Medical Assistant Program

Medical assistants perform many administrative duties including answering phones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients’ medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping. Clinical duties may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory test on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.

MAP130 - Medical Office Management Skills - This course is designed to familiarize the student with the duties and responsibilities as the administrative assistant in a health care facility. At the completion of this course the student will have an understanding of Collecting Fees, Billing using software, Health Care Coverage, and Medical Office Management.

MAP140 - The Medical Assistant as Administrative Assistant - This course is designed to familiarize the student with the duties and responsibilities as the administrative assistant in a health care facility. At the completion of this course the student will have an understanding of Collecting Fees, Billing using software, Health Care Coverage, and Medical Office Management.

MAP120 - Medical Assisting Procedures And Patient Care - This course is designed to familiarize the student with the duties and responsibilities as the clinical medical assistant in a health care facility. At the completion of this course the student will have an understanding of basic patient care procedures such as administering medications, rendering first aid in the office and in emergency situations. Students will also understand how behaviors influence health. In addition, the student will learn and review specifics of Universal Precautions, taking vital signs and anthropometric measurements and anatomy and physiology.

MAP110 - Medical Assisting Procedures and Laboratory Techniques - This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic clinical procedures such as preparing patients for examinations, collecting specimens, and performing diagnostic tests. In addition, the student will learn and review specifics of Universal (Standard) Precautions, the taking of vital signs and anthrometeric measurements and anatomy and physiology.

MAP150 – Medical Assisting Clinical Externship - This course is designed to allow the student to practice all the skills and techniques they have been taught while in the classroom. The student is given a folder on the day of their extern assignment. This folder contains forms that the student is required to be responsible for. The time card is to be completed for each week and faxed to the school or the student may bring it in each Friday, the end of each week. There is an evaluation form and a letter of completion, which the student is responsible for providing it to the extern site supervisor for completion and to then return it to school the last day of their training site assignment. This may be done by fax or in person. Upon successful completion of these requirements, the student is considered to have completed the course requirements and will be a graduate.

Occupations/Job Titles

Medical Assistants work in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. Assistants who specialize have additional duties. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery. Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic test, measure and record vision, and test eye muscle function. You may also find medical assistants in outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, other ambulatory healthcare services, State and local government agencies, medical and diagnostic laboratories, nursing care facilities, and employment services.