Office Administration - Health Services | St. Clair College
Program Code: B228
Status: Open
Apply Online:
Program Code: M228
Status: Open
Apply Online:
Two Year - Ontario College Diploma
Apply to B227 for Year 1 (Office Admin - General). Automatic enrolment to B228 for Year 2 upon completion of B227.
Starts: September
Contact:
Maryann Whited
519-972-2727 ext. 4048
Ace Acumen Campus
+1 (416) 756-7227

Program Overview

Office administrators in the health services field are vital members of the healthcare team, often the first person to interact with clients in a physician’s office. Graduates are able to work within and manage any health services office with the required comprehensive knowledge and specialized skills. Accuracy and confidentiality are paramount and students should have excellent critical thinking skills, be organized and know how to prioritize. Students must have solid interpersonal skills and work effectively in a multicultural environment. Good communication skills, both written and oral, and excellent keyboarding skills, are assets.

Program Highlights

  • Training includes client care, appointment scheduling, manual and electronic charting, transcription of a wide range of medical data and reports and communication techniques.
  • Strict emphasis is placed on confidentiality following PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act) guidelines.
  • Graduates will have an understanding of healthcare billing through MOHLTC (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care-OHIP), along with third-party and private billing with a hands-on approach in an electronic healthcare software setting.
  • Work Placement in the final semester in a variety of private and government-funded medical clinics, general and specialized healthcare offices, hospitals, or alternative healthcare facilities. A major capstone project may be substituted if appropriate placements are not available.
  • Advanced computer software including EMR (electronic medical records) training using Accuro, typing training using Typist as well as advanced Microsoft Suite.
  • This program is accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM). Graduates of the program are eligible to write the HICA national certification examination (NCE). 

Career Opportunities

Opportunities in the healthcare field are diverse and include physicians’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, medical clinics, nursing homes, health insurance offices, public health offices, and alternative health therapy offices.

Degree Completions

Students who have successfully completed the 2-year OAH Diploma Program may continue their education towards a Bachelor of Health Services Administration Degree from Davenport University or a Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in General Business from Walsh College.

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of the Office Administration - General with a GPA of 2.0 or better.

Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.

Courses

The curriculum below is for incoming students:

Semester 1
Code Title Credits
OAG110
Language Fundamentals
3
OAG210
Business For The Office Assistant
3
OAG101
Introduction to Keyboarding
1
OAG160
Essential Business Calculations
3
OAG113
Introduction To Word Processing & Business Documents
3
SSC169G
Money Matters
3
OAG117
Introduction To Computer Technology
2
Semester 2
Code Title Credits
OAG201
Accounting For The Office Assistant
3
OAG125
Administrative Procedures
3
COM103
Business Communications I
3
OAG222
Advanced Word Processing And Documents
3
OAG217
Keyboarding And Transcription
3
OAG260
Electronic Spreadsheets And Databases
3
Semester 3
Code Title Credits
OAH306
Health Services Administrative Documents & Procedures
4
OAH307
Electronic Medical Records & Billing
3
OAH302
Health Services Office Management
4
OAH303
Medical Terminology I
3
OAH308
Medical Transcription I
4
OAH305
Social Relations, Ethics, And Legislation In The Health Service Office
3
Semester 4
Code Title Credits
OAH400
Pharmacology & Safety Systems In Health Service Offices
2
OAH401
Medical Terminology II
3
OAH402
Medical Transcription II
4
ELEC1030
Choose 1 Elective Course
3
ELEC1030
Choose 1 Elective Course
3
Choose one of:
OAH405
Health Services Office Work Placement
4
OAH411
Health Services Office Capstone
4

Past Cohorts:

Semester 1
Code Title Credits
OAG110 Language Fundamentals 3
OAG125 Administrative Procedures 3
OAG101 Introduction to Keyboarding 1
OAG160 Essential Business Calculations 3
OAG113 Introduction To Word Processing & Business Documents 3
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
OAG117 Introduction To Computer Technology 2
Semester 2
Code Title Credits
OAG201 Accounting For The Office Assistant 3
OAG210 Business For The Office Assistant 3
COM103 Business Communications I 3
OAG222 Advanced Word Processing And Documents *Delivered in first 7 weeks of the semester. 3
OAG217 Keyboarding And Transcription *Delivered in first 7 weeks of the semester. 3
OAG260 Electronic Spreadsheets And Databases 3
Semester 3
Code Title Credits
OAH306 Health Services Administrative Documents & Procedures 4
OAH307 Electronic Medical Records & Billing 3
OAH302 Health Services Office Management 4
OAH303 Medical Terminology I 3
OAH308 Medical Transcription I 4
OAH305 Social Relations, Ethics, And Legislation In The Health Service Office 3
Semester 4
Code Title Credits
OAH400 Pharmacology & Safety Systems In Health Service Offices 2
OAH401 Medical Terminology II 3
OAH402 Medical Transcription II 4
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
Choose one of:
OAH405 Health Services Office Work Placement 4
OAH411 Health Services Office Capstone 4

Placement Requirements

Some of our employers who provide our placement settings require a clear POLICE RECORD CHECK for criminal offences with vulnerable sector screening before accepting a student into the clinical setting. The record check MUST be obtained by the student and at the student’s expense. If you are unable to obtain this police clearance please discuss this with the coordinator to ensure that proper arrangements can be made in advance for your placement. Some of our employers who provide our placement settings also require up-to-date immunizations and proof of a negative Two-Step TB Skin Test. Should you be unable to acquire these, please discuss the matter in advance with the coordinator.

Your Investment

The standard tuition and compulsory fees for the current academic year:

2024-2025 Tuition Fees  

For programs with Experiential Learning (Work Placement/Internship): Costs for accommodation, if needed, travel and related expenses are at the student's own expense. It is recommended for most programs, that students have access to a laptop or desktop computer while away from home during experiential learning periods.

Textbooks and other materials are in addition to Tuition Fees. Textbook prices may be found on the Bookstore website.

Please be aware that tuition and compulsory fees are subject to adjustment each year. The College reserves the right to change, amend or alter fees as necessary without notice or prejudice.

Program Physical Demands Analysis

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Office Administration - Health Services (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 52308)

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.  
  2. Manage the scheduling, coordination and organization of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.  
  3. Coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.  
  4. Operate and provide support to others related to the use of office equipment and technologies.  
  5. Evaluate, establish and administer health records management systems* to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organized electronic and paper records*.  
  6. Produce financial and client billing records* for health services by compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
  7. Produce health documents and reports using available technologies and applying industry standards.
  8. Use interpersonal and client service skills to respond to the diverse needs of clients, their family members and the health care team.  
  9. Identify and use non-invasive clinical tasks to support effective and efficient health service operations.