Medical Registration Specialist

The Delgado Community College Registration Specialist of Technical Studies (CTS) is a program designed to prepare the student for an entry level position, which involves the registration of patients accessing medical care in various types of health care organizations and agencies. Upon completion of the curriculum, students will be eligible to complete the national examination for certification as a Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) from the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) after one year of experience in the field.

Official Program Description in the College Catalog

What is a Registration Specialist?

A Registration Specialist performs the initial interview with a patient to gather demographic and financial data to enter accurately into the health care organization’s computer systems and electronic health record. This health care professional must have an understanding of the importance of accurate data capture and how that data is being used and by whom.

Where can Registration Specialists work?

Any type of health care facility that treats patients
Hospitals
Clinics
Physician offices
Urgent care centers
Therapy centers
Chiropractors
Long term care facilities

What is the Registration Specialist CTS Program like at Delgado?

The Registration Specialist Program promotes a learning environment to develop the technical competency skills and critical thinking skills using a variety of instructional methods such as web-enhanced online course work, lecture recordings, videos, and simulated laboratory activities in an electronic health record and projects.

The Registration Specialist Program is 26 hours of college credit hours including English, Math, administrative office, and registration courses that can be completed in two semesters if the student attends full-time. Although there are no pre-requisites, it is recommended that HESC 118 Information Management for AHP, HESC 111 Medical Terminology, and BUSC 121 Business Math be completed prior to the Medical Registration Procedure course.

Minimum career entry competencies expected of graduates include:

Knowledge of medical and surgical terms
Understanding of information management and its uses and ability to enter data accurately into the master patient index
Understanding of privacy, confidentiality, compliance, fraud and abuse laws and practices
Understanding of the healthcare revenue cycle and the role of the Registration Specialist in the revenue cycle
Oral and written communication skills, including excellent customer relation skills
Critical thinking, organizational, and time management skills
Ability to use a computer and have mastery in the use of the Internet, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel
Ability to register a patient into a registration software program

What are the career opportunities for a Registration Specialist?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand will increase by 4% from 2019 to 2029. The Louisiana Workforce Commission shows a total annual demand of 70 positions.

Graduates may attain jobs in health care organizations with the following job titles:

Medical Registration Clerk
Medical Access Clerk
Registrar Admission Specialist
Medical Admission Clerk
Patient Access Representative
Admission Clerk

The salary range in the New Orleans area is currently reported at $29,000 – $36,000 depending on the type of health care organization.

Upon completion of the curriculum, students will be eligible to complete the national examination for certification as a Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) from the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) after one year of experience in the field.

Do you have to apply to the program?

No, the Registration Specialist Program is an open admission program.

Program Outcomes – Graduation Rate

Academic Year	% of Graduates
2018-2019	94%
2019-2020	100%
2020-2021	63%

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