Medical Assistant

This course is designed to provide fundamental knowledge for students who are entering the Medical Assistant Program. Focus is placed on the profession, health care system, professionalism, who you are as a person, working with others, and personal life impacts success. A grade of “C” or better is required to pass MEDA classes. Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL110M and permission of the Program Director.

Introduces the Medical Assistant Student to the essential knowledge and clinical skills needed in general medical office or clinical setting. Theoretical content will include but not limited to, patient assessment, patient preparation, medical history taking, vital signs and anthropometric measurements; preparation and assisting with physical examination, instrumentation sanitation, disinfection and sterilization of instruments and equipment and assisting with minor surgical procedures and wound care. Prerequisite: AHLT110M. Corequisite: BIOL106M and BIOL107M.

This course will offer students the opportunity to explore, study, and practice numerous administrative responsibilities associated with work in a medical office. The course focuses on career opportunities, professionalism, appointment scheduling, letter composition relevant to the medical office, telephone techniques, records management, banking duties, and the maintenance of a recordkeeping system. The major insurance carriers are reviewed as well as such programs as Worker's Compensation, Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPUS/CHAMPVA. Accuracy in procedural and diagnostic coding will be stressed as a way to maximize reimbursement. Students will use computerized patient and insurance billing software to produce insurance claims and patient invoices efficiently. Prerequisite: AHLT110M.

Building upon the skills acquired in Clinical Laboratory Procedures I, the student will gain the knowledge essential for a variety of health care settings and specialties as well as physician office laboratories. Content and lab skills presented will include: ECG’s, Spirometer Testing, Medication Administration, Microbiology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Emergency Preparedness, and Phlebotomy. Prerequisite: MEDA125M.

This capstone course will allow students to receive supervised hands-on experience at off-site locations related to the medical assistant field. All practicums are unpaid positions, and students must have submitted all documentation as stated in the Medical Assistant Handbook to the Medical Assistant Program Director. There are no evening or weekend practicums. Corequisite: MEDA 225M. Prerequisite: All MEDA courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

Students in the Medical Assistant Practicum course will review their internship progress and discuss issues related to successful employment. Resumes, cover letters, interviewing techniques, and job-keeping skills are some of the topics included in this course. Corequisite: MEDA223M.