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Optimizing the Clinic: Basics of Medical Office Management Specialization

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Coursera

Optimizing the Clinic: Basics of Medical Office Management Specialization

Excel in Medical Office Administration. Gain complete medical office management skills from patient care coordination to revenue cycle

Hurix Digital
John Whitworth

Instructors: Hurix Digital

Included with Coursera Plus

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Execute complete medical office workflows from patient registration through billing while maintaining HIPAA compliance

  • Navigate EHR systems to manage patient records, coordinate care, and ensure documentation accuracy for optimal reimbursement

  • Apply professional communication protocols to enhance patient satisfaction and streamline clinic operations efficiently

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

January 2026

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Specialization - 15 course series

What you'll learn

  • Proactive schedule audits ensure smooth clinic workflows and prevent disruptions affecting patient care.

  • Consistent reviews detect double bookings and authorization issues with accuracy and detail.

  • Accurate scheduling boosts patient satisfaction and improves overall clinic efficiency.

  • Identifying scheduling conflicts early prevents delays and enhances patient experience.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Health Care Administration
Category: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
Category: Clinic Management Systems
Category: Patient Flow
Category: Scheduling
Category: Medical Terminology
Category: Data Integrity
Category: Patient Communication
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Medical Records
Category: Quality Assurance
Category: Calendar Management

What you'll learn

  • Standardized procedures ensure safety, security, and consistency in medical offices while reducing operational risk.

  • Effective patient flow management coordinates room prep, patient movement, and staff communication for efficiency.

  • Scheduling, triage, and follow-up protocols support quality care through clear communication and decision frameworks.

  • Accurate patient intake and documentation are vital for compliance, financial integrity, and continuity of care.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Health Care Procedure and Regulation
Category: Care Coordination
Category: Data Entry
Category: Setting Appointments
Category: Clinical Documentation
Category: Patient Registration
Category: Record Keeping
Category: Cleanliness
Category: Regulatory Compliance
Category: Patient Safety
Category: Triage
Category: Patient Communication
Category: Standard Operating Procedure
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Safety and Security

What you'll learn

  • Effective patient communication builds trust, reduces anxiety, and enhances satisfaction through positive healthcare experiences.

  • Privacy compliance is vital—knowing HIPAA rules safeguards patients and organizations from legal and ethical risks.

  • Active listening and empathy turn routine interactions into meaningful patient support that strengthens care relationships.

  • Clear communication and teach-back methods prevent misunderstandings, ensuring patient safety and better health outcomes.

What you'll learn

  • Professional communication builds patient trust and satisfaction, directly influencing health outcomes and organizational reputation.

  • Active listening is both a clinical skill and an operational tool that reduces errors, improves patient compliance, and enhances care coordination.

  • Effective scheduling communication combines empathy and efficiency to address patient needs while maintaining smooth clinic operations.

  • Structured briefing protocols ensure accurate information transfer, reduce communication failures, and protect patient safety and continuity of care.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Professionalism
Category: Patient-centered Care
Category: Patient Communication
Category: Clinical Documentation
Category: Trustworthiness
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Communication
Category: Verbal Communication Skills
Category: Care Coordination
Category: Empathy
Category: Relationship Building
Category: Patient Safety
Category: Health Care Administration
Category: Active Listening

What you'll learn

  • Professional communication standards build patient trust and satisfaction, directly influencing health outcomes and organizational reputation.

  • Active listening reduces errors, improves patient compliance, and strengthens care coordination as both a clinical and operational skill.

  • Effective scheduling communication balances empathy and efficiency to address patient concerns while maintaining smooth clinic flow and resource use.

  • Structured briefing protocols ensure critical information transfer and prevent communication breakdowns that threaten patient safety and care.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Business Communication
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Action Oriented
Category: Professionalism
Category: Business Correspondence
Category: Writing
Category: Prioritization
Category: Strategic Communication
Category: Patient Safety
Category: Accountability
Category: Communication
Category: Patient Communication
Category: Organizational Skills
Category: Internal Communications
Category: Business Writing

What you'll learn

  • System navigation confidence grows through understanding login steps, interface elements, and basic troubleshooting, enabling use across systems.

  • Integrated clinic systems run as connected workflows where scheduling links billing and records, requiring admins to understand data flow for care.

  • Mentoring grows by clearly explaining technical steps and system links, turning individual skills into shared knowledge and boosting team efficiency.

  • Healthcare administration excels by treating clinic systems as unified workflows, enabling proactive problem-solving and smooth patient experiences.

Skills you'll gain

Category: End User Training and Support
Category: Health Care Administration
Category: Patient Flow
Category: Technical Support
Category: System Support
Category: Health Informatics
Category: Systems Integration
Category: Medical Practice Management Software
Category: Clinic Management Systems
Category: Patient Registration
Category: Data Integration

What you'll learn

  • Accurate data entry prevents cascading errors, improving patient care quality and ensuring efficient billing processes.

  • Systematic validation needs technical skills and clinical judgment to ensure correct issue escalation.

  • Efficient registration workflows balance speed and accuracy to enhance patient experience and maintain operational integrity.

  • Real-time error detection and correction safeguard patient safety and ensure organizational and regulatory compliance.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Validation
Category: Data Quality
Category: Patient Safety
Category: Data Entry
Category: Quality Assurance
Category: Health Information Management
Category: Data Integrity
Category: Hospital Admissions
Category: Medical Records
Category: Registration
Category: Electronic Medical Record System
Category: Patient Flow
Category: Patient Registration

What you'll learn

  • Organizational structure knowledge is fundamental to efficient problem-solving and ensures issues reach the right decision-makers quickly.

