Medical Assistant Program
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Medical Assistant
Upon completion of the Medical Assistant Program:
- Students will learn the medical assisting profession, professional behavior in the workplace, interpersonal skills, human behavior, medical law, and ethics.
- Students will be skilled in performing the following clinical skills: Taking vital signs, assisting with various examinations, aseptic technique, administering medications, performing phlebotomy procedures and EKG’s.
- Students will learn the medical terminology, basic human anatomy, and physiology.
- Students will have the ability to perform administrative responsibilities such as completing medical insurance forms, the basics of diagnostic and procedural coding, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, and daily office operations.
- The student will be certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association.
Program Length
The Medical Assistant Program is 45 weeks for all students.
Job Objective
Upon completion of the program, the student should be prepared to work in entry- level positions in a physician’s office, clinic, or other medical setting.
Program Delivery
The Medical Assistant Program is a hybrid program (residential and online mode of delivery).
Upon successful completion of program diploma will be issued. Note: refer to graduation requirements on page 36.
MEDICAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM – 900 CLOCK HOURS (45 WEEKS FOR ALL CLASS)
| Module and Course Title | Clock Hours | Course Description |
| Red- Career Development and Administrative Procedures I | 100 Clock Hours | This module will provide the student with knowledge regarding Basic Computer concepts, Written communications and Mail processing, Basics of Diagnostic coding and Procedural coding, Basics of Health Insurance and Claim Form, Financial Practice Management, Medical Practice Management and Marketing and Career development and Life Skills. |
Blue- Administrative Procedures II | 100 Clock Hours | This module continues the study begun in Admin I (Red). The student will continue working on the basics of Diagnostic and Procedural Coding. The material covered will also cover patient reception and processing, the office environment and daily operations, medical office management, written communications, confidentiality and patient privacy, and health information management. |
| Pink- Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting | 100 Clock Hours | Students will have a mastery of vocabulary and will understand the broad scope of complexity of the medical assisting profession. They will understand the importance of personal appearance and the benefits of continuing education and affiliation with professional organizations. Students will develop needed communication and listening skills and will understand the grief process, recognize their own defense mechanisms, and develop appropriate skills to manage their defense mechanisms. Students will be able to explain the impact that the CEJA has on the medical community and understand the ethical and legal issues in the field of medicine. They will also demonstrate competency in interviewing a patient, completing a patient history, creating a patient record, and providing needed patient education through verbal and written educational materials. During this course student, also will demonstrate competency in standard precautions including but not limited to medical aseptic hand wash, disinfecting, sanitizing & sterilizing instruments, following OSHA guidelines for disposal of infectious waste. Students will demonstrate competency in Vital Signs such as taking temperature and recording pulses; obtaining and recording respirations; and measuring and recording blood pressures. Students will demonstrate competency in examination room preparation and maintenance; positioning and draping of patients; assembling equipment and supplies for assisting with a routine physical examination; and the use of proper body mechanics. |
| Orange-Clinical Medical Assisting with Medical Specialties I | 100 Clock Hours | This module prepares students to demonstrate competency in pharmacology principles, preparation of medications, including accurate pharmacology math calculations, administration, and documentation of medications for all routes of administration. Students will understand the pathophysiology related to the skin, gastrointestinal system (GI) and their accessory organs as well as the pathophysiology related to pediatric patients and be prepared to assist the physician with routine procedures associated in this age group. Students will also learn to demonstrate competency in instructing patients according to their specific dietary needs, which includes both verbal and written educational materials that are appropriate to meet the needs of a diverse population. |
