MA110 Fundamentals for the Administrative Medical Assistant

Credits 3

Registration Requirement: WR090 or IECC201W; and MTH058 or MTH060; or placement above stated course levels Students must be fluent in reading and writing English without the use of translation devices to ensure effective communication in patient care settings before starting the program. Co-requisite: BI100 or BI121 or BI231 Students who elect to take an Anatomy and Physiology course series as part of their program requirements must complete the full sequence prior to the end of the program in order to meet graduation eligibility. Recommended Requisite: BA131 Students must have foundational computer skills and be comfortable navigating digital systems before starting the program. Concurrent enrollment in MA112 is required.

This course will introduce students to the administrative front office roles and responsibilities of the professional medical assistant working in an ambulatory healthcare setting. Emphasis will be placed on managing front office procedures, scope of practice, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities, including the Patient's Bill of Rights and applicable Federal and State laws. Students will also engage in applied learning activities that reinforce the technical and administrative functions essential to front office operations.

Additional Course Fee: $215.00

View Course Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate and explain the correct procedures for telephone triage, charting, and communicating phone messages in the ambulatory care setting.
2. Describe the medical assistant’s role and responsibility in an ambulatory healthcare setting.
3. Perform and justify the proper procedures for checking in new and established patients in the ambulatory care setting.
4. Differentiate between criminal and civil law and how they apply to the practice of the medical assistant.
5. Distinguish between personal and professional ethics and boundaries.
6. Differentiate between scope of practice and standards of care for a medical assistant.
7. Interpret Federal and State laws, regulations, and patient rights, including: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act); PSDA (Patient Self Determination Act); HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act; GINA (Nondiscrimination Act); ADAA (Americans with Disabilities and Amendments Act).
8. Perform communication skills, both oral and written, including letters, memos, telephone, and email, in interactions with patients, physicians and coworkers.

MA111 Communication Skills in Healthcare

Credits 3

Registration Requirement: Corequisites: MA210 & MA210L.

This course supports the personal and professional growth of medical assistant students through the development of essential workplace and communication skills. Emphasis is placed on building effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication within the ambulatory care setting, including interactions with patients, providers, and healthcare teams. Students will explore professional boundaries, medical law and ethics, and the impact of cultural, social, and religious diversity on health beliefs and practices. The course also prepares students for employment by guiding them through resume development, job applications, and interview preparation.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Evaluate effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication techniques used to overcome common barriers to communication in the healthcare setting.
2. Apply strategies for successful job interviews and workplace readiness in a medical assisting career.
3. Analyze how cultural, social, and religious diversity influence health beliefs, behaviors, and communication in healthcare.
4. Create a professional resume, cover letter, and job application tailored to a medical assisting position.
5. Identify the basic therioes of: Maslow, Erikson and Kubler-Ross.
6. Implement strategies for recognizing and managing aggressive behaviors in the ambulatory care setting.

MA112 Introduction to Clinical Procedures

Credit 1

Registration Requirement: Co-requisite: MA110.

This course provides an overview of the clinical responsibilities of a medical assistant in an ambulatory care setting. Students are introduced to foundational clinical practices, including the collection of vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and sterilizing medical equipment. Emphasis is placed on infection control, blood-borne pathogens, and protective practices.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate proper techniques for vital signs collection, patient preparation, and sterilization of medical equipment in a clinical setting.
2. Apply infection control principles, including blood-borne pathogen precautions and protective practices, to maintain a safe healthcare environment.
3. Perform basic clinical procedures and safety protocols consistent with the responsibilities of a medical assistant in an ambulatory care setting.

MA136 Medical Documentation

Credits 3

Registration Requirement: Co-requisites: MA110 & MA110L.

