Medical Assistant - Diploma

In less than one year, you can have a rewarding job in health care. Apply a variety of medical procedural functions on patients who need your compassion.

The Medical Assistant Program prepares students for employment in a private physician’s office, clinic, and health related agencies.

This program is three semesters in length and is conducted over a period of 11 months. Educational development of each student is directed toward the application of accurate knowledge in practical situations, making judgments, applying reason, thinking independently and engaging in problem solving. The program normally begins in the fall and continues through the summer months when students gain supervised clinical experience in a physician’s office. Upon completion of the Medical Assistant Program, graduates are eligible to write the national certification examination for Certified Medical Assistants administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Expectations of the Medical Assistant Program are to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Curriculum Sequence

Fall Semester I Course Title Credit
BIO-163 ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 4
HSC-114 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 3
MAP-121 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES I: MEDICAL OFFICE 4
MAP-139 INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS 2
MAP-364 CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL OFFICE I 7
MAP-431 HUMAN RELATIONS 1
Semester Total: 21
Spring Semester I Course Title Credit
HIT-211 BASIC MEDICAL INSURANCE & CODING 3
MAP-122 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES II: MEDICAL OFFICE 3
MAP-369 CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL OFFICE II 7
MAP-370 SPECIALTY PROCEDURES 4
MAP-401 MEDICAL LAW AND ETHICS 1
MAP-532 HUMAN BODY: HEALTH AND DISEASE 3
Semester Total: 21
Summer Semester Course Title Credit
MAP-602 CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR 1
MAP-615 CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP 5
Semester Total: 6
PROGRAM TOTAL: 48

BIO-163 - ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Lecture: 3

Lab: 2

Credit: 4

This introductory course is designed for the student needing a one-semester combined anatomy and physiology course with laboratory. All systems will be covered with greater emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and urinary systems.  This course also provides background for the more advanced courses BIO-168 and BIO-173

HSC-114 - MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

This course is designed to study the basic language related to medical science with emphasis on word analysis, construction, definitions, pronunciations, spelling and standard abbreviations.

MAP-121 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES I: MEDICAL OFFICE

Lecture: 2

Lab: 4

Credit: 4

This course is designed to acquaint students with the front-office administrative responsibilities of the medical assistant. The student will develop competency in written communication skills, including editing practice, sentence revision, paragraph writing and exercises in grammar, mechanics and usage. Other competencies will include appointment scheduling, telephone techniques, recording and filing medical records, processing mail, billing and collection procedures, banking services, accounting methods and payroll preparation. The student will also be introduced to preparation of professional medical meetings, travel arrangements and development of professional reports. The content of the course is adapted to the 2015 approved standards of CAAHEP.

MAP-139 - INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

Lecture: 1

Lab: 2

Credit: 2

Introduction to Electronic Health Records involves the student in the management and application of health records. This includes the implementation and management of electronic schedule, creating patient medical record, management of immunization, electronic correspondence, laws and regulation of medical records. Prerequisite: 35 wpm timed typing test score. Corequisite: MAP-121.

MAP-364 - CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL OFFICE I

Lecture: 3

Lab: 8

Credit: 7

This course includes the numerous competencies required to assist the physician with patient examinations. Fundamental skills include: aseptic techniques and the sterilization of medical supplies; the psychological and physical preparation of the patient for a medical examination; preparation of surgical trays and assisting with minor surgeries; and the performance of routine urinalysis as ordered by the physician. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the program.

MAP-431 - HUMAN RELATIONS

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course includes the study of the fundamental principles related to human relations, self-improvement, professional appearance and attitudes, limitations, and behaviors. Principles of individualized client care and etiquette of the medical practice are emphasized.

HIT-211 - BASIC MEDICAL INSURANCE & CODING

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

This course is designed to assist students in understanding the complexities of current insurance procedures encountered in today's medical facilities. The student will be familiarized with claims submission for programs such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare, CHAMPUS/CHAMPVA, and Worker's Compensation. A comprehensive unit on CPT Procedural Coding as well as ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Coding is incorporated into the course. Managed health care is explored in depth. Prerequisites or Corequisites: HSC-114 and BIO-163.

MAP-122 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES II: MEDICAL OFFICE

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

This course introduces basic computer concepts and emphasizes the practical applications approach using simulated medical office management programs. The student is guided through a series of computer applications that highlight the most common aspects of the modern medical office including electronic claim filing. Resume development and job-seeking skills are also presented. Prerequisites: HSC-114, MAP-431, MAP-139, MAP-121, MAP-364, BIO-163.

MAP-369 - CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL OFFICE II

Lecture: 4

Lab: 6

Credit: 7

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the knowledge and skills required in the preparation, administration and documentation of various forms of medications. Dosage calculations and the physiological actions of drugs on the human body are addressed. Students will gain knowledge of venipuncture and use of quality controls. The student will gain knowledge of blood chemistries, serology, microbiology and hematology. Student will gain knowledge regarding the electronic medical record and its application in the clinical setting. Prerequisite: Successful completion of all fall semester curriculum.

MAP-370 - SPECIALTY PROCEDURES

Lecture: 2

Lab: 4

Credit: 4

This course expands on basic clinical procedures with advanced theory, techniques and knowledge in specialty procedures and practice. Students will also focus on knowledge and skills to prepare and respond to emergency situations in a medical practice. Prerequisite: MAP-364. Corequisite: MAP-369.

MAP-401 - MEDICAL LAW AND ETHICS

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to expose the student to legal concepts of standard of care, scope of employment, criminal and civil acts, contract, negligence and ethical concepts.

MAP-532 - HUMAN BODY: HEALTH AND DISEASE

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic concepts and characteristics of disease processes, to impart basic knowledge of the etiology of the disease and to enable the student to understand the relationship between clinical signs and the disease process. Diagnostic tests and common treatments will be discussed. Concepts of health promotion and client education will be emphasized. Prerequisite: BIO-163.

MAP-602 - CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

A discussion of job related problems and study of current medical office procedures. Prerequisites: All previous program classes and student must successfully complete and obtain the mandatory reporter certificate for adult and child abuse. Corequisite: MAP-615.

MAP-615 - CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP

Lecture: 0

OJT: 20

Credit: 5

Following successful completion of the academic hours, the student is placed in a selected physician's office for a two-month required clinical practicum, working directly under supervision. A balance of learning experiences in both the administrative and clinical areas of the medical facility will be provided for the student during this training period. Students do not receive monetary compensation for externship experience. Prerequisites: All previous program classes. Corequisite: MAP-602.

Megan Massner - Instructor, (319) 208-5000 ext. 5203

Email: mmassner@scciowa.edu
Diploma, Southeastern Community College

Deb Shaffer - Instructor/Coordinator, (319) 208-5000 ext. 5213

Email: dshaffer@scciowa.edu
AAS, Mt. St. Clare College
ADN, Southeastern Community College

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