of complaints reflects patients’ limited understanding of health issues and a desire to communicate as many details as possible about what they’re experiencing, but it makes getting to the bottom of their concerns a challenge. The first step is always to listen.

Active listening is a therapeutic technique that approaches communication holistically, examining what patients say in the context of non-verbal cues by:

Connecting

The most important part of therapeutic communication is a personal connection. If patients believe you’re not interested, they’ll tune out.

Begin with a friendly introduction, making eye contact to let them know they’re the focus of your attention. It inspires their confidence, encouraging them to speak freely. No one wants to share intimate details about their lives with someone they don’t believe is listening.

Concentrating

Healthcare is fast paced, it’s easy for a medical assistant to prioritize tasks over people, reasoning that they, too, benefit the patient. But it’s critical to limit distractions, so you can listen thoughtfully to what patients are saying, evaluating their body language as they speak while minding your own non-verbal cues, patients are keenly aware of distracted staff. The most important message to convey with both words and behavior is, I care.

Confirming

When patients speak, they expect you to confirm or question what they said by offering feedback. Paraphrasing points periodically by saying, for example, “What I think you’re saying is…” or “I think you mean…”allows patients to clarify their message and moves the conversation forward.

Asking open-ended questions that invite patients to expand on their thoughts instead of giving yes or no answers is a helpful technique. The point is to gather as much information as possible for the physician.

Understanding Body Language

From posture to paralinguistics, people unconsciously evaluate each other at first sight. Medical assistants must mind their body language while discerning what patients are saying through theirs, considering:

Facial Expressions

Seen before words are spoken, facial expressions are a significant aspect of non-verbal communication. They can support or contradict our words, and the disparity is often where the truth lies. A patient who states they’re relaxed while they’re scowling, for example, is probably anxious. A medical assistant who recognizes that can step in, changing their approach or the environment to help the patient be more relaxed.

Proximity

Personal space is someone’s bubble, encroaching on it can provoke intense emotional responses from uneasiness to panic. Medically vulnerable people, poked and prodded daily for treatment, can be particularly sensitive about their personal space. Some struggle to keep others at arm’s length while others prefer a sense of intimacy. Older patients or those who’ve been physically abused may need more distance. Children as well as people from other countries, such as South America, may prefer closer personal contact. Working with patients who have different expectations makes it especially important for medical assistants to read non-verbal cues.

Paralinguistics

Paralinguistics refers to the non-language component of verbal communication, such as volume, tone, rate, and pitch. The old saying, “It’s not what you say but how you say it,”is true. Words convey a message, while paralinguistics gives them impact.

Eye Contact

Making eye contact has unique personal, cultural, and generational implications. Older patients expect it while younger patients may be intimidated by it. Seen as a sign of respect to some and superiority by others, it pays to know the age, habits, practices, and cultural background of your patients. Approach each situation individually.

Posture

Posture communicates what words sometimes can’t. Among animals, for example, an arched backed is a defensive move designed to scare predators. Humans, too, use posture to make a point, it’s subtle but noticeable. A patient with crossed arms, for example, may be expecting a confrontation. Slouching can indicate disinterest or resignation. Non-verbal cues should be interpreted as part of the big picture.

Appearance

Appearance is a controversial topic. In the service industry, how patients perceive you matters. Doctor’s offices, for example, have dress codes for team members in keeping with patients’ expectations. Medical assistants are asked to maintain a professional appearance to avoid distractions.

Overcoming Communication Barriers

Medical assistants can be better communicators by recognizing these barriers, common in healthcare settings:

Sensory

It’s common for patients to have hearing or visual impairments. Some are upfront about it while others hide that they can’t see or hear instructions. Medical assistants should assess for sensory barriers early in their communications with patients, so they can adapt communication methods accordingly.

Language

Today’s medical assistants will increasingly encounter patients who don’t speak their language. Most healthcare facilities are required by law to offer translation services. Recognizing that patients who don’t speak the same language as their caregivers have a voice only through an interpreter, every effort should be made to facilitate translation while compensating with positive body language.

Literacy

A million-plus people in the US can’t read. Some are functionally literate, meaning they have basic reading skills but won’t understand complex written material. Assessing a patient’s literacy is a critical component of education.

Generational

The term “generation gap”describes the difference in how people of different ages communicate with each other. If you go outside the norms, communication can hit a roadblock. A senior, for example, expects to be addressed by title and surname until they give you permission to use their first name. Young adults are more comfortable on a first-name basis.

Avoiding Communication Traps

These communication traps can ruin a therapeutic relationship and should be avoided.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes are assumptions about people based on group characteristics, their age, race, religion, gender, and nationality. It’s a dangerous communication trap that can lead to poor medical decisions.

Negative Body Language

Medical assistants know when a patient is fearful, but patients can also tell when a team member is preoccupied or disinterested. It’s not always easy to appear attentive, but negative body language is unprofessional.

Needing to Be Right

Conversations with patients can unwittingly turn into debates. But therapeutic communications require strict professional boundaries, so even if a medical assistant disagrees with a patient’s choice, they need to respect the patient’s autonomy. In healthcare, patients are always in the driver’s seat.

