This course is an introduction to the medical assisting profession. Students explore areas where they might find employment as medical assistants and begin developing employment related skills and documents while expanding their effective communication skills. Students will begin learning the foundations for clinical practice in providing patient care as medical assistants. This course includes a skills laboratory component. Students will be instructed in the use of an educational electronic medical record (EMR) system. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Medical Assisting Program Admittance
Course Outcomes
Competencies/Objectives/Outcomes/Methods of Assessment/Assignment:
Foundations for Clinical Practice
I. Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology
- I.C.11. Identify quality assurance practices in healthcare
- I.P.1. Accurately measure and record:
a. blood pressure
b. temperature
c. pulse
d. respirations
e. height
f. weight (adult)
i. oxygen saturation - I.P.8. Instruct and prepare a patient for a procedure or treatment
- I.P.9. Assist provider with patient exam
III. Infection Control
- III.C.5. Identify the principles of standard precautions
- III.C.6. Identify personal protective equipment (PPE)
- III.C.7. Identify the implications for failure to comply with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regulations in health care settings
- III.P.2. Select appropriate barrier/personal protective equipment (PPE)
- III.P.3. Perform handwashing
- III.P.10. Demonstrate proper disposal of biohazardous material:
a. sharps
b. regulated wastes
Applied Communications
V. Concepts of Effective Communication
- V.C.1. Identify types of verbal and nonverbal communication
- V.C.2. Identify communication barriers
- V.C.3. Identify techniques for overcoming communication barriers
- V.C.4. Identify the steps in the sender-receiver process
- V.C.5. Identify challenges in communication with different age groups
- V.C.9. Identify the principles of self-boundaries
- V.C.10. Identify the role of the medical assistant as a patient navigator
- V.C.11. Identify coping mechanisms
- V.C.12. Identify subjective and objective information
- V.C.13. Identify the basic concepts of the following theories:
a. Maslow
b. Erikson
c. Kubler-Ross - V.C.14. Identify issues associated with diversity as it relates to patient care
- V.C.15. Identify the medical assistant’s role in telehealth Medical Law and Ethics
X. Legal Implications
- X.P.1. Locate a state’s legal scope of practice for medical assistants
- A.6. Recognize personal boundaries