Program Description
The Medical Assisting curriculum prepares multi-skilled health care professionals qualified to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures. Course work includes instruction in scheduling appointments, coding and processing insurance accounts, billing, collections, computer operations; assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, electrocardiography, supervised medication administration; and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates in this program should be able to:
- Practice professional behaviors incorporating personal responsibilities and accountability to continued competence.
- Communicate effectively with patients, significant support staff, and members of the healthcare team.
- Integrate clinical knowledge to assess situations to meet the needs of the patient.
- Understand and implement the request of the medical provider.
- Maintain the management of the medical office by implementing administrative and financial skills.
- Utilize an Electronic Health Record system to effectively manage patient information
CAAHEP Accreditation
The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1575, Chicago, IL 60606, 800-228-2262, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, 727-210-2350.
Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants CMA (AAMA).
Employment Opportunities
Upon graduation students are eligible to work in physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, hospital clinics, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and other related areas.
Pre-Medical Assisting
Students are admitted under the Associate in General Education degree program until they have met the admissions requirements for the program. Faculty members advise students as to the courses they should take before formal admission. All developmental requirements must be completed before admission or registration into some courses.
Students who are admitted into the Medical Assisting program are advised to be full-time and follow the semester-bysemester curriculum plan. For more specific information, contact the department head or the Health Sciences Admissions Coordinator.
Admission
The following requirements must be completed for admission:
- Updated application
- High School Transcript or equivalent
- Official transcripts of all post-secondary education
- Minimum GPA of 2.0 on previous college work
- Placement testing or approved waiver
- Appointment with admissions coordinator or Medical Assisting department head
Medical Assisting Applicants
Students are admitted under the Associate in General Education degree until they have met admissions requirements for the Medical Assisting Program. Medical assisting faculty members advise students as to the courses in the medical assisting curriculum they should take before formal admission. All developmental requirements must be completed before admission.
Progression/Readmission
Specific progression and readmission criteria may be found in the Medical Assisting Program handbook, which will be made available to students upon entry into the program. For questions, contact the department head or admissions coordinator. Students must maintain a minimum grade of “C” (70) in all Medical Assisting (MED) courses, and satisfactory completion of all skills to remain in the program. A criminal background check, drug test or other requirements must be completed before students are allowed to participate in practicum.
Technical Standards
Students entering the program must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in the admissions office and in the program handbook.
Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 336-506-4130 for more specific information.
Additional Program Costs
The Medical Assisting curriculum has additional costs associated with it. Students who enroll in this program are required to pay for such items as certification exams, achievement tests, uniforms, supplies, and the like. Many of these are required as part of the curriculum, but are not provided by the College. Additional expenses required for this program are listed below with approximate costs.
- Uniforms and supplies-$250
- Physical-$150
- Hepatitis vaccination (series of 3)-$200
- Certification exam-$125
- AAMA student dues-$25
- Liability insurance-$16 per year
- Criminal background check-$30
- Urinary drug screen-$45
- Medical Assisting pinning fees-$30
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