Not Establishing Rapport

Patients pay for medical advice, so breaking the ice may seem like an unnecessary step in communication. But people are often hesitant to discuss physical and emotional symptoms with complete strangers and need to feel at ease with staff before they’re comfortable divulging details.

The good news for medical assistants is that although deeper therapeutic relationships take time to establish, basic rapport can be achieved quickly with a smile and attentiveness.

Monopolizing Discussions

Some patients have difficulty communicating. The burden is on trained medical professionals to use their skills to draw patients into a conversation. Avoid the need to fill in uncomfortable silences with chit-chat. Ask the right questions, and let the patient take it from there.

Asking the Wrong Questions

Asking the right questions invites patients to speak. Asking “Does your leg hurt?”for example, requires only a yes or no answer and effectively shuts down dialogue.

A medical assistant learns more by asking open-ended questions that prompt meaningful responses. Asking “Does your leg keep you from doing things around the house?”encourages patients to discuss not only their pain but also how it impacts their daily lives, giving medical professionals greater insight into the services a patient may need.

Bad Timing

There’s a time and place for every discussion, so while patients can wait weeks for an appointment with their doctor, some topics aren’t appropriate at all visits. Asking a patient if they want a flu shot after they’ve been told they have cancer, for example, may seem crass. A medical assistant needs to read situations with empathy, putting themselves in the patient’s shoes.

Negativity

“A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down”is more than an adage, it’s good advice. It doesn’t mean sugar-coating reality or lying to patients about a prognosis. It simply means acknowledging small victories, crediting patients for their efforts where it’s due.

Final Thoughts

Among the many skills a medical assistant needs, good communication is the most vital, it’s the foundation of therapeutic and workplace relationships. But good communicators are born; they’re made with the right blend of training and experience. A vocational school medical assisting program will help you prepare, but only practice makes perfect.

Did learning about the importance of communication in medical assisting interest you? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

How Do You Get into Medical Billing?

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Searching for the right career can be challenging. Are you considering joining the workforce right away or getting a diploma from a vocational school? Or maybe you are considering a career re-set after years in the work force? Consider becoming a medical billing specialist.

The medical profession offers many options that bring interesting and rewarding work. Extending beyond the hands-on professionals such as doctors, nurses, certified nurse assistants, and physical therapists, the allied healthcare field features jobs that work closely with the doctors and nurses but are often done in a separate, more private area of the doctors’ office, skilled nursing facility, or hospital.

If you want to be part of a healthcare team but prefer to help patients from a far, then medical billing may be the right career for you. Do you have an investigative mind that enjoys solving puzzles? Like working with numbers and helping doctors get optimal reimbursement for their efforts? This is some of what a medical biller does at a doctor’s office or other medical facility.  So, what exactly does a medical biller do?

What Does a Medical Biller Do?

A medical biller is an invaluable link in the process of a doctor’s office or medical facility. They take medical information generated by a doctor, describing specific information about a patient, and translating it into a series of numeric and alphanumeric symbols that provide complete, detailed, and accurate information about a medical diagnosis, procedure, or product. When the correct code is entered into a computer, it has a universal meaning that can be translated into any language and viewed anywhere in the world. Carefully creating and recording the accurate ICD-10, HCPCS, and CPT code can have multiple positive results. A medical biller also:

  • Enter demographic and insurance data into a claims database
  • Transcribe medical information into billing codes
  • Obtain insurance preapproval for medical services
  • Research, correct, and resubmit rejected claims
  • Prepare claims appeals
  • Bill patients for insurance copayments or non-covered services
  • Answer client questions about insurance, billing and payments
  • Help uninsured patients to apply for financial assistance or to set up a payment plan
  • Assist with collections as needed
  • Help manage waiting rooms for sanitation and cleanliness
  • Support staff with appointment scheduling and increased call volume

Reduction in Errors for Better Patient Outcomes

In order to appreciate the discipline of medical billing, it helps to understand the process involved. When a doctor or other health care provider sees a patient, they generate a detailed healthcare report outlining patient demographics, medical history, diagnoses, and treatment.

Through careful analysis of the medical record, each element of the information is transformed into an exact medical code that outlines various aspects of a diagnosis, treatment, or medical event like an accident, that helps medical professionals get a comprehensive picture of a patient’s medical history or condition.

A medical biller completes the analysis of the patient’s data, organizes the data onto a super bill, and generates an insurance claim. The claim is then sent to the insurance company. Medical billers maintain communication between the involved parties, including the patient, the doctor or other healthcare provider, and the payer.

Once the claim goes to the insurance company, a long process may begin. Questions may arise that need explanation and clarification. The medical biller steps in to answer the questions and advocate for the patient and medical provider, so that the patient and physician can concentrate on working together for the best treatment and medical result for the patient.

In the absence of distractions that would be involved in trying to negotiate the processing and payment of medical bills, the healthcare providers can devote their full time and attention to patient care. The patient can concentrate on following medical advice and maintaining or achieving optimal health.