  • KPIs serve as the operational compass, translating daily activities into measurable business outcomes that drive strategic decisions.

  • Proactive inventory management prevents stockouts and overstocking, improving patient care and operational efficiency.

  • Systematic adherence to established procedures creates predictable workflows that support consistent clinic performance and staff confidence.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Supply Management
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Inventory Management
Category: Inventory Control
Category: Business Communication
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Organizational Structure
Category: Health Care Administration
Category: Operations Management
Category: Inventory Management System

What you'll learn

  • Data integrity in patient records is a critical patient safety concern that demands structured protocols and careful handling.

  • Duplicate records fragment patient care, increasing the risk of missed information, repeated tests, and serious medical errors.

  • Audit trails and consistent documentation practices support legal compliance and quality assurance in healthcare data management.

  • Effective duplicate detection combines automated matching tools with human judgment for complex cases requiring escalation.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Patient Safety
Category: Data Integrity
Category: Data Validation
Category: Patient Registration
Category: Consolidation
Category: Data Cleansing
Category: Health Information Management
Category: Records Management
Category: Data Management
Category: Electronic Medical Record
Category: Reconciliation
Category: Medical Records
Category: Record Keeping

What you'll learn

  • Patient privacy protection is a legal and ethical duty, requiring constant vigilance and consistent application of HIPAA principles.

  • The "minimum necessary" standard is fundamental to all healthcare data sharing and must be consistently applied across all patient interactions.

  • Standardized medical records improve care efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and support high-quality healthcare delivery.

  • Record retention policies and proper documentation sequencing protect both patients and healthcare organizations from legal and operational risks.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Health Information Management and Medical Records
Category: Information Privacy
Category: Medical Privacy
Category: Medical Records
Category: Record Keeping

What you'll learn

  • Code accuracy is the foundation of practice financial health – small errors create significant revenue loss over time.

  • Clinical documentation quality directly determines reimbursement levels, making clear provider notes essential for maximum payment.

  • Systematic procedural coding processes prevent claim denials and ensure appropriate compensation for services rendered.

  • Revenue cycle optimization requires understanding the critical connection between clinical care documentation and financial outcomes.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Revenue Management
Category: Medical Coding
Category: CPT Coding
Category: Revenue Cycle Management
Category: Clinical Documentation
Category: Medical Billing
Category: Health Administration
Category: ICD Coding (ICD-9/ICD-10)
Category: Medical Billing and Coding
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Medical Terminology

What you'll learn

  • Accurate medical coding and payer terminology knowledge are essential for strong revenue cycle management and avoiding claim denials.

  • Understanding the full claim lifecycle supports proactive problem-solving and helps prevent issues that lead to payment delays.

  • Systematic charge entry with built-in quality checks ensures payer compliance and improves first-pass claim acceptance rates.

  • Electronic claim submission requires close attention to detail and guideline adherence to reduce manual work and processing delays

Skills you'll gain

Category: Medicare
Category: Adjudication
Category: Medical Billing and Coding
Category: Electronic Medical Record System
Category: Medical Coding
Category: Claims Processing
Category: CPT Coding
Category: ICD Coding (ICD-9/ICD-10)
Category: Revenue Cycle Management
Category: Medical Terminology
Category: Medical Billing
Category: Medicaid

What you'll learn

  • Accurate coding requires systematic review of clinical documentation using established criteria, not assumptions or guesswork.

  • Clean claim submission depends on careful verification of insurance details, modifiers, and charge accuracy.

  • Revenue cycle success relies on correct coding and billing the first time due to limited payer appeal options.

  • Standardized processes and consistent coding guideline use reduce compliance risk and improve reimbursement outcomes.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Patient Registration
Category: CPT Coding
Category: Billing & Invoicing
Category: Clinical Documentation
Category: Revenue Cycle Management
Category: Medical Coding
Category: Medical Records
Category: Medical Billing
Category: ICD Coding (ICD-9/ICD-10)
Category: Medical Billing and Coding
Category: Health Information Management and Medical Records
Category: Claims Processing

What you'll learn

  • Accurate referral data collection prevents administrative bottlenecks and ensures specialist offices can act immediately on patient needs.

  • Systematic workflows reduce patient wait times and improve care transitions through consistent, coordinated communication across all stakeholders.

  • Structured follow-up processes are essential for closing the care loop, ensuring patient compliance, and identifying potential complications early.

  • Documentation accuracy in referral coordination directly impacts patient outcomes and organizational efficiency.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Setting Appointments
Category: Patient Registration
Category: Record Keeping
Category: Follow Through
Category: Care Coordination
Category: Medical Records

What you'll learn

  • Emergency preparedness depends on clear knowledge of codes, protocols, and communication chains for fast, coordinated critical response.

  • Standardized communication scripts and procedures reduce errors and ensure consistent information transfer during high-stress emergency situations.

  • Effective handoff communication to first responders can significantly impact patient outcomes and response efficiency.

  • Medical office emergency response is a team effort that depends on every member understanding their role and executing protocols with precision.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Patient Safety
Category: Triage
Category: Patient Coordination
Category: Emergency Medicine
Category: Patient Communication
Category: Urgent Care
Category: Medical Office Procedures
Category: Emergency Departments
Category: Communication Strategies
Category: Stress Management
Category: Incident Response
Category: Emergency Response
Category: Medical Emergency

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Instructors

Hurix Digital
Coursera
101 Courses2,667 learners
John Whitworth
Coursera
0 Courses0 learners

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Coursera

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