This course covers the fundamentals of healthcare documentation as it pertains to the medical assistant. The course introduces students to the electronic health record (EHR) as a technology-based representation of healthcare data. The class covers the health record format, its use, and required information. Students examine the basics of healthcare information technology as required under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), with emphasis on data security, privacy in health records, and the flow of healthcare documentation. Students navigate the EHR in a simulated lab.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate appropriate documentation as it pertains to a medical assistants scope of practice
2. Demonstrate the ability to navigate healthcare records in a simulated lab setting
3. Describe how the transition from paper health records to electronic health records is implemented in the healthcare setting
4. Describe the basics of health information technology as required under Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)
5. Discuss patient safety and risk management and the importance of completing accurate healthcare records
6. Discuss privacy and data security encompassed by HIPAA
7. Discuss the core functions of electronic health information in the varying healthcare settings, including medical offices, hospitals, and long-term care settings
8. Identify characteristics of effective documentation methods
9. Identify the essential components of the basic formats of healthcare documentation
10. List the multiple purposes for medical record documentation
11. Recognize common documentation errors

MA140 Understanding Medical Insurance

Credits 3

Registration Requirement: Recommended BA131. WR090 or IECC201W; and MTH058 or MTH060; or placement above stated course levels. Co-requisites: MA110 & MA110L.

Students in the Medical Assistant program are given an introduction to the dynamics of commercial, state and federal health plans. Special emphasis is given to terminology, health plan components and how these components impact the patient regarding medical services. Students investigate the components of medical insurance contracts used in a medical provider's office and how these details impact a patient's ability to receive care.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate communication skills required to collect patient information regarding patient financial obligations
2. Find and explain health insurance plans from online resources
3. Identify and locate provider fee schedules
4. Identify occupational claims and personal injury claims
5. List the components found in medical providers' insurance contracts
6. List the components of commercial and government medical plans

MA210 Fundamentals of the Clinical Medical Assistant

Credits 6

Registration Requirement: MA110 & MA110L. Concurrent requisite: MA210L.

This course introduces the student to the skills and responsibilities of the medical assistant in the back office of the clinic setting in the ambulatory care office. Emphasis is placed on safety and privacy, patient- care provider interaction, patient preparation and interventions, initial assessment and history gathering, managing diagnostic testing, agents in the infectious disease process, immunizations, documentation of procedures and results and communication with other members of the health care team. The rationale for clinical test will be covered with discussion of pathology of the related disease process and pharmacology used to treat different diseases.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Compare viral and bacterial cell invasion and treatment modalities for each
2. Define the role and responsibility of the medical assistant in the clinic area of a medical office
3. Describe the chain of infection process in the healthcare practice setting
4. Describe the procedure for routine venipuncture and the necessary equipment to perform the task
5. Describe, identify, and apply decision making skills when a victim's condition changes
6. Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
7. Explain the purpose of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment. (CLIA) and define the eight categories of a laboratory test on the basis of function, specimen collection, and documentation
8. Explain the steps in taking vital signs (heart rate, respirations, blood pressure and temperature) and documentation of findings
9. Explain the Universal Precautions/OHSA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and how the policy applies to clinical specimen procedures
10. Identify class and categories of pharmacological agents, administration and calculation of medication
11. Identify different immunizations: purpose, administration, reactions and schedule
12. Identify medical aseptic practices that should be followed in the medical office (e,g. handwashing, aseptic handwashing and use of alcohol-based hand rub, gloves)
13. Identify the pathophysiology of the disease process that is related to the diagnostic test ordered
14. Identify the regulations established by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) that affect healthcare workers
15. Identify the signs and symptoms of shock, various sudden illnesses, and poisoning and describe how to minimize the effects
16. List and discuss the 'Patient Bill of Rights' related to invasive procedures
17. Recognize the early signs of respiratory and cardiac arrest

MA210L Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures Lab

Credits 4

Registration Requirement: MA110 & MA110L. Concurrent requisite: MA210.

This course has the student apply and practice technical skills utilized by the medical assistant in the back office of the ambulatory clinic setting. Emphasis is placed on safety, privacy, patient-care provider interaction, vital signs, documenting, diagnostic laboratory test, phlebotomy techniques, specimen collections and management of emergency situations. The student will learn the routes for medication administration, vaccine selection, performing initial assessments and patient history gathering. Instruction includes High-Quality CPR single-rescuer and team basic life support skills in pre-hospital and in-facility environments. Successful completion leads to American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate.

