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Medical Assistant Certificate
Semester Hours:   34
Effective Term: Fall 2021
 Prerequisites: 1. RDG100
2. HS diploma or GED.
3. PreProgram Requirement: Apply for admission to the program with the Medical Assisting Program Director before enrollment in the program.

Corequisites: None


Program Description: This Certificate prepares competent entry-level Medical Assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains as established by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). The certificate prepares individuals to perform administrative and clinical procedures in ambulatory settings, including physicians' offices, clinics, and group practices.

Prior to enrollment, consult the program director for specific mandatory requirements. Prior to enrollment in MDA175, core requirements must be successfully completed. Healthcare Provider CPR and First Aid certification is required before enrolling in MDA175 and must be current for at least 6 months after the start of MDA175.

Recommended Proficiencies: None

Course Requirements
Medical Assistant Certificate (34)

Prerequisites
High School Diploma or GED; and RDG100

Pre-Program Requirements:
Apply for admission to the program with the Medical Assisting Program Director before enrollment in the program.

Core Requirements (16)
BIO160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology (4)
HCC116 Medical Terminology (3)
MDA139 Fundamentals of Medical Assisting (4)
MDA140 Medical Assisting Skills I (5)

Specialty Requirements (18)
HCC174 Pathopharmacology for Health Occupations (5)
MDA141 Medical Assisting Skills II (5)
MDA171 Administrative Medical Procedures (4)
MDA174 Medical Assistant Certificate Practicum (4)

Other Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all required courses.
Students must earn a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Students must earn at least one-third of the certificate credits from CAC.
Program Measurable Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program the students will incorporate critical thinking based on cognitive knowledge in performance of psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) domains in their practice as medical assistants in the following areas:

1. Foundation for Clinical Practice: Provide patient care applied to the following:
A. (Application Level) Using knowledge of anatomy and physiology, perform the following tests: vital signs, venipuncture, capillary puncture, pulmonary function testing, ECG, patient screening, administration of oral and parenteral medications, quality control measures, CLIA waived hematology, chemistry, urinalysis and immunology testing while demonstrating respect for patient diversity. (CSLO#2)
B. (Evaluation Level) Using knowledge of applied mathematics, prepare and verify proper doses of medication for administration, maintain laboratory test results using flow sheets, distinguish normal and abnormal test results, and maintain growth charts. (CSLO#4)
C. (Synthesis Level) Using knowledge of microbiology/infection control, practice standard precautions using appropriate barrier/personal protective equipment, hand washing, sterilization technique and specimen collection and testing while showing awareness of patient rights, feelings and concerns. (CSLO#2)

2. Applied Communications competencies applied to the following:
A. (Analysis Level) Using concepts of effective verbal, nonverbal and written communications, analyze appropriate means of effective communication with patients verbally, nonverbally and in documentation of patient care. (CSLO#4)

3. Medical Business Practices competencies applied to the following:
A. (Synthesis Level) Using knowledge of administrative functions, manage scheduling and organization of patient medical records using electronic health care records and hardware and software to maintain office system while incorporating time management principles to maintain effective office functions. (CSLO#2)
B. (Analysis Level) Using knowledge of basic practice finances, apply basic bookkeeping procedures to manual and computerized systems used in ambulatory health care with implementation of time management principles to maintain effective office functions. (CSLO#4)
C. (Application Level) Using knowledge of managed care and insurance and procedural and diagnostic coding, apply these policies and procedures to implementing both managed care and insurance plans using third party guidelines and using effective communication with patients and managed care and insurance providers. (CSLO#2)

4. Medical Law and Ethics competencies applied to the following:
A. (Synthesis Level) Integrate knowledge of appropriate local, state and federal health care legal and ethical regulations and laws in providing patient care, practice within the standard of care and scope of practice for a medical assistant, apply HIPAA rules in regard to confidentiality, privacy and release of information, accurately document information and demonstrating sensitivity to patient rights. (CSLO#2)

5. Safety and Emergency Practices competencies applied to the following:
A. (Analysis Level) Using knowledge of safety and emergency practices, apply quality control measures in following health and safety policies and procedures to prevent illness and injury including recognition of the effects of stress on all persons involved in emergency situations. (CSLO#4)

(*All of the Learning Outcomes listed are based on the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Appendix B Core Curriculum for Medical Assistants 2015 Curriculum Plan.)
Standards for Program
1. Medical Assistant Certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the American Medical Technologist. Graduates are eligible to take the RMA (AMT) examination to become registered medical assistants (RMA).

2. Standards are based on the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Core Curriculum 2015 Plan for Medical Assistants. See Attachment below for the Standards for MAERB Core Curriculum.

This program is competency-based education that emphasizes skills and evaluates mastery of those skills according to the actual learner's performance. Each competency listed in the attached document of MAERB Core Curriculum 2015 Plan for medical assistants must be completed with accuracy, according to the correct procedures and within the time frame allowed.

Websites:
American Medical Technologist (AMT) website:
www.americanmedtech.org

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) website
http://www.aama-ntl.org/

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) website for MA Standards:
http://www.caahep.org/documents/file/Publications-And-Governing-Documents/MedicalAssistingStandards.pdf

See attachments for:
1. CAAHEP Medical Assisting Standards
2. Appendix B Core Curriculum for Medical Assistants
3. Program Map for Medical Assistant Certificate