Program Overview
Total Clock Hours
720 hours
Externship
60 hours
Graduation Requirements
Completion of all courses with a minimum score of 70%
Certification Eligible
National certification exams upon completion
Program Description
This comprehensive program provides training in both clinical and administrative medical office procedures, preparing students to become versatile, multi-skilled healthcare professionals. Students gain hands-on experience in real medical settings through externship placement.
The curriculum combines clinical skills such as vital signs monitoring, patient preparation, laboratory procedures, and medication administration with administrative competencies including medical billing, coding, scheduling, and electronic health records management.
Program Objective
Upon completion, students will be prepared to sit for national medical assistant certification exams, perform both clinical and administrative duties, assist healthcare providers with patient examinations and procedures, manage medical records and billing, maintain infection control standards, and communicate effectively with patients and healthcare teams.
Program Mission
To prepare competent, certified Medical Assistants who can perform diverse clinical and administrative functions in physicians offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, contributing to efficient patient care and practice management.
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 certified Medical Assistant.