Learn more about the academic programs we are delivering in Winter 2025. If you have any questions about part-time studies, please contact us.

 

Medical Unit Clerk

Seneca College Certificate

 

Overview

The medical and allied health fields represent a significant area of employment for graduates of Seneca Polytechnic's Medical Program Certificates. The Medical Unit Clerk program is designed to meet the training needs of:

  • Individuals seeking an entry level position in a variety of healthcare facilities or those re-entering the workforce,
  • Individuals working in a healthcare facility and wishing to upgrade skills and /or position through certification,
  • Individuals transitioning into or specializing in the medical field.

Students learn how to effectively use verbal and written communication skills when dealing with the public and/or medical personnel; manage patient information; handle confidentiality and medical ethics; use medical terminology including anatomy, pharmacology and laboratory terms correctly; and provide clerical and computer support to the healthcare team.

Certificate requirements are updated from time to time to meet changes in the workplace so that the skills of our graduates are on the "leading edge" providing them with the flexibility to work in a variety of medical environments.

Students must apply to graduate after completion of each certificate. Certificates cannot be awarded retroactively.

Entry Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with:
    • Grade 12 English: ENG4 (C) or ENG4 (U)

OR

  • Mature Student Status (age 19 or older) with the prerequisite course, its equivalent or appropriate Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate program credit (see Academic Upgrading)

OR

OR

Students who do not meet the admission requirement should contact the Program Coordinator directly for further advisement.

Prerequisites

It is your responsibility to ensure that program requirements and course prerequisites as outlined are met. Prerequisites are included for your academic protection. Knowledge of the prerequisite material is assumed by your instructor and instruction will proceed accordingly. Students lacking prerequisites not only jeopardize their own ability to succeed but present unnecessary interruption. If you lack appropriate prerequisites (or Transfer Credit for the prerequisite course) you may be asked to withdraw or transfer to a more appropriate course with the risk of academic/financial penalty.

Filter Classes: In Class     Online     Correspondence     Hybrid     Availability   

Part-time Studies courses are being offered in either of the following four formats: Online, Flexible, In-person, Hybrid. Click Availability below to see current offerings.

Curriculum

Certificate Requirements

LEG303
Communication I
Availability
 

In this course, students develop their knowledge of contemporary English grammar standards and organizational writing patterns, which together create a strong foundation for organizing and writing tasks in subsequent communication courses.

LEG303 is not eligible for Prior Learning Assessment.




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ACT303
Working and Communicating in Medical Settings
Availability
 

Learn theory and techniques for successful verbal and non-verbal communication and effective work skills, including communication systems, ethical behaviour, confidentiality, stress and time management, hospital organization, human relations. You must achieve a grade of 65% to pass this course.




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MDR100
Medical Terminology
Availability
 

Medical terminology will assist students in developing the language required to communicate effectively in a medical setting. Word structure, diagnostic procedures and pharmacology as well as common medical terminology related to twelve body systems will be studied. You must achieve a grade of 65% to pass this course.




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HNU103
Medical Keyboarding
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

Students need minimum keyboarding skills of 30 net words per minute with 5 or less errors. Students with keyboarding skills less than this need to improve their skills prior to registering for this course.

Corequisite(s):

MDR100

This course is designed to familiarize the user with medical keyboarding, medical terminology in medical documentation, and medical office skills. It includes case histories for timed writings, medical terminology, medical letters, and a variety of medical reports. These exercises will help the learner increase their knowledge of terms they will encounter on the job, and will improve their keyboarding speed and accuracy. A very brief introduction to Medical Transcription is included. This course is a prerequisite for the Beginning Medical Transcription course. You must achieve a grade of 60% to pass this course.




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KIP103
Introduction to Microsoft Office
Availability
 

Students will acquire skills using a variety of operations found in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and develop keyboarding skills (min. 35 wpm), through hands-on experience and assignments.




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AIP203
Microsoft Office
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

KIP103, LEG303

This course will familiarize students with the applications contained in the Microsoft Office Professional or Academic or University Edition of Microsoft Office 2016 covering Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.




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SST821
Medical Office Procedures
Availability
 

Medical Office Procedures is a course designed for the learner who plans to work as an administrative (front office) medical assistant in a private physician's office, specialty clinic, or hospital setting. It will include information on professional and career responsibilities, interpersonal communications, records management, written communications, financial administration, and managing the medical office. The Canada Health Act will be introduced as well as OHIP and the principles of OHIP medical billing.