Ensuring Steady Cash Flow to Medical Facilities

In these trying times, a medical facilities cash flow may be limited. The overall function of a medical facility, whether it be a doctor’s office, skilled nursing facility, or hospital, relies on the smooth processing and payment of claims.

In order to accurately and quickly process claims and create a steady cash flow to a medical facility, a medical billing specialist must stay on top of insurance claims and claim rejections. A knowledgeable and well-trained in-house medical biller can provide ready communication between healthcare providers and payers. This medical biller is uniquely trained to stay current on the constant changes in billing procedures on a local and national level. As part of their on-going continuing education with CEUs and seminars, medical billers keep abreast of changes and make sure the medical office possesses accurate, current knowledge of all updates. Thus, ensuring that the medical facility has a steady cash flow to pay employees, buy suppliers and other pay monthly expenses.

Other Benefits of Medical Coding

Electronic medical records add to the proficiency of medical facilities by capturing information in brief and easily recorded tidbits. One accurate medical code provides a wide diversity of information that is universally understood and quickly compiled for statistical purposes.

An example of this process is the role of the CDC and WHO in tracking pandemics like the current COVID-19 phenomenon. Because of medical coding, daily and even hourly updates are available to track the number of cases, recoveries, and deaths caused by the virus. The process of vaccination for prevention of the virus is also easily tracked by the code entered into the electronic record when an individual receives a vaccine.

You might be wondering where all these codes come from. That is a legitimate question and one that has an easy answer. Coding books list countless codes that are organized under three unique categories:

ICD-10 – the International Classification of Diseases contains standardized codes for injuries and illnesses

CPT – the Current Procedural Terminology book lists codes for surgical and diagnostic procedures

HCPCS – The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System provides codes for health-related products and services like Emergency Room Services and products used during in-patient care as well as durable medical equipment

How Do I Get into Medical Billing and Coding?

One attractive feature of getting into medical billing is the available choices of programs available at vocational schools.  You will be required to have your high school diploma or GED to enter any level of educational study for medical billing. When you are ready to begin course work for a medial billing career, spend some time researching vocational schools that offer the necessary educational courses. What should you look for in a vocational school?

Degree or Diploma Program

A medical billing degree or diploma program can prepare you for a job in a medical clinic, hospital, ambulatory surgery facility, or an insurance company. A diploma program may be completed in less than a year for those that attend full-time. Whereas the degree program will take two years to complete.

All academic work offered in the degree and diploma programs will be basic, vital topics that will be necessary to know in order to prepare for your first day as a medical biller.  Some courses that will be required in a diploma and degree programs include:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Disease Processes
  • Diagnostic and Treatment Modalities
  • Medical Terminology
  • ICD-10, HCPCS, & CPT Basic Coding Skills
  • Light Bookkeeping
  • Healthcare Law and Ethics
  • Office Administration Procedures
  • Health Information Management

Final Thoughts

Medical billing is an ever-expanding opportunity for entering the medical profession in a highly competitive position. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that medical billing and coding positions will grow 8 percent in the coming decade. The rise in patients from baby boomers to generation Z, all need healthcare services, and this is where medical billing specialist can support practitioners. Those practitioners are also retiring in great numbers, further spurring the need for additional medical billing specialists in the coming decade. Further, technological advancement has led healthcare to progressively turn to electronic medical records. Once you graduate from a medical billing program, you are prepared for a career that has upward mobility and is in demand.

Want to Learn More?

Now that you know how to get into medical billing, want to learn more? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

 

Adjunct Computer and Math Instructor – Raleigh, NC – posted 4/29/2021

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Allied Computer and Math Instructor

Location:
Raleigh, North Carolina

Industry: Education

Occupational Category: 25-1021.00 – Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Hours: Part-time, Day

Description: Gwinnett College seeks adjunct instructors to teach in our medical assisting and medical office administration programs to teach Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and College Keyboarding. The position is to teach students at the diploma and associate degree levels. At present, most courses are taught in a hybrid fashion where students are not on campus for the entirety of their courses. Instructors are expected to teach courses from campus. The position is and ongoing part-time position.

Responsibilities:

