The Medical Assistant is an ancillary healthcare worker performing a variety of duties in a variety of health care settings such as the medical office, laboratory, insurance companies, emergency units and school settings.  The qualified Medical Assistant has the privilege of acting as a liaison between the physician, other health care workers, and their patients.  Medical Assisting is projected to have one of the fastest growth rates of all medical fields over the next decade.

The Medical Assisting staff functions within the philosophy of the Southeastern Regional School district.  The philosophy of the Medical Assisting Program is to prepare the qualified students with the skills necessary for performing basic medical assisting procedures by providing up-to-date instruction and state-of-the-art equipment.  The program staff strives to keep current with the ever changing medical field.  The curriculum is instructed by qualified educators dedicated to the promotion of quality learning.  The educational process includes the nurturing of the students’ personal and professional growth to ensure success in a career with life-long learning and advancement up the career ladder.

The STI program consists of skills and theory of both the administrative and clinical components of the medical assisting position.  This allows the STI Medical Assistant to function as both an administrative and/or clinical assistant in a variety of health care settings. 

As an administrative assistant, the Medical Assistant will be able to maintain patient medical records, complete medical insurance forms, answer correspondence, properly process mail, schedule appointments, use proper telephone techniques, greet and interview patients, transcribe and maintain medical records, process and record all office accounts, order supplies, and keep accurate inventory records. The student will also learn word processing and computerized office management skills. 

As a clinical assistant, the Medical Assistant will record height, weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure, assist the patient in positioning and draping for physical examination, perform sterilization techniques for assisting with minor office surgery, and understand the basic theory and manual techniques of electrocardiogram. 

Further, the program introduces the student to basic laboratory procedures, i.e., macroscopic and microscopic urinalysis, phlebotomy, hemoglobin and microhematocrit testing, preparing blood smears, pregnancy testing, throat cultures, and other routine tests performed in the physician’s office.  In the course of the program, the student will have a supervised externship experience in a physicians’ office or selected departments in area hospitals.

The Medical Assisting Program has two areas for classroom instruction, demonstration and student practice. The large classroom houses varied supplies and equipment that the student will be exposed to in the work place.  In addition, there are three simulated exam areas, and access to two computer labs.

The Medical Assisting program at STI is nationally accredited by the American Association of Medical Assisting; therefore, it qualifies the graduate to sit for the National Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam.  The program accepts 26 students; upon successful completion of all coursework and a satisfactory externship the student receives a diploma.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS    PROGRAM GOALS    ESTIMATED EXPENSES