Medical Assisting (MED)

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.

Study of medical terminology using a body systems approach, relating terms to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Word parts are used to build, analyze, define, spell, and pronounce medical terms, including abbreviations. Structural, directional, disease and disorder, surgical, and diagnostic terms will be covered for body structures, body systems, and specialized areas of medicine such as oncology. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This course offers training in the etiology, epidemiology, transmission, testing, and treatment of HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and many other bloodborne pathogens. Students will review infection control, counseling and confidential interviews with patients, and the legal, ethical, and psychosocial issues related to exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Students are introduced to pathophysiology, the study of processes that disturb normal body function. Instruction in both basic disease processes and major organ-related diseases are incorporated into the study of the form (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the human body. This course has a laboratory component. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This course continues to instruct students in the anatomy and pathophysiology of the human body using a body systems approach. Emphasis is placed on the study of multiple organ system diseases, infectious diseases, and microbiology. This course has a laboratory component. This class may include students from multiple sections. 

This course is designed to provide instruction in general office administration duties. Topics to be covered include telecommunications, scheduling, filing, interpersonal communications, and professional correspondence. There will be review and discussion of various machines and equipment used in the business office, as well as exercises in the maintenance of office equipment, procurement of supplies, and maintenance of inventory. Students will be instructed in the use of an educational electronic health record (EHR) system. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This course teaches medical assisting students how to incorporate cognitive knowledge in the performance of psychomotor and affective domains in their practice as medical assistants, and in providing patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights. Students will be instructed in the legal implications and ethical considerations of the medical assisting profession. NOTE: Students need to have entry codes to register. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This course gives students an introduction to managed care and insurance coverage. Students will learn medical billing practices including electronic submission and computerized billing techniques and includes ICD, HCPCS, and CPT coding. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This course gives medical assisting students advanced training in procedural and diagnostic coding and medical billing practices. Topics covered include ICD, HCPCS, and CPT coding and hospital and outpatient billing and coding procedures. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Final core curriculum course for students seeking to become medical office assistants or specialists. The course prepares students to perform routine administrative medical office duties in an outpatient setting. Students completing this course will be expected to develop a professional portfolio, apply for a national credentialing exam of their choice, participate in job-seeking activities, and participate in a brief externship wherein they will be expected to perform tasks relevant to the MOA job description. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Introduces the medical assisting student to basic clinical procedures and patient care. Subjects to be covered include, but are not limited to: infection control and asepsis, preparing the examination room, body measurements and vital signs, obtaining the medical history, assisting with the physical examination, electrocardiography, and therapeutic procedures. Some needle invasive procedures will be performed. 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.

This course continues instructing medical assisting students in the clinical skills necessary to the medical assisting profession. Subjects to be covered include, but are not limited to: specialty diagnostic testing, phlebotomy, laboratory and microbiological testing in the physician’s office, introduction to the concepts of pharmacology and medication administration, minor office surgery, and basic first aid in regard to medical office emergencies. Some needle invasive procedures will be performed. 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. 

Provides students with at least 160 clock hours of externship experience in ambulatory care facilities. Students will be required to maintain and submit documentation of the psychomotor and affective domain competencies they experience at practicum sites. Students will also submit assignments online that demonstrate how they incorporate cognitive domain competencies and critical thinking skills into their daily practice as medical assistants. This class may include students from multiple sections. 

This course offers instruction in the principles of pharmacology. Students will use applied mathematics to prepare proper dosages of medication for administration and verify those doses/dosages prior to administration. Students will learn to update medication lists utilizing an educational electronic health record. Students will learn techniques to help them explain medication treatment plans to patients to ensure patient understanding and compliance. This class may include students from multiple sections. 

Overview of job readiness, medical assisting certification exam preparation, credentialing application preparation, portfolio development, and networking in the medical assisting field. Students should be enrolled in this course their last quarter of the program, either concurrently with MED 165 or after its completion. Former students seeking a ‘refresher’ on professional development or credentialing test preparation may register. This class may include students from multiple sections. 

This course is designed to offer insights into patient advocacy and navigation, and the patient healthcare facilitation process. Students will learn how to facilitate communication among patients, caregivers, and physicians and how to develop care plans for patients. Emphasis is placed on methods of patient education and communication in regard to special populations. This class may include students from multiple sections.