Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals, specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings, performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and necessitates the mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills. This requires both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Medical Assistant will be train to perform duties under the direction of a medical doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant in a private or group practices, clinics, medical centers and other medical facilities. The duties include: preparing patients and examining rooms, instruments, equipment, and supplies. The Medical Assistant may interview patients; take chart histories, perform vital signs; administer injections; collect blood, assist during exams, minor surgeries, and perform laboratory procedures such as EKGs and basic Phlebotomy.

Scope of Practice

Medical Assistants perform delegated clinical and administrative duties within the supervising physician’s scope of practice. Such duties shall not constitute the practice of medicine. Trained in both clinical and administrative skills, the MA assists health care practitioners in the administering at the needs of patients. They also operate specialized equipment and perform standard laboratory tests. Office administration duties may include making patient appointments and scheduling, client/insurance billing and collection, filing and data entry.

Program Description

The Medical Assistant Program designed to prepare students to assist medical providers by performing administrative duties and basic clinical duties in an office and/or medical center.
At the completion of the program, graduates who have diligently attended class and their externship, studied and practiced their skills should have the necessary skills to seek entry-level employment as medical assistants. Career opportunities you will pursue upon successful completion of this program:
  • Medical Assistant
  • Clinical Medical Assistant
  • Medical Receptionist
  • Medical Administrative Assistant
  • Medical Office Manager

Program Outcomes

  • Coordinate and facilitate patient care throughout the ambulatory care setting.
  • Effectively communicate with patients, families, and members of the health care team.
  • Perform clerical functions necessary to maintain medical office appointments, transcription, and medical records.
  • Apply basic billing, collection, insurance, coding, and managed care guidelines needed to maintain office bookkeeping.
  • Collect, transport, and process specimens.
  • Perform, assist, and follow up on diagnostic tests and procedures.
  • Perform within legal and ethical boundaries.
  • Instruct patients regarding health maintenance and disease prevention.

Medical Assistant Job Outlook

Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2025 as the health services industry expands because of technological advances in medicine, and a growing and aging population. Increasing utilization of medical assistants in the rapidly-growing healthcare industries will result in fast employment growth for the occupation. Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient settings, which are expected to exhibit much faster-than-average growth.

Admission Requirements

The following explains the requirement an applicant must meet to be considered for admission:
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must submit official copies of high school or equivalent and college transcripts with completed application form. Obtaining an evaluation of a foreign transcript is responsibility of the applicant.
  • Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from qualified persons familiar with applicant’s educational and professional background.
  • Individuals must present a strong academic background.
  • Applicants need to demonstrate responsibility, a character of high moral integrity, good interpersonal skills and compassion.
  • Applicant must participate in a personal interview with the Program Director
  • Applicant must undergo a full physical exam after acceptance into the program before clinical rotation.

Curriculum

The Medical Assistant Program Curriculum ensures the achievement of the program goals and the learning outcomes. Instruction during classroom, lab, and clinical activities are appropriately sequenced to provide a logical progression of learning. The core curriculum covers a variety of subjects, including medical practice, medical law and ethics, communications, medical records, insurance, patient preparation, and basic laboratory procedures and tests. The courses are grouped around knowledge and skills required for administrative and clinical medical assisting. Students are required to complete a supervised clinical externship at a medical facility that includes competencies, logs and evaluations completed by the student.

The following explains the requirement an applicant must meet to be considered for admission:

  • Introduction to Medical Assisting
  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Pathology
  • The Therapeutic Approach
  • Integrated Administrative Procedures
  • Integrated Clinical Procedures
  • Diagnostic Procedures
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Basic Pharmacology
  • Entry into Profession
  • Externship