Medical Assistant

Objectives

Upon completion of the Medical Assistant program, graduates will possess the skill sand hands on experience to become entry level Medical Assistants, working in all aspects of the medical office. The content includes but is not limited to communication, transcultural communication in healthcare, interpersonal skills, legal and ethical responsibilities, health-illness concepts, administrative and clinical duties, emergency procedures including CPR and first aid, emergency preparedness, safety and security procedures, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and employability skills.

Description

The Medical Assistant program is designed to train students in all of the relevant aspects of medical office management including reception, booking appointments, records management, informatics, insurance billing, preparing patients for physical examinations, and minor surgeries, performing specialized medical tests including urinalysis, and collecting biological specimens, phlebotomy, EKG, limited X Rays, and processing and recording pharmacological data. Graduates of this program will be prepared to work at the entry level in medical offices, clinics and various medical practices.

Cost of the Program

• Enrollment Fee: $150.00
• Books and Professional Equipment: $650.00
• Uniforms (2): $80.00
• Tuition: $2,620.00
• Total: $3,500.00‍

Program breakdown by course

Course: MEA0543 - EKG Aide, MA

• Hours: 65
• Lab Hours 10

Course: MEA0581 - Clinical Assisting

• Hours: 50
• Lab Hours 10

Course: MEA0530 - Pharmacology for Medical Assisting

• Hours: 30
• Lab Hours 10

Course: MEA0506 - Administrative Office Procedures

• Hours: 50

Course: HSC0003 - Basic Healthcare Worker

• Hours: 40

Course: MEA0002 - Introduction to Medical Assisting

• Hours: 100

Course: MEA0501 - Medical Office Procedures

• Hours: 45
• Lab Hours: 10

Course: MEA0521 - Phlebotomist, MA

• Hours: 65
• Lab Hours: 30

Course: MEA0942 - Practicum Experience

• Hours: 100

Description of Courses or Unit of Contents

Course Name: EKG Aide, MA
Course Code: MEA0543
Length: 65 Hours

This course will cover the basic morphologic and physiologic concepts of the cardiovascular system. The students will study concepts including the gross anatomy of the heart, the electrophysiology of the action potentials and the conduction system of the heart, the cardiac cycle, physiologic mechanisms of the heart muscle fibers contraction, the sinus mechanisms, and the basic terminology regarding the cardiovascular pathophysiology.

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Course Name: Clinical Assisting
Course Code: MEA0581
Length: 50 Hours

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate professional and appropriate phone technique, explain the role of the medical assistant in the medical office, demonstrate appropriate professional behavior for the medical office, explain the use and function of computers in the medical office, demonstrate appropriate written communication skills and mail processing, demonstrate how to schedule appointments, basic bookkeeping principles, demonstrate cordial, courteous and professional patient reception, and patient processing.

Course Name: Pharmacology for Medical Assisting
Course Code: MEA0530
Length: 30 Hours

Dosage and calculations are the base concepts of this course. Students will develop the knowledge needed to understand basic dosage orders, as well as measure and record calculations for such dosages.

Course Name: Laboratory Procedures
Course Code: MEA0573
Length: 55 Hours 

In this course students will learn the basic concepts behind laboratory testing. Students will learn phlebotomy skills, use of Vacutainer, proper techniques involved in collecting biological specimens and material, appropriate storage and processing. Students will also learn how to perform urinalysis, hematology testing, immunology testing, and other labs performed in the medical office and laboratories. Students will learn to prepare and perform Electrocardiograms(EKG/ECG), perform respiratory testing, wrap and prepare items for autoclaving, and dispose of biohazardous materials. Students will develop a well-rounded skill base in the clinical laboratory testing.

The students will be able to perform CLIA-waived diagnostic clinical laboratory procedures, complying with safety signs, symbols, and labels and recognize signs and symptoms that may indicate to the physician a need for laboratory testing. They will describe the criteria used by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to classify a test as “CLIA waived” and the regulatory constraints on test performance and explain the methods of quality control for CLIA-waived testing, identify acceptable and unacceptable control results, and describe specific corrective action required when results are unacceptable.

The students will demonstrate proper techniques for the collection of urine, capillary whole blood (finger/heel stick), culture material (throat/nasal swab) and other specimen types required for CLIA-waived tests. They will be trained to instruct patients in the proper collection of urine (clean catch, mid-stream), sputum, and stool specimens. They will be trained to perform: 

• CLIA-waived occult blood tests and CLIA-waived urinalysis testing including color and turbidity assessment and reagent test strips.
• CLIA-waived hematology tests (e.g. - hemoglobin, hematocrit).
• CLIA-waived chemistry tests (e.g. - glucose, cholesterol).
• CLIA-waived pregnancy tests.
• CLIA-waived infectious disease testing (e.g. – strep screen, mono test, influenza A/B).

