Program receives national accreditation
ST. JOHN’S, NL – College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has received accreditation for its two-year Medical Office Management program through the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM).
The CCHIM is a national, not-for-profit corporation that sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions and certification standards for health information professionals in Canada.
“Our college is proud to announce the accreditation of the Medical Office Management program offered by College of the North Atlantic in Newfoundland and Labrador,” states Jeff Nesbitt, CEO & Registrar of the CCHIM. “A certified workforce is a key factor in providing safe and quality care to people in Newfoundland and Labrador. We look forward to supporting students through this program and welcoming graduates into the profession of health information.”
As part of the agreement, CNA has reporting requirements for a two-year period, after which the program will receive an additional five-year accreditation.
The Medical Office Management program already has accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), however Stephen Warren, Dean of Business and Information Technology, says the additional CCHIM accreditation benefits the program – and its students – in several ways.
“We are thrilled our Medical Office Management program received the CCHIM accreditation,” says Warren. “This recognition underscores our commitment to providing industry-driven education and opens new doors for our students. With this accreditation, our graduates will be well-prepared to pursue the Health Information Certified Associate (HICA) designation, setting them on a path to successful and meaningful careers in healthcare administration. We are proud to be at the forefront of shaping the future of healthcare professionals and supporting the healthcare industry here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The Medical Office Management program is a recent offering at CNA, launched in the Fall of 2021. It’s designed to provide students with knowledge of medical office management theories and practices though hands-on learning and simulation exercises.
The major areas of the program include confidentiality, empathetic patient care, efficient medical office management practices, effective communications, document production, medical transcription, medical terminology and ethics.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Health and Community Services, Tom Osborne, says the new program will improve healthcare administration in the province.
“We are delighted College of the North Atlantic has received accreditation for its two-year Medical Office Management program,” he says. “Supporting health education is not just an investment in students, it’s an investment in the health and well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Through the Medical Office Management program, graduating students will improve health care administration and delivery, while guaranteeing positive health outcomes well into the future.”
College of the North Atlantic is the only post-secondary education institution in the province to receive accreditation through the CCHIM.
Source: College of the North Atlantic