Additional Course Fee: $175.00

View Course Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate the use of an AED machine
2. Administer medications: oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenously
3. Apply the concepts of medical and surgical asepsis to the health care setting
4. Demonstrate how to room and prepare a patient for an exam, gather a health history and document reason for visit
5. Demonstrate proficiency in routine venipuncture techniques and blood specimen collection
6. Demonstrate proper hand washing techniques and universal precautions
7. Demonstrate the AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
8. Demonstrate the proper technique for obtaining, handling and storage of each of the following specimens: blood, urine, microbiology specimens and stool specimens
9. Demonstrate the use of Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedule for selecting the appropriate immunization for age and disease to be prevented, and risk and actions of different vaccines
10. Identify and/or describe how to recognize and respond to emergencies, obtain consent, apply the Emergency Action Steps, and how to minimize the risk of disease transmission when giving care
11. Identify serious bleeding and demonstrate how to control it
12. Interact professionally in the health care setting with patients and colleagues, adhere to HIPAA regulations
13. List and describe emergency care for the following conditions: respiratory distress, attack, stroke bleeding, wounds, musculosketal injury, burns, seizures, poisoning, heat and cold exposure and diabetic emergencies
14. List the laboratory safety guidelines that should be followed in the medical office to prevent accidents
15. Obtain American Heart Association basic life support for healthcare providers certification
16. Perform an EKG safely and accurately
17. Perform and demonstrate the following skills for adults, children, and infants: checking the unconscious person, conscious choking, CPR, and AED, according to American heart Association standards
18. Perform CLIA- waived laboratory test, and demonstrate quality control in the laboratory, and perform the quality control methods that should be employed when a doing a CLIA-waived laboratory test
19. Perform vital signs and assessment techniques with accurate documentation in the electronic medical record

MA213 Medical Terminology for the Medical Assistant

Credits 2

Registration Requirement: Recommended requisite: BA131. WR090 or IECC201W; and MTH058 or MTH060; or placement above stated course levels. Co-requisites: MA110 & MA110L.

This course is the study of medical terms and medical abbreviations associated with body systems and procedures that are used in the ambulatory health care setting.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Identify medical terms and abbreviations related to all body systems
2. Identify medical terms based on the word structure and parts frequently used in the ambulatory healthcare setting
3. Recognize, define, spell and pronunciation of terms used to describe the pathology, diagnosis and treatments related to the different body system

MA214 Medical Assistant Clinical Practicum

Credits 7

Registration Requirement: Complete all previous required Medical Assistant program courses with a "C" or higher.

This course is designed to provide the student the opportunity to apply, practice and formalize the knowledge and skills learned in the medical assistant lab and theory classes. The clinical experience will be in the ambulatory healthcare setting, facilitated by a medical assistant preceptor.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Assess and prepare a patient for a clinic visit.
2. vital signs, health history, areas of concern and document findings.
3. Communicate effectively with the patient, other support staff and the medical provider in the ambulatory healthcare setting.
4. Demonstrate professional behaviors in a ambulatory healthcare setting.
5. Document care procedures and patient information accurately in the electronic medical record system.
6. Perform accurately diagnostic lab test, immunization and medication administration following clinic policies.
7. Perform administrative medical office skills.
8. Provide healthcare services within the scope of practice for a medical assistant.
9. Provide confidential care, adhere to HIPAA regulations.

MA215 Review for Medical Assistant Certification Exam

Credits 2

Registration Requirement: MA210 & MA210L.

This course is intended to help prepare the Medical Assistant student for credentialing examination. Essential content and technical skills defined by the Medical Assisting Education Review Board will be reviewed and discussed.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Apply appropriate test taking strategies.
2. Recall and apply theory and technical skills covering subject areas that a Medical Assistant must know to practice effectively: Foundations for Clinical Practice Applied Communications Medical Business Practices Medical Law and Ethics Safety and Emergency.