  • Proactively creates a learning environment that is unique, memorable and personal.
  • Demonstrates a service-minded attitude and models the Company’s expected behaviors (core values) on a daily basis with students, colleagues and employers.
  • Maintains a positive attitude in being flexible and adapting to individual student learning needs.
  • Effectively translates subject matter expertise to engage and educate students through active learning.
  • Creates a two-way learning partnership by encouraging student accountability as part of the educational process. Students are encouraged to seek the Instructor’s help and the Instructor will be available and willing to provide extra assistance for students experiencing difficulty.
  • Maintains “ownership”of student attendance and proactively maintains contact with students.
  • Prepares and submits weekly lesson plans inclusive of learning activities that stimulate student involvement, encourage reflection and critical thinking, and take into consideration different learning styles.
  • Provides each student with a course syllabus that includes course objectives that include student learning outcomes, learning activities to achieve those objectives, methods of evaluation and attendance requirements at the beginning of the course. The Instructor will review the syllabus in its entirety and address any student questions regarding the information communicated.
  • Relates to students in a fair, courteous and professional manner. Encourages students to maintain professional/appropriate dress and behavior in accordance with Gwinnett’s Student Code of Conduct Policy.
  • Ensures timeliness, fairness, and consistency in grading and evaluation of student work in support of Company policies.
  • Actively participates in the evaluation of program/course materials to include recommendations for course revisions, selection of textbooks and other teaching aids, and development of curricula as needed.
  • Utilizes approved textbooks and supports the material with well-defined lesson plans that include pertinent examples and exercises with practical applications.
  • Maintains current knowledge of adult learning methodologies, new classroom technologies and industry/healthcare standards through continuing education, such as external development opportunities, in-service activities, membership in professional organizations, and reading of current professional periodicals, incorporating this knowledge into the learning environment.
  • Attends and actively participates in all scheduled in-services, meetings and completes assigned independent study modules to maintain faculty development requirements.
  • Maintains a safe learning environment by ensuring that students and staff use supplies and equipment in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and clean up after completing class.
  • Completes reports as required by Program Director in an accurate and timely manner.
  • Submits supplies and equipment requests to the Program Director in a timely fashion.
  • Proactively initiates appropriate actions to re-engage and retain at-risk students.
  • Demonstrates collaboration and maintains a “team player”appreciation for functional accountabilities and priorities at the campus outside of Academics.
  • Takes ownership of the classroom resources, tools and supplies to ensure that ongoing needs are addressed in a timely manner.
  • Maintains positive communications with students concerning administrative and school policies and procedures.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Educational requirements:

  • Minimum of 5 years experience using Windows and Microsoft Office in a professional environment.
  • Associate degree in an allied health field

Experience requirements:

  • Teaching experience preferred.

Desired Skills:

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Comfortable in the use of classroom technology
  • Can motivate students toward the goal of graduation.
  • Attention to detail, sense of urgency and passion for making a difference in the lives of others
  • Able to work independently, yet within a strong team environment
  • Able to work a flexible schedule

Qualifications:

  • Passionately committed to customer service
  • Strong affinity for connecting with and understanding the needs of others
  • Motivating and inspiring
  • Positive and approachable
  • Freely acknowledges and appreciates effort
  • Flexibility and the ability to multitask
  • Effective listening and communication skills
  • Classroom management
  • Open and inclusive of others’ input
  • Ability to translate theory into practice
  • Strong planning and organization skills
  • Results/Metrics-Driven

What are the 6 Vital Signs? A Medical Assisting Guide

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Interested in becoming a medical assistant and want to know more about vital signs? Vital signs are important for the early diagnosis of disorders and diseases. Vitals are also used to determine the correct medication and dosage for each patient. The vital signs a medical assistant administers during a patient visit include blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, height and weight.

The first time a patient visits a doctor, the medical assistant takes their vitals. This is to establish a baseline. Vitals are also taken after specific procedures, to check for disorders like heart disease and when the individual is taking medication. Also every time the patient visits the doctor, vital signs are taken to reveal any trends in the health of the patient.

Vital Sign #1: Blood Pressure

The force the blood places against the arteries is called blood pressure. Blood pressure is taken by placing a cuff around the arm. A pump inflates the cuff to cut off circulation. The cuff is then gradually deflated by a valve to determine blood pressure.

There are two numbers displayed when blood pressure is measured. The pressure in the arteries when blood is pumped throughout the body is the higher number. Artery pressure when the body is resting is the lower number. If the numbers are too high, it is much harder for the arteries to resist the blood flow. A normal blood pressure depends on the person, age and lifestyle but will be approximately 120/80.

When blood pressure is abnormal, it is a sign there is an underlying issue such as heart disease. This can result in a medical emergency including a stroke. Consistently monitoring blood pressure is important because the physician can determine if medical treatment is necessary or if the person needs to make changes in their lifestyle.

Vital Sign #2: Body Temperature

A patient’s temperature can be taken under the tongue or through the armpit, anus or ear by using a thermometer. The temperature is displayed in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.

When the body temperature is irregular, it is often a sign of infection. Even if the individual is feeling good, body temperature can detect an infection before it spreads. When the body temperature fluctuates, it is an indication there may be a medical issue. When normal, the ideal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, it is considered normal. Body temperature is affected by the surrounding temperature and the weight, gender and age of the person.

Body temperature is adjusted by a section of the brain called the hypothalamus. If there is a virus within the body, a signal is sent to this part of the brain by the immune system to increase the temperature of the body so the infection can be weakened. When the body is fighting a virus, the early signs include clamminess and sweating. Monitoring the body temperature enables preventative measures to be taken to detect and prevent any potentially serious issues from spreading.

Vital Sign #3: Heart Rate

The rate at which the heart beats is called a pulse. The most common way for a medical assistant to check heart rate is by placing the middle and pointer fingers on the inside of the wrist below the thumb. Other places on the body to measure heart rate include the neck and on the base of the foot. The number of beats is counted for 15 seconds. This number is multiplied by four to determine the heart rate.

