Medical Assistant - Technical Diploma

Focuses on the component parts of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Students practice formation, analysis and reconstruction of terms. Emphasis on spelling, definition and pronunciation. Introduction to operative, diagnostic, therapeutic and symptomatic terminology of all body systems, as well as systemic and surgical terminology.

Prepares learners to work in the healthcare environment as part of a healthcare team. Learners will investigate the healthcare community, patient privacy standards, and the professional behavior that is expected in today's medical community. Learner will examine various aspects of verbal and written communication skills, customer service principles, and problem solving techniques necessary to be a vital member of the healthcare workforce.

The course will explore the use of the electronic health record, the role of social media in health care communication, the uses of wearable technologies that monitor activity and heart rate, the use of data to manage population health and the impact of new developments on the healthcare workforce.

Introduces medical assistant students to office management, business administration and the electronic medical record (EMR) in the medical office. Students learn to schedule appointments, perform filing, record keeping, telephone and reception duties and communicate effectively with patients and other medical office staff, and keep an inventory of supplies. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Medical Assistant program; 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-501-107, Digital Literacy for Healthcare; and 10-501-104, Contemporary Healthcare Pract.)

Students learn to recognize human body structure and function in health and disease states. Students explore the causes, signs, and symptoms of diseases of the major body systems as well as the diagnostic procedures, usual treatment, prognosis, and prevention of diseases commonly diagnosed and treated in the medical office setting.(Prerequisite/Corequisite: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology).

Students gain skills that lead to success in college and employment. This course encourages students to develop a growth mindset and make wise choices. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)

Introduces medical assistant students to laboratory procedures commonly performed by medical assistants in a medical office setting. Students perform Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) waived routine laboratory procedures commonly performed in the ambulatory care setting. Students follow laboratory safety requirements and federal regulations while performing specimen collection and processing, microbiology and urinalysis testing. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Medical Assistant Program; 31-509-302 Human Body in Health/Disease; 31-509-301, MA Administrative Procedures; 31-509-304 Medical Assist Clin Procedures 1)

Introduces medical assistant students to the clinical procedures performed in the medical office setting. Students perform basic examining room skills including screening, vital signs, patient history, minor surgery and patient preparation for routine and specialty exams in the ambulatory care setting. Learner explores communication principles and psychology theories related to patient care. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Medical Assistant Program; 31-509-301, MA Administrative Procedures; 31-509-302, Human Body in Health and Disease; 31-509-303, Medical Asst Lab Procedures 1)

Prepares students to display professionalism and perform within ethical and legal boundaries in the health care setting. Students maintain confidentiality, examine legal aspects of ambulatory healthcare, perform quality improvement procedures, examine legal and bioethical issues, and demonstrate awareness of diversity.

Introduces students to medication classification, basic pharmacology principles, and supplements. Students apply basic pharmacodynamics to identify common medications and calculate dosages in preparation for medication administration. (Corequisites: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 31-509-302, Human Body in Health/Disease)

Introduces medical assistant students to health insurance and finance in the medical office. Students perform bookkeeping procedures, apply managed care guidelines, and complete insurance claim forms. Students use medical coding and managed care terminology to perform insurance-related duties. (Prerequisites: 31-509-301, Medical Assistant Administrative Procedures; 31-509-302 Human Body in Health & Disease; Corequisites: 31-509-304 Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures 1.

Prepares students to perform phlebotomy and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) waived hematology, chemistry, immunology and laboratory procedures commonly performed by medical assistants in the ambulatory care setting. (Prerequisites: Accepted into the Medical Assistant Program; 31-509-303 Medical Assistant Laboratory Procedures 1; 31-509-304 Medical Asst Clin Procedures 1; 31-509-301 Medical Asst Admin Procedures; 31-509-302 Human Body in Health & Disease; Pre/Corequisites: 31-509-306 Med Asst Clin Proced 2; 31-509-307 Med Office Insurance & Finance; 31-509-309 Medical Law, Ethics & Profess; 31-509-310 Medical Assistant Practicum)

Prepares medical assistant students to perform patient care skills in the medical office setting. Students perform clinical procedures including administering medications, performing an electrocardiogram, assisting with respiratory testing, coaching patients, and assisting with emergency situations in an ambulatory care setting. Students learn preventive care and principles of nutrition. (Prerequisites: 31-509-301 Medical Asst Admin Procedures; 31-509-304 Medical Asst Clin Procedures 1; 31-509-303 Medical Asst Lab Procedures 1; 31-509-302 Human Body in Health & Disease; Pre/Corequisites: 31-509-305 Med Asst Lab Procedures 2; 31-509-307 Med Office Insurance & Finance; 31-509-308 Pharm for Allied Health; 31-509-309 Medical Law, Ethics & Profess; 31-509-310 Medical Assistant Practicum)

Requires medical assistant students to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from all previous medical assistant courses in actual ambulatory health care settings. Learners perform medical assistant administrative, clinical, and laboratory duties under the supervision of trained mentors to effectively transition to the role of a medical assistant. This is a supervised clinical experience. CAAHEP required practicum. (Prerequisite: Accepted into the Medical Assistant program. Successful completion of all Medical Assistant courses.)