The Healthcare Transitions Certificate provides fully online, asynchronous learning to high school graduates interested in preparing for a healthcare career. Courses provide skills necessary for entry-level positions such as medical assistant, medical record and health information technician, medical coder, medical administrative support professional, medical scribe and medical call center representative. Students will also have opportunities for face-to-face study groups and networking sessions.
16 weeks
Length of program
$4,250
Cost to complete program*
4
Total courses in program
*Workforce Development dollars may be available.
Interested?
Please complete the Extend(Ed) interest form to start your journey.
Contact
Kilinyaa Cothran
Please contact WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) Vice Dean and Director of Health programs.
314-935-3503
Learn more
This program helps students gain:
- Knowledge of essential features and structures of the healthcare system.
- An understanding of the larger human body system as it relates to health occupations.
- Comfort using medical terminology and electronic health systems for day-to-day patient care support.
- Strategies and systems for communicating clearly in healthcare workplaces.
Required Courses
In this course, learners will develop the necessary skills to ensure their success in the Healthcare Transitions certificate program. The course includes an introduction to healthcare professions within the United States healthcare system and an overview of the ways each role contributes to the patient experience. The course also addresses the duties and responsibilities, common tasks, and typical workplace settings relevant to various positions. Students will learn and practice the communication skills required for interactions with other healthcare professionals and within healthcare settings. Finally, the course explores an overview of the United States healthcare system, including a brief history; the differences between public and private healthcare; how facilities bill for services; and how laws and regulations govern healthcare practices.
Through this course, learners will develop a foundation of medical language necessary for communicating with healthcare professionals. Learners will become proficient in describing the origin of medical terms. Building, analyzing, and defining medical terms using word parts. Describing organizational components of the body, directional terms, anatomic planes, regions, and quadrants. Identifying the major body system structures and their related word parts. Defining medical terms related to diseases and disorders. Defining diagnostic terms for each body system. Recognizing common abbreviations used in each body system and specialty area. Pronunciation and spelling of medical terms will be stressed.
This course is designed for students who are currently functioning in healthcare or those who plan to enter the allied health workforce (e.g., medical transcription, medical coding, nursing assistant, etc.), to provide an overview of anatomy, physiology, and basic pathology.
This course provides an overview of medical clinical workflow, with emphasis on inter-professional electronic documentation and functionalities of the electronic health record (EHR). Through hands-on experience, this course advances the students’ understanding of the electronic health record, Health IT Policies, Data and Database Management Systems in support of the EHR.