Medical Assistant - Diploma

West Burlington Campus

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.

SCC’s Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Telephone: (727) 210-2350
FAX: (727) 210-2354
www.caahep.org

Medical Assisting Education Review Board
2020 N. California Ave., #213, Suite 7
Chicago, IL 60647
Telephone: 800-228-2262
www.maerb.org

The Medical Assistant Program at Southeastern Community College (SCC) has a job placement rate of 100% for the graduate year of 2020. The exam passage rate for the 2020 graduate year was 90.91%.

Occupational Risks

Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards, as practitioners can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly outlines that it is a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030.

Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.

As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include but are not limited to the following:

  • Exposure to infectious diseases
  • Sharps injuries
  • Airborne and bloodborne pathogens, and biological hazards
  • Hazardous chemical and drug exposures, direct and indirect
  • Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
    • Possible upper and lower back, neck, leg and wrist injuries or issues
  • Latex allergies
  • Stress and stress related illnesses

At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

For specific information regarding program rules and expectations, please view the Medical Assistant Program Handbook

West Burlington campus

*Health professions student outcomes are available on the Consumer Information page.

Curriculum Sequence
Prerequisite Course Title Credit
BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology 4
Semester Total: 4
Fall Semester I Course Title Credit
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: 17
Spring Semester I Course Title Credit
HIT-211 Basic Medical Insurance and 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. Competencies will include appointment scheduling, telephone techniques, professional correspondence, billing and collecting procedures, accounting methods and payroll preparation. The student will also be introduced to telehealth and navigator responsibilities. Prerequisite: BIO-163 with a C or higher.

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 records, electronic correspondence, laws and regulation of medical records. 

MAP-364 - Clinical Procedures for Medical Office I

Lecture: 3

Lab: 8

Credit: 7

This course will provide basic clinical skills and techniques needed for competency in the medical office. Fundamental skills include: medical and surgical aseptic techniques; sanitation, disinfection and sterilization of medical equipment; techniques used to obtain accurate vital sign data; assisting with patient examinations; preparation and assisting with minor office surgeries; preparation and performance of urinalysis testing; and techniques used to perform eye and ear assessment in the medical office. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the program.

MAP-431 - Human Relations

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course includes fundamental principles related to human relations. Basic psychological and developmental theorists, factors that influence behavior, professional attitudes and behavior, self-improvement, and communication in the health care setting are emphasized.

HIT-211 - Basic Medical Insurance and 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 Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, and Worker's Compensation. A comprehensive unit on Procedural Coding, as well as Diagnostic Coding is incorporated into the course. Managed health care is explored in depth. Corequisites: HSC-114 or 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. Prerequisite: MAP-121 with a C or higher.

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: MAP-364 with a C or higher.

MAP-370 - Specialty Procedures

Lecture: 2

Lab: 4

Credit: 4

This course expands on basic clinical procedures with advanced theory and procedural techniques in the medical practice. Student will gain knowledge and skills in gynecology, obstetrics, cardiopulmonary and pediatric procedures in the medical office. Student will also focus on knowledge and skills to prepare and respond to common emergency situations in a medical practice. Prerequisite: MAP-364 with a C or higher.

MAP-401 - Medical Law and Ethics

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to familiarize the student with legal concepts of standard of care, scope of employment, criminal and civil acts, contracts, 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, common treatments and patient education will also be discussed. Prerequisite: BIO-163 with a C or higher.

MAP-602 - Clinical Externship Seminar

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course will discuss job related concerns and current medical office procedures. The student will complete a comprehensive medical assistant assessment of their knowledge; and prepare for national certification testing. Prerequisites: All previous program classes passed with a C or higher. 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 medical office or clinic for a required clinical practicum, working directly under supervision of the medical provider. The student will experience both administrative and clinical areas of the medical facility during this training period. Students are unable to receive monetary compensation for the practicum/externship. Prerequisites: All previous program classes with a C or higher. Corequisite: MAP-602.

Anne Abel - Instructor, (319) 208-5293

Email: aabel@scciowa.edu
Certificate, Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders

Megan Massner - Instructor, (319) 208-5203

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

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

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