MEDICAL ASSISTING COURSE OUTLINE

MEDICAL ASSISTANT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Semester I

MA THEORY & LAB I
This Course is a  theory and laboratory program that teaches students clinical duties. Skills to be mastered are inventory control, housekeeping and equipment maintenance, measuring and recording vital signs, techniques in medical asepsis and infection control, and by assisting with the various physical examinations.  The student is also introduced to emergency first aid care, CPR, nutrition, federal and state health care legislation and regulations.

Assignments include the professional components of medical assisting such as: personal attributes, job readiness, workplace dynamics, working with other allied health professionals, and the importance of credentialing.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I 
A basic course designed to acquaint the student with the general plan and structure of the human body and its function under normal, healthy conditions. It includes a review of anatomical divisions and body planes, cells, tissues, skin, glands and membranes, the skeletal, nervous and muscular systems and related conditions and diseases.  An overview will be given on diagnostic treatment and modalities used for diseases.

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY I
This course emphasizes the need for spelling skills and accuracy. The meaning of the more common terms and abbreviations in current use in the medical areas is taught by studying, analyzing, and memorizing the basic structure of medical words including: prefixes, suffixes, and word roots to develop a workable command of vocabulary related to illness, disease, operative procedures and specialty fields. This course includes a self-paced medical terminology program.

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND THEORY I
The laboratory experience for the medical assistant is exposure to laboratory tests that are performed in the physician’s office. The urinary system is reviewed.  Labeling and processing of various specimens, collection of throat and wound cultures, macroscopic and microscopic urinalyses, microbiology culture for urinary infections, and assessment for colon cancer, as well as quality control are introduced.

MEDICAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT I
The course focuses on the administrative, office, and business skills required to work in today’s medical environment. The management of a professional medical office can greatly influence the success of the medical office.  The course discusses effective communication skills, professional behavior, the use of computers, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, patient reception and processing, written communications, medical records management, financial management, billing and insurance. This course also includes hands-on bookkeeping applications using the QuickBooks Software Program.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICAL OFFICE I
The course begins with an 8 week section devoted to developing proper keyboarding technique at a speed of 30 w.p.m.  Students will then explore the MS Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, and Publisher to obtain the skills necessary to efficiently generate the documents required in a medical office.

PHARMACOLOGY  I
This is a basic course with information regarding the law, terminology, definitions, abbreviations, drug classifications, prescriptions, and drug forms. Drug uses and actions, side affects and adverse reaction to the 50 most used drugs are discussed. 

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS I
Producing an error-free, top-quality document is the objective in the workplace. This course includes a thorough review of the basic rules governing language arts and document preparation and applies them in realistic business documents including letters, memos, e-mails, reports, resumes, minutes, new releases, and announcements. Computerized proofreading applications are integrated throughout the text to provide opportunities for student to practice the on-screen proofreading, editing, and formatting of documents.

PSYCHOLOGY I
This course focuses on communication and the practical application of therapeutic communication in a variety of patient situations. Applications are current with today’s working environment including coverage of the impact of the information age on communications, human relations, and interacting with patients. In addition, the course will cover a wide variety of client profiles and appropriate therapeutic responses for stress, anger, suicide, depression, drug dependency, abuse, loss, and grief.

COMPUTER EXPLORATION
This is a hands-on laboratory course designed to teach the student computer fundamentals. It includes an introduction to hardware and software and the uses of the operating system Microsoft XP. It provides training in the use of the Internet as a research tool, and the use of email in an office environment.

Semester II

MEDICAL ASSISTING THEORY & LAB II
This course is a continuation of Medical Assisting Theory and Lab I. During this semester clinical skills to be mastered are sterilization and disinfection, assisting with minor office surgery, PFTs, recording an EKG, assisting patients with special needs, and preparations for x-ray procedures.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
This course is a continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I.  It covers cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, sensory, endocrine, lymphatic, the body’s defense mechanisms, and reproduction system.

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY II
A continuation of Medical Terminology I, this course introduces various elements that are related to parts of the body. Word building, definitions, and application of medical terminology is included.

PSYCHOLOGY II
This course is a continuation of Psychology I.

MEDICAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT II   
This course continues Medical Office Management I. 

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICAL OFFICE II
This course provides training in the Medical Insurance Billing Software using the Medisoft program. Students are introduced to many aspects of billing, the use of computers in the billing process, and coding. In addition, standard insurance forms and common reports are covered.

PHARMACOLOGY II
This course is a continuation of Pharmacology I. The second semester covers more commonly used medications, and an introduction to intradermal and intramuscular injections.

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND THEORY II
In the second semester of Laboratory Techniques, the function of blood; components and disorders; diagnostic tests involving blood specimens, capillary punctures, blood typing, hemoglobin, microhematocrit, blood smears, venipuncture, and other procedures used in the medical office are taught.. Using electronic technology chemistry tests for glucose and cholesterol screening will be demonstrated. Immunology tests include strep and Rh factor will be covered.  Students will perform all laboratory procedures in a medical office simulated classroom.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION
This course is designed to teach the advanced typist the use of transcription equipment. The student will transcribe correspondence, reports, and other medical documents. Applications of medical terminology will be utilized.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS II
This course is a continuation of Technical Communications I.

CLINICAL INTERNSHIP
After successfully completing all academic courses in the Medical Assistant Program, the student is placed in a physician’s office or HMO. The approximate hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 p.m.  Student’s weekly hours are determined by the medical office’s schedule the student’s internship is scheduled at. Also included in the internship are rotations at the X-ray and ECG Departments of Brockton Hospital.

While at the internship facility, the student is rotated through each phase of the medical office, providing exposure and hands-on training to all facets of the medical office. The length of time for each phase depends on the student’s comprehension and ability. A minimum of 200 hours of experience is needed to be in compliance for the CAAHEP requirement, an accreditation through A.A.M.A.

MEDICAL ASSISTING     PROGRAM GOALS      ESTIMATED EXPENSES