Proper documentation and record-keeping is vital to ensure the health and recovery of patients in the healthcare system. Maintaining and protecting the enormous quantity of records is a vital job that requires a highly organized and well-trained medical records clerk.
Vancouver Career College's Medical Records Clerk diploma program teaches the practical and academic skills needed to safeguard and maintain personal medical records. The intensive program prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare workplaces, including hospitals, research facilities, and insurance companies.
Students learn protocols such as filing, processing and monitoring medical records. Topics such as medical classifications and terminology, privacy legislation, and other administrative and clerical skills are covered. Students put their classroom skills into practice during the course of their 125-hour practicum in a real world health care workplace.
"I've enjoyed every module. There wasn't a dull one at all. The class size was just right. We really felt like a family." - Maria S., Vancouver Career College Graduate
This program is 33 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Administrative Assistants
- Medical Office Clerks
- Office Administrators
- File Clerks
- Medical Records Clerks
- Medical Transcriptionist
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
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| SSSE |
Student Success Strategies |
25 |
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stress management and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume and learn how to write effective cover letters.
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| FCME |
Fundamentals of Computers |
50 |
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- This course presents an introductory look at Windows 7 and its interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of navigating and personalizing the interface, organizing files and folders, using media devices, and searching for information. This course relies heavily on practical hands-on activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
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- This course will present the MS Word application interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of word processing, document, and paragraph and character formatting, working with templates, lists and tables. This course relies heavily on hands-on practical activities which allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
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| M5000 |
Fundamentals of Health Information Management |
50 |
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- This module provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of health information in Canada and the management of health care information regardless of the medium and format. Although emphasis is on the Canadian system, comparisons with the US health care system are explored. Some of the topics covered in this module are; the Canadian health care system, various types of health information systems, the health record paper version, health information standards, collecting health care data, quality and uses of health information, confidentiality and compliance, statistics, etc. This course employs a variety of participatory instructional methods and activities; interactive lectures, small group work, discussion, practice simulation, group presentations. In-class activities will provide the student with the chance to apply the concepts and ideas to the topics taught.
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| M5005 |
Health Records Clerk |
50 |
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- This module will prepare students for the role of a medical records/health information clerk. Students will gain skills in the areas of medical record assembly, medical record analysis, the physician incomplete area, processing certificates, case management clerk, cancer registry clerk, outpatient clinic clerk, optical imaging clerk, processing medical records and record retention. This course employs a variety of participatory instructional methods and activities; interactive lectures, small group work, discussion, practice simulation, group presentations. In-class activities will provide the student with the chance to apply the concepts and ideas to the topics taught.
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| ML1E |
Medical Language I |
75 |
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- Medicine, like other professions, has its own language. Students will learn to work with the specialized terminology of medicine, including the pronunciation and spelling of terms to describe medical circumstances and situations.
Students will learn through descriptions, illustrations and exercises to identify the major anatomical features and systems of the body and the common pathologies, which can adversely affect these systems.
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| EHRE |
Electronic Health Records |
50 |
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- This module will teach students the basics of the EHR. This module will give the students an overview of what electronic health records are, how they came about and the forces that are driving toward the EHR. Some of the topics covered in this module are; the electronic medical records systems, the creation of an electronic medical record, how to manage the electronic medical record, security around the EHR, the electronic medical record and its components, etc. This module continues to build the student’s computer skills with additional methods to speed data entry. Additionally, students are introduced to computerized order entry. This course employs a variety of participatory instructional methods and activities; interactive lectures, small group work, discussion, practice simulation, group presentations. In-class activities will provide the student with the chance to apply the concepts and ideas to the topics taught.
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- This module explores the different methods of data storage, including terminal digit filing, alphabetic filing, numeric filing, and batch filing. Students learn about colour coding, out guides, how to manage volumes and how to locate misfiles. They will also become familiar with filing equipment and archiving and storage systems.
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| M5030 |
Processing Medical Records |
75 |
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- This module provides students with a background into medical files and their handling. Students learn about the uses of medical records, how to enter records into tracking systems, the process of signing records in and out of management systems, and file maintenance.
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| M5040 |
Office Procedures |
75 |
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- The purpose of the course is to provide the students with extensive knowledge of the day to day office procedures that are carried out in the typical health office. The student will learn and practice a variety of skills in the areas of registration, communication, billing and reception. The course covers the scheduling of appointments, the billing process using the appropriate provincial diagnostic and service codes, as well as professional communication skills in verbal and written form, professional telephone etiquette, appointment scheduling and equipment appropriate to the health office.
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- This course will provide students with basic medical transcription skills necessary to understand verbal dictation and convert it to a text format. Using dictation equipment and transcription software, the student will transcribe medical reports from a variety of specialties. These reports will include chart notes, consultations, discharge summaries, history and physical reports, follow-up reports, medical letters, pathology reports and more. Students will learn a variety of medical terms while transcribing for various disciplines such as dermatology, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurology, gastroenterology, urology, ophthalmology, pathology and more. Although emphasis is on dictation, typing skills and drills are included for the purpose of building speed and accuracy. The goal is for students to be able to maintain a speed of 50 wpm with less than 3 errors by end of course.
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- A five-week (125 hours) non-supervised learning position in a medical setting such as a hospital, care facility, or medical research facility, working with the procurement and organization of medical information and records.
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| CESE |
Career and Employment Strategies |
25 |
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- Students will have the opportunity to review and discuss the final practicum placement. Theory that has been presented throughout the program will be revisited and students will complete review assignments and a final competency exam. Simulated practice will be given in panel interviews as well as practice scenarios for job interviews. Students will update their resumes and cover letters. Students will have use of a Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers.