Versatile Medical Assistant

Program Overview

Total Clock Hours

720 hours

Program Length

7 months

Graduation Requirements

Complete all courses with a minimum score of 70% on all course work

Award

Certificate of Completion

Program Description

The Versatile Medical Assistant program prepares the student in a wide variety of skills in the health care industry. Included are those skills that prepare the student to perform appropriate administrative and clinical duties and laboratory procedures. Additionally, the program includes components in the basics of Coding and Billing, the basics of Pharmacology and medical assisting for specific specialists.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of this program, the graduate will be able to:

• Use medical terminology and anatomy knowledge to describe body systems and functions.
• Perform basic clinical procedures, including vitals, specimen collection, and patient prep.
• Assist physicians during exams and procedures across multiple specialties.
• Navigate electronic health records to manage patient data and appointments.
• Carry out front-office tasks like scheduling, billing, and record management.
• Calculate and prepare medication dosages using standard measurement systems.
• Understand legal and ethical responsibilities of a medical assistant.
• Apply basic coding and billing practices using ICD and CPT systems.
• Use and maintain lab and medical equipment safely and accurately.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and healthcare teams.
• Enter an entry-level position in a healthcare setting.

Program Mission

The mission of this program is to provide high quality healthcare assistant training that prepares the student for the ever changing healthcare environment.

Outline of Subject Matter

Topic	Description	Hours
Anatomy and Physiology I	The fundamentals of anatomy, physiology and medical terminology associated with digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, blood forming, lymphatic and nervous systems. Emphasis on spelling, pronunciation, and meaning of medical terms.	60
Anatomy and Physiology II	Continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I. Concentrates on the special senses, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, urinary, female and male reproductive systems and mental health.	60
Clinical Medical Assisting	Taking and charting vital signs, assisting the physician with physical examinations, assembling equipment, collecting and testing specimens including basic urinalysis, pregnancy testing, Hemoccult testing, slide preparation, blood glucose testing, and sterilization of equipment.	60
Medical Office Procedures	Reception duties, telephone etiquette, booking appointments, filing, mail processing, maintaining patient confidentiality, medical supply ordering, patient record management, handling medical emergencies, legal aspects of medicine, interpersonal skills, and stress management.	60
Medical Coding and Billing	Third-party payer billing, state and federal rules and regulations, compliance issues, HIPAA, patient record keeping, patient registration, scheduling, reimbursement methodologies, CPT-4 and ICD coding systems.	100
Electronic Health Records	Hands-on learning to scan, import and convert health information into specialized applications. Review electronic health records for timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness. Patient confidentiality laws, authorized release of information, and data security.	40
Basics of Pharmacology	Medication therapy with emphasis on safety; classification of medications; their actions, side effects, medication and food interactions and adverse reactions. Basic methods of arithmetic used in administration of medications, dosage calculation, sources and forms of medications.	40
Medical Law and Ethics	Basic concept of Medical Assisting and its relationship to other health fields. Medical ethics, legal aspects of medicine, and the Medical Assistant's role as an agent of the physician. Medical jurisprudence and essentials of professional behavior.	40
Lab Practice - Injections and Venipuncture	Administration of medications, phlebotomy, and aiding in diagnostic tests and procedures. Venipuncture and skin puncture technique, compliance with Universal Standards and Precautions based on OSHA guidelines, CLIA-waived laboratory tests.	40
Assisting Derm/Gast/Neuro Specialists	How to assist dermatologists, gastroenterologists, and neurologists. Practical guidelines about care of patients, instruments and tools used during examinations, and basic knowledge of diseases and conditions in these specialties.	40
Assisting GYN/OB and Urology Specialists	Main GYN/OB and Urology diseases and the role of medical assistant during examinations, tests and procedures. Common diseases of the urinary system, male and female reproductive systems.	40
Assisting Pediatrics	Assisting pediatricians during different types of visits. Psychological aspects of child care, obtaining and recording history and anthropometric measurements, administering medications and vaccinations.	40
Assisting Diagnostic/Orthopedics Specialists	Basics of diagnostic imaging, patient positioning, radiation safety, contrast medium examinations, teleradiology. Basics of orthopedics including spinal curvatures, common musculoskeletal disorders, and diagnostic procedures.	40
Externship	In-depth application and reinforcement of principles and techniques in a medical office job setting. Application of classroom knowledge and skills, functioning in the work environment, communication, and following directions.	60

Become a Versatile Healthcare Professional

Master both clinical and administrative skills and launch your career as a Medical Assistant with optional national certification eligibility.

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