The heart rate is a good indication of the emotional wellbeing, fitness level and heart health of every patient. The heart rate shows the physician the number of times the heart beats every minute. When the body is at rest, a healthy heart rate is 60 to 100 beats every minute. The heart rate can be tracked through the use of monitoring devices to determine the patient’s average heart rate. There is a wide range of causes for fluctuations of the heart rate including:

  • Chronic stress
  • Age
  • Medications
  • Dehydration
  • Smoking
  • Excess caffeine
  • Air temperature
  • Inactivity
  • Emotions

When a physician is aware a patient has a high heart rate, steps can be taken to help ensure the heart remains healthy. This can decrease the risk of numerous medical issues including cardiovascular disease.

Vital Sign #4: Respiration

The respiratory rate is the number of times a person breathes per minute. To determine the rate, the number of breaths taken for one minute is counted according to how many times the chest rises.

Monitoring respiration is important for the detection of early signs of allergies or respiratory illness. A common cause of increased respiration levels is an infection. When respirations levels are tracked consistently, an illness can be detected before the entire body becomes infected. This enables the physician to prescribe treatment before the illness becomes advanced.

Vital Signs #5 & #6:  Height and Weight

A medical assistant will use a stadiometer to measure a patient’s height. A stadiometer is a device attached to a wall similar to a ruler. A sliding piece is adjusted to rest on top of the head to determine the height. Numerous types of scales are used to record body weight.

Weight and height are two of the best means of evaluating the overall health of a patient. When there are abnormal changes in weight and height it is a strong indication there is a medical issue. A fluctuation in height is a symptom of bone loss. This increases the risk of osteoporosis as the person ages.

There are many issues associated with a change in weight. This includes everything from poor lifestyle habits to underlying medical issues such as thyroid disease. A medical assistant checks weight and height and understands the average for the gender and age of the patient. This helps the patient improve their overall wellbeing by making healthy changes in their lifestyle.

What Disorders and Diseases Can be Detected Through Vital Signs?

Each vital sign can help detect any medical issues the patient is experiencing. Fluctuations in any vital sign can be a symptom of a serious medical condition.

Body Temperature

Numerous issues can be detected through fluctuations in body temperature. The doctor can determine if the medication is effective through body temperature. Hypothermia is an extremely low body temperature triggered by exposure to extreme cold. Whereas the opposite, hyperthermia is an extremely high body temperature triggered by exposure to extreme heat.

When the body temperature is extremely high or low, it is an indication the body may be in distress. A physician can use the medical history of the patient to determine if there is a reason to be concerned or if the issue can be resolved using a standard treatment.

Heart Rate

There are often fluctuations in heart rate due to illness, exercise, emotions and injury. Heart rate can also be impacted by athleticism, gender and age. Changes in heart rate are common as the patient ages. When the changes are either unexpected or too excessive, it is an indication a medical issue such as a heart condition. There are a variety of conditions determined by heart rate including:

  • Over or under-active thyroid
  • Excessive caffeine
  • Over hydration or dehydration
  • High-stress levels

If the patient does not receive enough exercise, their heart rate is unable to decrease to a normal beat as quickly as normal after intense activity. Also, heart rate can be affected by new or changed medication.

Respiration Rate

A change in respiration rate that is abnormal can indicate an underlying condition requiring treatment. An increased respiratory rate is caused by many factors. Respiratory rates can increase due to asthma attacks. Even if the increase is very small, it can be an indication of a worsening condition. When a person has a fever, their breathing often becomes quicker in an attempt to lose body heat. Rapid breathing can be triggered by dehydration. Infections including pneumonia and flu can also lead to rapid breathing. When the respiration rate decreases, it can indicate an issue. The potential causes include:

  • Medications
  • Illegal or prescribed narcotics
  • Alcohol use

Sleep apnea often causes the individual to stop breathing during the night. This can include episodes of elevated and decreased breathing.

High Blood Pressure

The diagnosis of high blood pressure is called hypertension. This condition often goes unnoticed. This is because the individual does not usually have any symptoms. If not diagnosed and treated, high blood pressure can lead to numerous common medical issues including:

  • Stroke
  • Aneurysm
  • Issues with understanding or memory
  • Heart failure or heart attack

Low blood pressure is not nearly as common of a condition as high blood pressure. Under normal circumstances, a person is healthier if their blood pressure is lower. There are no guidelines currently suggesting a person’s blood pressure can be too low. If blood pressure is consistently low due and accompanied by any of the following symptoms the situation is considered high-risk. Low blood pressure can result in:

  • Lightheadedness or dizziness
  • Depression
  • Unusual thirst or dehydration
  • Issues with concentration
  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue
  • Shallow or rapid breathing
  • Fainting
  • Pale, clammy or cold skin
  • Nausea

There are two significant blood pressure numbers, systolic and diastolic. Systolic is generally considered the more significant number by doctors. This is because an abnormal systolic reading is often an indication the patient is at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. If the patient is above the age of 50, this risk increases.

Final Thoughts

Vital signs are a portal into a patient’s health. As a medical assistant, you have the responsibility of taking vital signs at the beginning of every patient visit so the physician can understand the trends and make better diagnoses. Early detection can save lives. This is the awesome responsibility of every medial assistant. Become a medical assistant and join the front lines on patient health.

Did learning about the different vital signs a medical assistant takes interest you? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

Adjunct Medical Assistant Instructor – Raleigh, NC – posted 4/20/2021

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Job Description

Allied Health Instructor

Location:
Raleigh, North Carolina

Industry: Education

Occupational Category: 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants; 43-3021.02 Medical Billing

Hours: Part-time

Description: Gwinnett College seeks adjunct instructors to teach in our medical assisting and medical billing and coding programs. The position is to teach students at the diploma and associate degree levels. At present, most courses are taught in a hybrid fashion where students are not on campus for the entirety of their courses. Instructors are expected to teach courses from campus.

Responsibilities:

  • Proactively creates a learning environment that is unique, memorable and personal.
  • Demonstrates a service-minded attitude and models the Company’s expected behaviors (core values) on a daily basis with students, colleagues and employers.
  • Maintains a positive attitude in being flexible and adapting to individual student learning needs.
  • Effectively translates subject matter expertise to engage and educate students through active learning.
  • Creates a two-way learning partnership by encouraging student accountability as part of the educational process. Students are encouraged to seek the Instructor’s help and the Instructor will be available and willing to provide extra assistance for students experiencing difficulty.
  • Maintains “ownership”of student attendance and proactively maintains contact with students.
  • Prepares and submits weekly lesson plans inclusive of learning activities that stimulate student involvement, encourage reflection and critical thinking, and take into consideration different learning styles.
  • Provides each student with a course syllabus that includes course objectives that include student learning outcomes, learning activities to achieve those objectives, methods of evaluation and attendance requirements at the beginning of the course. The Instructor will review the syllabus in its entirety and address any student questions regarding the information communicated.
  • Relates to students in a fair, courteous and professional manner. Encourages students to maintain professional/appropriate dress and behavior in accordance with Gwinnett’s Student Code of Conduct Policy.
  • Ensures timeliness, fairness, and consistency in grading and evaluation of student work in support of Company policies.
  • Actively participates in the evaluation of program/course materials to include recommendations for course revisions, selection of textbooks and other teaching aids, and development of curricula as needed.
  • Utilizes approved textbooks and supports the material with well-defined lesson plans that include pertinent examples and exercises with practical applications.
  • Maintains current knowledge of adult learning methodologies, new classroom technologies and industry/healthcare standards through continuing education, such as external development opportunities, in-service activities, membership in professional organizations, and reading of current professional periodicals, incorporating this knowledge into the learning environment.
  • Attends and actively participates in all scheduled in-services, meetings and completes assigned independent study modules to maintain faculty development requirements.
  • Maintains a safe learning environment by ensuring that students and staff use supplies and equipment in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and clean up after completing class.
  • Completes reports as required by Program Director in an accurate and timely manner.
  • Submits supplies and equipment requests to the Program Director in a timely fashion.
  • Proactively initiates appropriate actions to re-engage and retain at-risk students.
  • Demonstrates collaboration and maintains a “team player”appreciation for functional accountabilities and priorities at the campus outside of Academics.
  • Takes ownership of the classroom resources, tools and supplies to ensure that ongoing needs are addressed in a timely manner.
  • Maintains positive communications with students concerning administrative and school policies and procedures.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Educational requirements:

  • Minimum of 5 years experience as a medical assistant, medical biller/medical coder, or similar.
  • Associate degree in an allied health field

Experience requirements:

  • 5 years in allied health required.
  • Teaching experience preferred.

Desired Skills:

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Comfortable in the use of classroom technology
  • Can motivate students toward the goal of graduation.
  • Attention to detail, sense of urgency and passion for making a difference in the lives of others
  • Able to work independently, yet within a strong team environment
  • Able to work a flexible schedule

Qualifications:

  • Passionately committed to customer service
  • Strong affinity for connecting with and understanding the needs of others
  • Motivating and inspiring
  • Positive and approachable
  • Freely acknowledges and appreciates effort
  • Flexibility and the ability to multitask
  • Effective listening and communication skills
  • Classroom management
  • Open and inclusive of others’ input
  • Ability to translate theory into practice
  • Strong planning and organization skills
  • Results/Metrics-Driven

Job Type: Part-time

Part-time Bookkeeper – Raleigh, NC – posted 4/20/2021

Posted on

Job Description

Allied Health Instructor

Location:
Raleigh, North Carolina

Industry: Education

Occupational Category: 43-3031.00 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Accounting Clerks

Hours: Part-time

Pay depends on experience.

POSITION SCOPE:

The Part-time Evening Receptionist/Bookkeeper is responsible for covering the front desk in the evenings, answering phones, assisting students, the collections, billing, processing, tracking and reconciliation of all monetary cash funds received from or on behalf of a student. The Coordinator is also responsible for ensuring that all funds are administered in compliance with Federal, State, Institutional and Accreditation Guidelines.