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SST822
Medical Health Billing
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

MDR100 and KIP103/SST821

This course is of interest to secretaries, unit clerks, or anyone employed in a physician's office or medical clinic. Using a medical software billing package which meets the current requirements set out by the Ministry of Health for claim submissions, students acquire the necessary skills required to do health billing in a physician's office or medical clinic and become familiar with the Schedule of Benefits on line and Diagnostic Codes, give an Interpretation of the Remittance Advice and prepare OHIP claim submissions on desk or by EDT.




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SST836
Health/Medical Records Theory
Availability
 

This course is designed for individuals working or interested in working in the health care field: ward/unit clerks; volunteers; medical secretaries or administrative assistants; and medical insurance adjusters. Topics include addressing the changes in health care such as interpretation of The Health Act; multiculturalism; role of the District Health Council; the new Rights of Access to health information; what to expect in the future with respect to changes that impact on patient care, mandatory legislation re consent to treatment; Advocacy Acts; ethics and the law, and how they impact health care workers. You must achieve a grade of 65% to pass this course.




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SST851
Transcription Styles and Practices
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

MDR100 and LEG303

(Formerly Medical Transcription I)
Learn concepts and standards of style and format of medical reports and basic grammar rules in medical documentation. Prepare for medical transcription by applying industry standards, as set by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and presented in the Book of Style, third edition. The course introduces information not encountered outside of healthcare documentation.




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Other Course(s) of Interest

SST839
Dental Terminology
Availability
 

Develop sound knowledge of dental terms, with an emphasis on anatomy, disease terms, and instrumentation. Terminology specific to infection control, pain management, tooth restorations, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, and malocclusion is included.




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SST840
Veterinary Terminology
Availability
 

The focus of the course is on terminology used within the veterinary office in order to develop the language skills necessary to communicate effectively within this environment. Word structure and terminology are studied to ensure that those working in the veterinary profession understand the veterinarian, co-workers and clients. Terminology will be introduced along with a very basic understanding of anatomy and physiology using the body systems approach.




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EFFECTIVE MAY 2021, the graduation requirements for Medical Unit Clerk have changed. PRC127 and OCA103 have been replaced with the following:

Students who have already completed PRC127 and/or OCA103 can still use these credits to graduate.

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior Learning Assessment

Earn college credits for what you already know.
Prior Learning Assessment is a method of assessing and recognizing learning that is equal to college level learning, but has been gained outside a traditional classroom (through work experience, volunteering, outside study, etc.). If you can prove that the knowledge you have gained meets the outcomes of a Seneca course, then credit will be awarded.

How does the PLA process work?
Prior Learning is demonstrated through a "challenge" process. The process measures learning through a variety of methods which may include tests, portfolio assessment, interviews, demonstrations, essays, and work samples. The method used will be determined in consultation with a Program Coordinator.
For more information and to determine if you are eligible for PLA, please call the Program Coordinator.

The process may take from 6 to 8 weeks.

Note: Not all courses can be challenged. For more information go to PLA website or contact your Program Coordinator.

Transfer Credit

Many students who enter Seneca Polytechnic will have earned academic credits in postsecondary educational institutions which they may be able to apply toward completion of a Seneca Polytechnic program.

Requests for Transfer Credit must be for a specific course and must be accompanied by an official transcript and course outline. A minimum grade of "C" (60 percent) is generally required for a course to be considered for Transfer Credit.

Download a Transfer Credit Request form. An official copy of your transcript and applicable detailed course outlines should be attached and submitted. Please note it may take 4 to 6 weeks for a Transfer Credit decision.

More Information

Please visit the Office of the Registrar.

Please note: LEG303 is not eligible for Prior Learning Assessment.

Graduation/Convocation

When you meet all program requirements and become eligible for a certificate, diploma, or degree, you must inform the Registrar by completing a Graduation Application form and paying the graduation and alumni fee. Certificates, diplomas, and applied degrees are issued twice a year in the Fall (October), Spring (June) and Winter (February).

For further information including deadlines and fees, please visit the Convocation website or contact the Convocation Office at theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Minimum Performance for Graduation

A student will be eligible to graduate from a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or graduate certificate program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.0.

A student will be eligible to graduate from a degree program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.5, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the courses in their main field of study and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in breadth courses.

Program Contacts

Maria Graziosi
Program Assistant
Maria.Graziosi@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-0964


Melanie Rubens
Program Coordinator
Melanie.Rubens@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-0973


For more information about this program, fill out the following form.