Medical Assisting Diploma
Offered at the Following Campuses
Program Overview
Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals dedicated to assisting with patient care management, in an ambulatory care setting, such as physician's offices and clinics of all sizes, and other outpatient facilities. This practitioner performs administrative and clinical duties under the supervision of a licensed physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling and receiving patients, obtaining patient data, purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment, handling insurance matters, office accounts, fees and collections. Clinical duties may include assisting with examinations and treatments, taking medical histories, performing certain diagnostic tests, maintaining instruments and equipment, preparing, administering and documenting medications, collecting and processing specimens. The Medical Assisting program provides learning opportunities that introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in the area of medical assisting. Graduates of the program receive a Medical Assisting diploma.
Entrance Requirements
- Prospective students seeking admission into the Medical Assisting Program will enroll in the Medical Administrative Technician program initially.
- Submit a completed application;
- Be at least 17 years of age;
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript;
- Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
- Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.
Course Overview
Contact Minutes
Credit Hours
Curriculum Outline (63 hours)
General Core Courses (11 hours)
2
1500
(Prerequisite: Provisional Admission) This course is intended to assist the learner in attaining the skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success and to improve student retention. Topics include Getting off to a Good Start, Time and Money Management, Reading Skills, Test taking Skills, Wellness, Information Literacy, Communication Skills, and Career Planning Strategies.
3
2250
(Prerequisite: ENGL 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score AND READ 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score)
Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.
3
2250
(Prerequisites: MATH 0097 OR Appropriate arithmetic placement test score.)
Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, formula manipulation, technical applications, and basic statistics.
3
2250
(Prerequisite: Provisional admission)
Presents basic concepts within the field of psychology and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking and emotion. Emphasis is placed on students understanding basic psychological principles and their application within the context of family, work, and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychology as a science, the nervous and sensory systems, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, stress and health, and social relations.
Occupational Courses (52 hours)
5
3750
(Prerequisite: Regular Admission)
Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.
3
3750
(Prerequisite: Provisional Admission)
Introduces a grouping of fundamental principles, practices, and issues common in the health care profession. In addition to the essential skills, students explore various delivery systems and related issues. Topics include: basic life support/CPR, basic emergency care/first aid and triage, vital signs, infection control/blood and air-borne pathogens.
2
1500
(Prerequisite: Provisional Admission)
Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.
4
5250
(Prerequisites: BUSN 1100 or the ability to key 25 GWAM on 3-minute timings with no more than 3 errors)
(Co-requisite: COMP 1000)
Reinforces the touch system of keyboarding placing emphasis on correct techniques with adequate speed and accuracy and producing properly formatted business documents. Topics include: reinforcing correct keyboarding technique, building speed and accuracy, formatting business documents, language arts, proofreading, and work area management.
2
1500
(Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010, ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, COMP 1000)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1060, BUSN 1440)
Introduces the basic concept of medical assisting and its relationship to the other health fields. Emphasizes medical ethics, legal aspects of medicine, and the medical assistant's role as an agent of the physician. Provides the student with knowledge of medical jurisprudence and the essentials of professional behavior. Topics include: introduction to medical assisting; introduction to medical law; physician/patient/assistant relationship; medical office in litigation; as well as ethics, bioethical issues and HIPAA.
4
3000
(Prerequisites: ALHS 101, ALHS 109, MATH 1012, ALHS 104)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1090, MAST 1110)
Introduces medication therapy with emphasis on safety, classification of medications, their actions, side effects, medication and food interactions, and adverse reactions. Also introduces the basic concept of arithmetic used in the administration of medications. Topics include: introduction to pharmacology; dosage calculation; sources and forms of medications; medication classification; and medication effects on the body systems.
4
3750
(Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010, ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, COMP 1000)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1010, BUSN 1440)
Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice. Topics include: office protocol, time management, appointment scheduling, medical office equipment, medical references, mail services, medical records, and professional communication.
4
6750
(Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010, ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, COMP 1000, BUSN 1440)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1100, 1120)
Introduces the skills necessary for assisting the physician with a complete history and physical in all types of medical practices. The course includes skills necessary for sterilizing instruments and equipment and setting up sterile trays. The student also explores the theory and practice of electrocardiography. Topics include: infection control and related OSHA guidelines; prepare patients/assist physician with age and gender-specific examinations and diagnostic procedures; vital signs/mensuration; medical office surgical procedures and electrocardiography.
4
6750
(Prerequisite: MAST 1080)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1030, MAST 1110)
Furthers student knowledge of the more complex activities in a physician's office. Topics include: collection/examination of specimens and CLIA regulations/risk management; urinalysis; venipuncture; hematology and chemistry evaluations; advanced reagent testing (Strep Test, HcG, etc.); administration of medications; medical office emergency procedures and emergency preparedness; respiratory evaluations; principles of IV administration; rehabilitative therapy procedures; principles of radiology safety and maintenance of medication and immunization records.
2
3000
(Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010, ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, COMP 1000, BUSN 1440)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1080, MAST 1120)
Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice. Topics include: managed care, reimbursement, and coding.
3
4500
(Prerequisite: MAST 1100)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1030, MAST 1090)
Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice in the areas of computers and medical transcription. Topics include: medical transcription/electronic health records; application of computer skills; integration of medical terminology; accounting procedures; and application of software.
3
2250
(Prerequisites: ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090 ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010, COMP 1000, BUSN 1440)
(Co-requisites: MAST 1080, MAST 1100)
Provides fundamental information concerning common diseases and disorders of each body system. For each system, the disease or disorder is highlighted including: description, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, management, prognosis, and prevention. Topics include: introduction to diseases and diseases of body systems.
6
13500
(Prerequisites: Completion of all required coursework prior to externship/practicum, a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, no unresolved grades of 'F' or 'I' from previous courses, and good academic standing)
(Co-requisite: MAST 1180)
Provides students with an opportunity for in-depth application and reinforcement of principles and techniques in a medical office job setting. This clinical practicum allows the student to become involved in a work setting at a professional level of technical application and requires concentration, practice, and follow-through. Topics include: application of classroom knowledge and skills; functioning in the work environment.
3
2250
(Prerequisite: Completion of all required courses except MAST 1170)
(Co-requisite: MAST 1170)
Seminar focuses on job preparation and maintenance skills and review for the certification examination. Topics include: letters of application, resumes, completing a job application, job interviews, follow-up letter/call, letters of resignation and review of program competencies for employment and certification.
3
3750
(Prerequisite: Provisional admission)
Introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include an introduction to computer terminology, the Windows environment, Internet and email, word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, and presentation software.