Medical Assistant

Campus Location: Peosta

Program Entry: Enrollment may occur during any term. Fall term is the start of the program course sequence.

Award: Diploma

Description: Medical Assistants are allied health professionals who perform administrative and clinical functions that support physicians and other health practitioners in a medical office setting. Duties vary depending on the practice and scope of practice in the state. Clinical duties can include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, sterilizing medical equipment, doing blood draws, taking electrocardiograms and preparing patients for x-rays. Administrative functions include patient scheduling, patient registration, performing billing services and purchasing and maintaining supplies. Medical Assistants, if directed by a physician and state law, might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications, authorize drug refills and telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy.

The goal of the Medical Assistant program is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national credentialing exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).

The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to apply knowledge of medical terminology, biopsychosocial science and applied mathematics.
• Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency of administrative functions in the healthcare setting while using current technology.
• Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency of clinical functions in the healthcare setting.
• Students will be able to apply principles of safety in the healthcare setting. 
• Students will be able to apply principles of disease, prevention of disease, and health maintenance knowledge while educating patients and their families.
• Students will be able to demonstrate effective oral and written communication with diverse patients, their families and the healthcare team.
• Students will be able to demonstrate professional and ethical behavior as a healthcare professional in the workplace.
• Students will be able to model proficiency in administrative and clinical functions within American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) legal and ethical standards. 

Program Admission: In addition to the College enrollment process , applicants must achieve a minimum ACCUPLACER CLASSIC® reading score of 70 or ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION® reading score of 250. (ACT® scores are also acceptable) and a minimum ALEKS® score of 14.

Academic Requirements: Students enrolled in health occupations programs must complete all required coursework with a “C-” grade or above and earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average to graduate from the program.

Program Requirements: Health Program Requirements The College has contracted the services of CastleBranch to review and monitor background checks, health records, training requirements and drug testing. Students submit requirements to the website prior to the designated deadline date. 

In addition to meeting program requirements upon admission, students must maintain these requirements throughout the program. Failure to remain in compliance will result in denial for clinical participation. Clinical participation is required for program completion.

Students must be aware of the physical demands during the practicum course. Daily activities require bending, stooping, reaching, squatting, pushing and pulling in all directions. You will be asked to lift and carry objects weighing up to a minimum of 35 pounds and also shared weight. Clinical tasks can include repetitive actions, such as simple and firm grasping and fine manipulation and walking, including stair stepping. You may also be in contact with communicable diseases and chemical/bio hazardous materials and odors.

Class Hours: Classes are scheduled at the campus and include lab hours. After completion of required prerequisite coursework, a practicum experience is scheduled in a clinical setting for six weeks/forty hours per week. This is a total of 240 hours unpaid practicum experience.

Minimum Credits: 40