The Canadian College of Health Information Management and Bow Valley College are proud to announce the successful accreditation of the Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk Certificate program. This is the first program in Alberta to receive accreditation status for the Health Information-Certified Associate (HICA) professional designation, demonstrating the quality of Bow Valley College’s program and their commitment to aligning with industry standards and employer needs.
Graduates of the Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk certificate program are now eligible to write the National Certification Exam (NCE) and earn a HICA professional designation. HICA is fast becoming a preferred hiring qualification for clinics and health authorities across the country.
“We have worked diligently to ensure our curriculum aligns with healthcare industry needs and meets the high standards of the Canadian College of Health Information Management’s HICA designation,” says Crystal Tulloch, Associate Dean in the Chiu School of Business at Bow Valley College. “The accreditation recognizes the quality of our Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk program and the excellence of our graduates.
“A strong understanding of health care systems and technology, as well as employing robust health information management practices is vital to keeping health care running efficiently and safely,” says Rudy Schmidtke, Program Chair at Bow Valley College. “The fact our program is recognized as meeting HICA standards demonstrates that employers can trust our graduates to have the skills to manage sensitive and confidential patient information critical in this healthcare role. We are excited that our recent June 2024 graduates are our first group eligible to write the HICA national exam.”
The HICA designation offers more career options for graduates, including within Alberta Health Services facilities, medical and specialist offices, diagnostic and rehabilitation clinics, and other medical practices.
Jeff Nesbitt, the CEO & Registrar of the Canadian College of Health Information Management and CHIMA, states “We look forward to providing support to both faculty and students participating in this program, and warmly welcoming graduates who complete our HICA national certification examination successfully.” Nesbitt emphasizes that “certification acknowledges the significance of health data in ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality care to people throughout our country.”
Bow Valley College’s Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk certificate can be completed in 10 months and includes a work-integrated-learning opportunity. The program prepares graduates to manage information and administrative workflows in a fast-paced healthcare setting. Learners acquire knowledge and skills in health care fundamentals, health organizations, medical terminology, digital literacy, office administration, unit coordination, health billing, health information systems, clinical skills, and communication strategies. To learn more, please visit the Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk program page on Bow Valley College’s website.
