HC - Medical Assisting

This course introduces students to the basic competencies and skills necessary for entry-level medical assisting and provides students with the foundation for assisting physicians in providing optimal patient care. Students learn the role and responsibilities of the medical assistant and how the performance of routine clinical and administrative duties ensures the smooth operation of the health care facility. Topics include the medical assistant profession, the health care team, an overview of the history of medicine, communications, coping skills, and legal and ethical considerations. Additionally, preparation for credentialing and employment strategies are also emphasized.

This course introduces students to essential concepts of the anatomy and physiology of the body and their relations to human diseases. It offers a comprehensive, in-depth study of the major human body systems, as well as cell structure and function. An anatomical and physiological approach to each of the body systems is pursued with medical ramifications where applicable. The principles and concepts pertinent to the understanding of pathophysiology are also emphasized.

Medical Assisting II is a continuation of Medical Assisting I with clinical and administrative skills at a more complex level. This course provides students with the clinical skills and competencies necessary for entry-level medical assisting. Topics include medical asepsis, medical history, vital signs and measurements, physical examinations, obstetrics and gynecology, male reproductive system, examinations of body systems, assisting with minor surgery, rehabilitation, nutrition, pharmacology, introduction to HIPPA, emergency and first aid procedures, patient teaching, medication and nutrition.

This course provides students with an understanding of the terminology used in the health care industry. By examining and identifying prefixes, suffixes and word roots, students practice formation, analysis and reconstruction of diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, symptomatic, and pathological terms. Emphasis is placed on spelling, definition, pronunciation, and proper usage and enunciation. Student involvement is expected, encouraged, and required.

This course introduces students to the basic principles of emergency first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The course examines all of the major body systems and the common emergency illnesses and injuries associated with each system. Students learn to identify symptoms and apply the appropriate emergency treatments and stabilization techniques. Topics include patient assessment, airway management, CPR, shock, bleeding, wounds, body area injuries, poisoning, burns, cold and heat emergencies, bone injuries, medical emergencies, emergency childbirth, and first aid skills. The course emphasizes practical application of the skills learned, and leads to CPR certification upon successful and timely completion of requirements.

This comprehensive, three-part course provides an overview of the historical development of medical nomenclature and classification systems. It introduces the coding of the diseases, medical conditions, and operative procedures, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting to the highest level of specificity. Students learn to research and apply knowledge of insurance rules and regulations, manage bookkeeping and patient accounts, as well as analyze the legal issues impacting the profession.

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of general pathophysiology of disease processes. It provides an in-depth study and understanding of the pathophysiology of selected disorders and diseases as well as a brief review of normal physiology and anatomy of the systems to be studied. This course presents applications of the pathologic variations from the normal structure and function of the body resulting from disease, heredity, or injury. This course also examines the study of human disease, enabling students to demonstrate an understanding of the etiologies, risk factors, diagnostic criteria, treatment modalities, and potential complications most commonly associated with particular pathophysiological states.

This course covers the basic medical laboratory techniques and introduces students to the concepts and competencies required for conducting hematology, immunology, serology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, and parasitology lab tests. To successfully conduct waivered test analyses of body specimens, students learn the use of standard laboratory equipment and processing methods. Additionally, students learn how to perform safely and effectively in a medical laboratory environment.

This course covers the basic administrative competencies and skills necessary for employment in the medical field and provide students with the foundation for assisting the physician in providing patient care. Topics include creating the facility environment, computer use, telephone techniques, patient scheduling, medical records management, written communications, transcription, and managing facility finances.

This first part of a two-part course serves as a foundation for relevant studies in pharmacology to effectively equip the pharmacy technician and medical assistant with the necessary information to function efficiently in a pharmacy and other medical setting. Students gain an understanding of essential concepts, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications in pharmacology to provide excellent patient care and properly dispense drugs. Students learn common forms and types of drugs, parts of a prescription, enteral and parenteral routes of drug administration, administration techniques, drug dosages, classes of drugs, side effects, drug interactions, units of measure, and metric system nomenclature.

Students enrolled in this course study the theory and practice of the techniques for obtaining correct blood specimens through venipuncture and performing electrocardiography (EKG). Students develop an understanding of the basic anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, proper collection of specimens for laboratory examination, specimen processing and handling, quality assurance, safety procedures, medico-legal aspects of phlebotomy and effective communication skills. Students also study and perform the proper techniques involved in performing 12-Lead EKG.

All Medical Assisting students are required to perform internship duties prior to graduation and upon completion of the in-school portion of their training. Students perform as interns in the capacity of a Medical Assistant for a period of fourteen weeks at the rate of fourteen hours per week. Students have the opportunity to hone the competencies learned in all the required courses. Students are assigned to various clinical specialties within the respective facility and training activities in the particular clinical competency are supervised and evaluated accordingly. They achieve the expected level of clinical competency and administrative proficiency, which enables them to secure employment. Students are evaluated on specific dimensions of work ethic and clinical competency.