Certified clinical medical assistants (CCMAs) are critical healthcare team members in a variety of medical settings. As a CCMA, you are often the first and last person a patient interacts with, making a lasting impact on the overall patient experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a 16% increase in job demand, which equates to 117,800 new job opportunities between now and 2031. This is five times the average growth rate expected for all jobs.

You will also be trained in electronic health record (EHR) systems and prepare to earn your CEHRS certification. In this training, you will learn how staff members and patients interact with EHR systems, what benefits these systems provide, and the steps to implementing an EHR system. Medical records technicians are also expected to encounter similarly bright employment prospects. According to the BLS, job opportunities for medical records technicians are expected to grow by 7%, or 12,300 new job openings between now and 2031.

The NHA envisions a new career dynamic in which medical assistants will need to work more closely with electronic health records due to changes in U.S. government regulations. The BLS estimates these highly qualified specialists can expect to earn $46,660 per year on average.

HOW DOES A CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT’S WORK INVOLVE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS?
Electronic health records (EHR) act as portable records of a patient’s healthcare experience. According to the NHA, certified medical assistants can enter information into EHR systems. In many cases, medical assistants who take on this responsibility help doctors see and treat patients more efficiently and may help reduce errors in medical procedures and their documentation.

IS CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR A CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT?
While certification requirements vary by location and organization, earning a certification such as the CCMA can help designate a prospective medical assistant as a serious professional. The NHA also notes as of 2020 that approximately 89% of employers now require certification for career paths that lead to promotion or emerging roles such as health coach, patient navigator or patient care coordinator.

WHAT DOES AN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST’S WORK INVOLVE?
While a medical assistant works directly with healthcare professionals and patients, the EHR Specialist is focused on the electronic documentation of the patient’s care and condition. EHR Specialist job activities might include:

• Auditing patient records for compliance with government or insurance requirements
• Abstracting clinical information for reporting purposes
• Performing basic coding for reimbursement claims
• Processing Release of Information (ROI) requests for medical records
• Reviewing patient records for completion and accuracy
• Collecting patient information for demographic and insurance reports
• Discussing patient information with physicians and insurance professionals

IS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SPECIALIST A GOOD CAREER FOR REMOTE WORK?
Because electronic records are held and updated online, EHR Specialist is considered an option for a remote or home-based career. ZipRecruiter.com reports that most employers will require that remote team members have strong, secure internet connections and most will require certification.

• Gain the skills needed to contribute to a healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
• Learn to manage patient visits, arranging follow-up care, and issuing prescriptions
• Understand ethical behavior, therapeutic communication, patient privacy laws, medical terminology, and clinical procedures
• Identify the functions of the major body systems, how to measure vital signs, and perform injections and venipuncture
• Introduction to electronic health records (EHR) systems with hands-on experience using real EHR software
• Prepare to sit for the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) CCMA and CEHRS certification exams
• Gain the opportunity to become CPR certified and participate in an unpaid clinical experience

There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, you will need a high school diploma or GED in order to take the CCMA and CEHRS exams.

Medical Terminology
Introduction to Medical Terminology
The Musculoskeletal System
The Cardiovascular System
The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
The Respiratory System
The Digestive System
The Urinary System
The Nervous System
The Special Senses, The Eyes and Ears
The Integumentary System
The Endocrine System
The Reproductive System
Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
Introduction to Medical Assisting
Telecommunications, Written Communications, Computers, and the Medical Office Environment
Patient Scheduling and Managing Medical Records
Medical Insurance and Coding
The Revenue Cycle
CPR Certification
Pharmacology Fundamentals
Pathophysiology
Infection Control and Medical Asepsis
Chief Complaint, Patient History, and Vital Signs
Assisting with Examinations
The Physician’s Office Laboratory
Cardiology and Diagnostic Imaging Procedures
Surgical Asepsis and Minor Office Surgeries
Medication Administration Procedures
Emergencies, First Aid, and Mental Health in the Medical Office
Rehabilitation and Nutrition
Workplace Readiness

Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
An Overview of EHR and CEHRS
An Introduction to MOSS 3.0
History of EHRs
Steps to EHR Implementation
The EHR Framework
HIPAA Requirements and EHR Systems
The EHR and Record Content
Lists, Treatment Plans, Orders, and Results
Patient Visit Management
Coding, Billing, and Practice Reports
Patient Communications
Practice Reports, Research, Registries, and Reportable Events
Personal Health Records and Continuing Care Records

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. EHR clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

Jennifer Della'Zanna

Jennifer Della'Zanna has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having worked as a medical transcriptionist, practice administrator, biller, and coding specialist. She writes courses and study guides on the use of technology in health care and regularly contributes to publications about health issues. Della'Zanna is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Albright College.

Rachael Delekta

Rachael Delekta is an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist. Rachael has been in the health care field for over ten years. She has worked mostly on the insurance side of things, as a customer service manager for dental insurance, a claims and customer service coach, and a workers' compensation case management biller and auditor. She works daily with medical records and healthcare software.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns EHR own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Sharon L. Blackford

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a master’s degree in Organizational Management, a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active-duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.

Stacey O'Brien

Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.

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