Degree Overview: Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree in Health Care Management
Majors Overview June 21, 2014Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs in Health Care Management prepare students for entry-level office jobs in the medical field. Students will be taught the fundamental technical, professional, and office skills needed for work in medical settings.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree Programs in Health Care Management
Students enrolled in the Health Care Management A.A.S. degree program are provided with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for performing work in a medical office. Students are imparted skills in medical terminology, interpersonal communications, personnel management, and medical billing and coding. After they complete the program, students typically prefer to seek entry-level jobs that involve handling of management and administration duties in a medical setting.
Education Requirements
The focus of health care management programs is typically on office procedures and related areas, including keyboarding and work with computers. In keeping with this, a typing assessment may be required to be passed by students, who would have to satisfy a minimum typing speed measured in words per minutes. Admission criteria typically require applicants to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework focuses on typical office procedures, such as documentation, computer applications, and keyboarding. Students are also expected to complete courses particularly relevant to the medical field and may include topic areas such as the following:
•Medical office procedures
•Electronic recordkeeping
•Patient privacy rights
•Medical billing
•Medical coding
•Human biology
•Medical document formats
•Medical terminology
•Medical ethics
•Accounting
Career Choices
Those that successfully complete an associate degree program in health care management may seek to join the workforce immediately on completion of the program in an office manager role that requires them to deal with issues such as appointments, record organization, coding, and medical billing. Graduates may seek entry-level jobs in different work settings, such as:
•Insurance companies
•Hospitals
•Doctors’ offices
Continuing Education Choices
Continued education would be needed if students wished to hold advanced office positions, including management positions. They can pursue entry-level administrative positions by earning a bachelor’s degree; for higher level positions, a master’s degree would prove useful (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)). Graduates may choose from various positions, such as administrator, administrative assistant, or department manager in a medical environment, after earning either a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
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