REPORTS DIRECT TO:Campus Director

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Associate degree required preferred (equivalent experience will be considered)
  • Computer experience using MS Office Suite required
  • Accounting/Finance Skills required
  • Collection and billing experience required
  • Financial Aid experience preferred
  • Customer service background preferred

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt

ESSENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Performs as a Campus/Campus Support professional in creating and delivering unique, memorable, extraordinary and personal student experiences.
  • Model the Company’s cultural values and stand on a daily basis.
  • Flexible and positive in adapting to job or business changes as a team member.
  • Manage daily student cash collection efforts.
  • Prepare and deliver monthly billing statements for students.
  • Provide excellent and considerate customer service to students enhancing collection efforts.
  • Manage student issues and complaints in a professional and timely manner.
  • Review and monitor student credit balances weekly.
  • Schedule student stipends.
  • Assist in managing the bookstore functionality and inventory.
  • Perform a weekly reconciliation of all campus bank deposit reports or student payment receipts.
  • Post tuition and fees to student ledger cards at the start of each course.
  • Train new Department Assistants as needed.
  • Assist in the preparation of all month-end reconciliations.
  • Attend weekly accountability calls with the Home Office.
  • Meet quarterly Receivables Goals.
  • Code vendor invoicing.
  • Assist in quarterly Business Office in-service training.
  • Provide a positive image and attitude toward operational objectives.
  • Adhere to deadlines for projects, activities and reports.
  • Maintain positive, team player relations with all campus associates.
  • Complete special projects as assigned by Supervisor.
  • Demonstrate ability to interact with students.
  • Maintains appropriate recordkeeping as required under company policies.
  • Develops and maintains beneficial relations with business partner vendors.
  • Maintain professional atmosphere, including dressing in business attire (shirt and tie for gentlemen)
  • Holds business partners accountable for quality services delivery.

CORE COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:

  • Statistical Expertise
  • Analytical
  • Customer Service Oriented
  • Attention to Detail
  • Results Oriented
  • Microsoft Suite Knowledge

PERFORMANCE METRICS CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

  • Student Monetary Cash Collections
  • Student Account Aging
  • Associates’ Turnover
  • Timeliness in Filling Openings
  • Accuracy of Data Input.

ASSOCIATE UNDERSTANDING:

  • The Bookkeeper position is a part time position working the hours required to meet job expectations.
  • Employment with Gwinnett is “at will”and employment may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice.
  • Scheduled and unscheduled performance reviews are given according to Company policies and at least annually.
  • Light travel may be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Gwinnett is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company makes all selection and other employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. In addition, the Company provides reasonable accommodations for applicants or associates with physical or mental disabilities in accordance with applicable law(s). If an accommodation is required to apply for employment, or to perform the essential job functions of a position you seek, please contact Campus Director so appropriate arrangements can be made.

NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS JOB DESCRIPTION CREATES AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OR IN ANY WAY ALTERS THE ASSOCIATE’S STATUS AS AN ASSOCIATE AT-WILL.

Job Type: Part-time

What Does a Medical Office Assistant Do?

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Interested in joining the medical team but don’t want to be front and center with patients? If you still want to be on the front lines helping patients but not ready to care for patients directly, you may be interested in working in medical administration. You get the rewarding feeling of helping others while being the unsung hero of the back office. So, what does a medical office assistant do, you ask?

What Does a Medical Office Assistant Do?

The medical office assistant is an integral part of the medical staff. They are the behind-the-scenes heroes that keep a medical practice running smoothly. The medical office assistant supports the doctors, nurses and medical assistants with the day-to-day administrative duties so that they can care for more patients. Without the medical office assistant, doctors would have to manage their own schedules and nurses would need to answer phones. Patients would not get the quality of care they deserve.

Creating Schedules

Part of a medical office assistant’s duties is to create and manage schedules. The doctors need to keep a steady stream of patients moving in and out of multiple exam rooms, allowing them to help as many patients as they can. The medical office assistant must build schedules that take resources into consideration like EKG machines and other medical equipment that is in limited supply. The medical office assistant must also keep a patient’s wait to a minimum, while keeping sick patients from well patients and managing cancellations all at the same time.

Answering Phones

Patients, vendors, and other doctors call during normal business hours and it is up to the medical office assistant to route the calls to the proper place. They must understand the proper phone protocol in their medical facility. Whether they should take a message, forward a call to a doctor or manage the call themselves, the medical office assistant must perform phone triage to take care of the emergencies and prioritize callers.

Medical Billing and Coding

The medical office assistant will help with medical billing and coding. They will learn proper coding procedure during a medical office administration program so they can manage insurance billing and claims for patients. Each protocol has different uses, and the medical office assistant must decern between them to get claims paid and keep the medical facility’s cash flow positive.

Light Bookkeeping

A medical office assistant will have light bookkeeping duties within a medical facility. Although an accountant will manage the taxes, the medical office assistant may be responsible for payroll, vendor payments, patient billing and cash deposits. These duties are fully explained during a medical office administration program. This program will familiarize students with QuickBooks and other medical software interfaces, so they are ready to work on day one.

Additional Administrative Duties

Some of the other administrative duties that a medical office assistant will be responsible for include arranging staff meetings, handling mail, preparing memos, and maintaining electronic filing systems. All of these administrative tasks must be kept confidentiality because all medical office personnel are responsible to adhere to HIPAA guidelines.

