Office Administration - Health Services

Program: OFAH
Credential: Ontario College Diploma
Delivery: Full-time
Length: 4 Semesters
Duration: 2 Years
Effective: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Location: Barrie (Fall, Winter), Owen Sound (Fall), South Georgian Bay (Fall)

Description

Students in this program acquire the knowledge and specialized skills required to successfully perform in the administrative health field. Students learn medical document production, medical terminology, transcription, human anatomy, medical ethics, and develop skills in workplace communication and patient relations. In addition, students learn Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and are introduced to health information management concepts. Qualifying students will have the exciting opportunity for hands-on learning through a fourth semester field placement within the local medical community.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this program may find employment in medical practitioners' offices, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. They may also find careers opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry; provincial and federal governments; medical services in industry; clinics; alternative medical practices such as naturopathy, chiropractics, acupuncture, shiatsu; and other areas of health services, as well as general offices.

Program Learning Outcomes

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;
  10. apply basic entrepreneurial strategies employing critical thinking and ethics within the health services field;
  11. employ environmentally sustainable practices within the industry.

External Recognition

The Office Administration Health Services program of Georgian College is awarded accreditation through the Canadian College of Health Information. The College sets the educational and accreditation standards for health information professionals in Canada. This program meets the quality and educational program standards set out for the Health Information-Certified Associate (HICA) certification. Graduates of the Office Administration Health Services program are eligible to write the National Certification Exam (NCE) and can begin their career as a certified health information professional.

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake - Barrie

  • Sem 1: Fall 2024
  • Sem 2: Winter 2025
  • Sem 3: Fall 2025
  • Sem 4: Winter 2026

Winter Intake - Barrie

  • Sem 1: Winter 2025
  • Sem 2: Summer 2025
  • Sem 3: Fall 2025
  • Sem 4: Winter 2026

Articulation

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Admission Requirements

OSSD or equivalent with

  • Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional Information

In the fourth semester of this program students may have the opportunity to participate in work integrated learning. Note that a work placement, work permit is required for international students wishing to pursue this opportunity.

Graduation Requirements

20 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
Program Courses  
COMP 1113 Business Documentation and Text Processing 42
OFAD 1001 Office Procedures and Strategies 42
OFAD 1022 Professional Development and Employability 1 42
OFAD 1007 Computer Applications 1 for the Office 42
Communications Course  
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. 42
General Education Courses  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours252
Semester 2
Program Courses  
COMP 1013 Advanced Business Documentation 42
COMP 1114 Multi Media Communications 28
MATH 1034 Office Math Applications 42
OFAD 1006 Introduction to Medical Terminology 42
OFAD 1020 Computer Applications 2 for the Office 42
OFAD 1023 Professional Development and Employability 2 14
Communications Course  
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. 42
 Hours252
Semester 3
Program Courses  
COMP 2026 Integrated Office Simulations 42
OFAD 2000 Anatomy for Health Services 1 42
OFAD 2014 Bookkeeping for the Office Professional 42
OFAD 2031 Health Services Transcription 42
OFAD 2025 Electronic Medical Office 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours252
Semester 4
Program Courses  
COMP 2027 Computerized Administrative Simulations 42
OFAD 2006 Anatomy for Health Services 2 42
OFAD 2026 Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for Health Services 42
OFAD 2032 Health Services Practical Experience and Clinical Applications 42
OFAD 2033 Foundations in Health Records and Information Management 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours252
 Total Hours1008

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.

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