GIBBS COLLEGE of BOSTON TO OFFER NEW HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATE DEGREES
New healthcare degrees offer students expanded opportunities as school transitions focus to Allied Health

BOSTON (March 18, 2010) – Gibbs College of Boston will offer Associate in Applied Science degrees in Medical Assisting and Health Information Management beginning in April. The addition of these two healthcare programs is the first step in the school’s transition to focus on an Allied Health curriculum.

"At the present time, there is a great deal of interest in making major changes in the way and to whom healthcare is delivered in the United States," said Alfred V. Persson, M.D., Gibbs College of Boston Board Chairman. "There is talk of adding 30 million people to the system but nowhere is a there a discussion of who is going to care of these people. It is the goal of Gibbs College of Boston to provide trained healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable in the science and compassionate in the art of medicine."

The Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students to assist medical providers by performing administrative duties and basic clinical duties in an office and/or medical center. The core curriculum covers a variety of subjects such as medical practice, medical law and ethics, medical communications, medical records, insurance, patient preparation and basic laboratory procedures and tests.

The Health Information Management program prepares students for careers in a variety of healthcare settings including medical offices, hospitals, clinics and skilled-care facilities. The curriculum is structured to include instruction in several areas including billing practices and systems, coding and reimbursement systems, data abstracting, health record maintenance and healthcare computer applications. The final portion of curriculum includes a supervised clinical externship at a medical facility.

These new healthcare programs incorporate introductory and advanced courses in core career skills classes and general knowledge for broad-based learning. The courses are taught by healthcare educators and practicing professionals and are designed to educate and train students with an emphasis on entering the workforce with the skills and knowledge that can help them pursue professional success.

"As a recent Gibbs College of Boston graduate and Surgeon, I know these new programs will offer students numerous professional opportunities," said Dr. Persson. "We have highly trained professionals with real world experience who are dedicated to providing students with the skills they need to pursue opportunities in an expanding healthcare field."

Dr. Persson earned an Associate Degree in Computer Graphics in 2008 after dedicating more than 35 years to a rewarding career as a surgeon. Dr. Persson retired in 1998 and began pursuing his personal interests. He enrolled at Gibbs College of Boston in 2006 to study computers graphics, something in which he had always been fascinated.

While studying at Gibbs College of Boston, Dr. Persson became a trusted figure among staff and students and was eventually asked to join the Board of Trustees as a student representative. At the end of 2007, Dr. Persson was elected as Vice Chair. Upon graduation from Gibbs College of Boston, he continued to serve on the board and was elected Chairman this past December.

"I sincerely enjoyed my time as a student at Gibbs College of Boston," said Dr. Persson. "Now it is my pleasure to give back to the school by helping implement the Medical Assisting and Health Information Management programs, offering future generations of students the chance to succeed in the healthcare field."

About Gibbs College of Boston Inc., a private two year college
Gibbs was originally founded by Katharine Gibbs in Providence, RI, nearly 100 years ago. Gibbs College of Boston offers career training in such fields as Medical Assisting, Office Administration and Business Administration. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Gibbs College of Boston does not guarantee employment or salary. For more information, please visit www.gibbsboston.edu

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