Confidentiality

An important part of the job of a medical office assistant is to adhere to HIPAA guidelines. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 requires that patient information be kept confidential and that authorized medical staff only allow the information to be disclosed with the patient’s consent. This law must be adhered to during phone calls, talking with family and when passing personal information between medical facilities. Breaking this law can cause the practice hefty fines and the medical office assistant’s early release.

What are the Skills a Medical Office Assistant Needs to Succeed?

A medical office assistant needs a specific set of skills to be successful. Many of these skills are honed during a medical office administration program at a vocational school. These skills include working with computers, proper communication, time management, organizational skills, problem solving and teamwork. Mastering this skill set will prepare medical office assistants to hit the ground running on day one of their new career.

Skill #1: Computer Skills

Most of the work that a medical office assistant will do involves computers. Whether it is managing electronic medical records, using QuickBooks to perform light bookkeeping or using insurance portals that allow the processing of claims, the medical office assistant must be comfortable learning new software interfaces and mastering traditional computer software like the Microsoft Office Suite. These computer skills allow a medical office assistant to type memos, create reports, enter data into electronic systems and do all the many tasks that they will complete at a medical facility.

Skill #2: Communication

A medical office assistant spends time talking with patients, medical assistants, doctors, vendors and others that are pertinent to the everyday tasks performed in a medical facility. Good communication, for a medical office assistant, starts with active listening. The ability to hear what someone is saying before responding, allows the medical office assistant to fully understand what is being said, giving them time to craft a proper response. Communication is also important as it is vital that no errors or misunderstandings result and cause poor outcomes for patients.

Skill #3: Time Management

There are only so many hours in the day, and there is always something else that could be done. A successful medical office assistant can prioritize tasks, so the most important tasks are completed in a timely manner. Emergencies do happen in a medical facility and a medical office assistant must be prepared to set aside their current work for more pressing matters.

Skill #4: Organizational Skills

Running a tight ship is important for the captain of the medical office. The medical office assistant will need to keep the supplies stocked, forms available, phones answered, and insurance claims paid. This takes organizational skills to manage the back office in a medical facility and keep everything running smoothly. Good organizational skills allow the doctors and medical assistants the ability to offer the best care possible for patient outcomes.

Skill #5: Problem Solving

There will be the inevitable problem to solve. A successful medical office assistant will know how to analyze the problem, understand what outcome is intended and pick the solution that best assists all parties involved.

Skill #6: Teamwork

The most important part of a successfully run medical facility is that all staff work as a team. The medical office assistant needs to be a part of the team and manage their tasks accordingly. When someone needs help, the medical office assistant can pitch in so that the patient gets the best possible care. The best part about working in a medical office is that everyone has the same passion for patients and wants to see the patients have good outcomes.

Where Do Medical Office Assistants Work?

There are many different places that a medical office assistant can work after graduation. From physician’s offices to insurance companies, the medical office assistant is in demand.

Physician’s Office

The most common entry-level position for graduates of the medical office administration program is at a physician’s office. Medical office assistants are the backbone of the physician’s office. They manage schedules and medical records, process insurance claims and patient billing and take inventory of supplies around the office. Everybody in the physician’s office function as a team and it is a great environment to work in.

Physician’s offices also have different specialties, and all the different types of doctors need qualified medical office assistants. Whether the office manages dermatology, ophthalmology, or gerontology, the medical office assistant duties are still in demand. At small physician’s offices, the medical office assistant may take on additional responsibilities like greeting patients and sanitizing surfaces. There is always something new to do for a medical office assistant.

Health Clinic

In some areas of the U.S., a community will have a health clinic with multiple doctors that see patients. In this bigger setting a medical office assistant may have specialized duties focusing on one or two aspects of the job. But in a pinch, the medical office assistant can pitch in because they have a well-rounded education from a medical office administration program.

Hospital

Depending on the department of the hospital, the medical office assistant will work with a variety of nurses and physicians and be responsible for different tasks. Hospitals employ more medical office assistant than a physician’s office so everyone must work as a team to offer the best patient outcomes possible.

Medical Labs

Places that manage specimen and run tests will also need the expertise of a medical office assistant. Doctor’s offices still call, records still need data entry and schedules need managing. A medical office assistant is welcome in many different facilities including medical labs.

Insurance Companies

The best part about becoming a medical office assistant is that students are trained to work in a variety of environments. One of those environments is an insurance company. During the medical office assistant program, students learn everything they need to be successful at an insurance company including medical terminology and coding protocols.

Final Thoughts

Being a medical office assistant is a rewarding career, helping others indirectly and supporting the medical staff along the way. Some medical office administration programs offer both diploma and degrees. The degree program will offer a wider variety of responsible and with some experience may garner you an office manager position. Start on your journey as a medical office assistant and join the heroes of the medical industry

Want to learn more about what a medical office assistant does? Gwinnett College offers diploma and degree programs in medical office administration. Both diploma and degree programs include training in office and computer skills, medical office terminology and coding, processing insurance payments, and managing electronic health records (EHRs). The Medical Office Administration diploma program is designed for Gwinnett College students seeking to train for an entry-level career in a medical office assistant environment.

 

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical office assistant today.