The course is designed to demonstrate knowledge of emergency preparedness and protective practices: 

• Maintain and operate emergency equipment and supplies.
• Participate in a mock environmental exposure event and document steps taken.
• Explain an evacuation plan for a physician’s office.
• Maintain a current list of community resources for emergency preparedness.‍

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Course Name: Administrative Office Procedures
Course Code: MEA0506
Length: 50 Hours

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate professional and appropriate phone technique, explain the role of the medical assistant in the medical office, demonstrate appropriate professional behavior for the medical office, explain the use and function of computers in the medical office, demonstrate appropriate written communication skills and mail processing, demonstrate how to schedule appointments, basic bookkeeping principles, demonstrate cordial, courteous and professional patient reception, and patient processing. 

The students will be able to perform administrative office duties, which will include: 

• Execute data management using Electronic Health Record (EHR) including, but not limited to, patient registration, appointment scheduling, charting, billing and insurance processing, procedure, and diagnostic coding, ordering and monitoring patient testing, medication and prescription orders, keyboarding and correspondence, and performing an office inventory.
• Execute non-EHR data management including, but not limited to, selecting appropriate procedure and diagnostic codes, process insurance data and claims, develop and maintain billing and collection systems.
• Perform various financial procedures, including, but not limited to, billing and collection procedures, payroll procedures, and checkbook procedures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of management in a medical office including but not limited to personnel records, interviewing, various management styles, risk management, and conflict resolution.

Course Name: Basic Healthcare Worker
Course Code: HSC003
Length: 40 Hours

This course provides training to execute data management using Electronic Health Record(EHR) including, but not limited to, patient registration, appointment scheduling, charting, billing and insurance processing, procedure, and diagnostic coding, ordering and monitoring patient testing, medication and prescription orders, keyboarding and correspondence, and performing an office inventory. 

Course Name: Introduction to Medical Assisting
Course Code: MEA0002
Length: 100 Hours

This course provides a solid foundation of the human body’s basic elements, organs, and organizational structure.  Students will learn the structure and function of the human body as well as cells, tissues, special senses, integumentary system, the muscular system, the nervous system, and the skeletal system, the circulatory system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the urinary system, reproductive system as well as fluid sand electrolytes.

Course Name: Medical Office Procedures
Course Code: MEA0501
Length: 100 Hours

This “Practicum” experience is a supervised, unpaid activity of a total of 100 hours of which 60 contact hours must be in an ambulatory health care setting and no more than 40 hours in a simulated laboratory setting performing administrative and clinical procedures and must be completed prior to graduation. Students ready for the Practicum experience have completed all other program requirements and are eligible for this final phase in the program.  

The program will ensure that the experience and instruction of students are meaningful and parallel in content and concept with the material presented in lecture and laboratory sessions. Sites should be selected so that each student is afforded a variety of experiences, while at the same time all students are provided consistent learning opportunities. This experience provides an opportunity for students to utilize both administrative and clinical skills learned in the Medical Assistant classroom and clinical environment in a local clinic, physician’s office, or other health care facility. 

The actual hands-on experiences will tie-in all the educational components based on theory and competency-based instruction that the student learned in the laboratory and classroom setting. This course is set to assess the students in their ability to utilize all critical thinking applications learned during the program and to apply these critical thinking skills during the Practicum experience.  The healthcare facility and the learning college/institute will expect the student to utilize good work ethics, show excellent civic responsibilities, and further learn to both embrace and respect cultural diversity.

Course Name: Phlebotomist, MA
Course Code: MEA0521
Length: 65 Hours

This “Practicum” experience is a supervised, unpaid activity of a total of 100 hours of which 60 contact hours must be in an ambulatory health care setting and no more than 40 hours in a simulated laboratory setting performing administrative and clinical procedures and must be completed prior to graduation. Students ready for the Practicum experience have completed all other program requirements and are eligible for this final phase in the program. 

The program will ensure that the experience and instruction of students are meaningful and parallel in content and concept with the material presented in lecture and laboratory sessions. Sites should be selected so that each student is afforded a variety of experiences, while at the same time all students are provided consistent learning opportunities. This experience provides an opportunity for students to utilize both administrative and clinical skills learned in the Medical Assistant classroom and clinical environment in a local clinic, physician’s office, or other health care facility.

Course Name: Practicum Experience
Course Code: MEA0942
Length: 100 Hours

 This “Practicum” experience is a supervised, unpaid activity of a total of 100 hours of which 60 contact hours must be in an ambulatory health care setting and no more than 40 hours in a simulated laboratory setting performing administrative and clinical procedures and must be completed prior to graduation. Students ready for the Practicum experience have completed all other program requirements and are eligible for this final phase in the program. 

The program will ensure that the experience and instruction of students are meaningful and parallel in content and concept with the material presented in lecture and laboratory sessions. Sites should be selected so that each student is afforded a variety of experiences, while at the same time all students are provided consistent learning opportunities. This experience provides an opportunity for students to utilize both administrative and clinical skills learned in the Medical Assistant classroom and clinical environment in a local clinic, physician’s office, or other health care facility.