| Purple- Clinical Medical Assisting with Medical Specialties II | 100 Clock Hours | Students will understand the pathophysiology related to the nervous system, endocrine system, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Students will understand the pathology related to geriatric patients and the impact of sensorimotor changes that occur during the aging process. Students will role-play many of the sensorimotor changes facing geriatric patients and develop effective methods of communicating with this special population. This course will also enable students to identify and label the cardiac cycle on an electrocardiogram (ECG) strip and accurately record a rhythm strip and a 12-lead ECG tracing; identify artifacts that may occur and be able to correct them; identify an abnormal ECG; This course also outlines various imaging modalities in radiology; methods for scheduling and sequencing imaging procedures; basic principles of film radiography, including patient positions for various x-ray views; radiation safety; and patient education for various diagnostic imaging examinations. |
| Green- Clinical Medical Assisting with Medical Specialties III and Assisting with Surgeries and Diagnostic Procedures | 100 Clock Hours | This module will help students understand the pathophysiology related to the urinary system, male and female reproductive systems and accessory organs as well as be prepared to assist the physician with routine procedures associated with these systems. Procedures include assisting with a urologic, male and female reproductive examination. Students will be prepared to describe the role of the physician and medical assistant when performing urology procedures, including patient education on testicular self-examination and patient preparation for various urinary system diagnostic procedures. Procedures also include preparing the patient for cryosurgery assisting with the female examination, Pap smear, prenatal examination, patient education on breast self-examination, determining due dates, and patient preparation for various female reproductive system diagnostic procedures. Students will demonstrate competency in wrapping items for autoclaving and operating the autoclave. In the area of urinalysis, the students will be able to instruct patients in the proper collection of urine specimens needed for various testing procedures (e.g., routine urinalysis and urine culture and sensitivity testing). Proficiency in various CLIA-waived lab testing such as dipstick urine, pregnancy testing and CLIA-waived tests for urine analyzes, such as glucose and ketones, will be demonstrated. Students will be able to identify a variety of surgical instruments; suture materials, and surgical needles. Students will demonstrate competency in assisting with aseptic surgical procedures, applying a variety of bandages, performing wound care and understanding the concepts and safety precautions for electro surgery, laser, cautery, and cryosurgery. |
| Yellow- Assisting in Emergency Medicine and Medical Laboratory Procedures | 100 Clock Hours | This module will enable students to demonstrate competency in the management of medical emergencies in the ambulatory care setting. This includesunderstanding the principles of CPR and first aid and being able to perform the skills necessary to safeguard the patient experiencing a medical emergency, as well as making sure the office is preparedfor a medical emergency. Students will understand the pathophysiology related to the eye, ear, and throat as well as be prepared to assist the physician with routine procedures associated with these organs and systems. Procedure include screening the patient for vision and hearing acuity and accurately recording the results in the patient record; performing eye and ear irrigations; instilling eye and ear medications; and collecting a specimen for a throat culture. Students will be prepared to describe the role of the physician and medical assistant when performing ophthalmology and otolaryngology procedures. Students will demonstrate competency in in the collection of blood specimens, including the proper selection and use of collection devices and methods. Students will demonstrate competency in collecting appropriate specimens for hematology, immunology, immunohematology, chemistry, toxicology and perform CLIA-waived testing in these areas, including an automated hemoglobin, a micro hematocrit, preparation and staining of a blood smear, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, a blood glucose test, a cholesterol test, a serological test for infectious mononucleosis, and a toxicology screen.Students will understand the principles underlying microbiologic testing and will demonstrate competency in collecting acceptable specimens for microbiology testing, in performing a Gram stain and recognizing the Gram reaction of the stained organism, in proficiently swabbing a patient’s throat for a throat culture or a rapid strep test, and performing a rapid strep test on a throat specimen. |
| White- Introduction to Medical Assisting Career and Basic of medicalAssisting | 40 Clock Hours | The student will be introduced to basic medical assisting that includes becoming a successful student, healthcare industry, the medical assisting career, introduction to infection control, vital signs, body systems, abbreviations, and introduction to emergency medicine. |
| Externship | 160 Clock Hours | This module will provide the student with opportunity to demonstrate actual hands on application of clinical and administrative skills learned in previous modules and work together with others as part of the health care team in the medical office or other outpatient settings where Medical Assistants are utilized. |
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