Medical Assisting
PROGRAM INFORMATION
The Medical Assistant will gain skills training in three competency areas: administrative office, laboratory, and clinical. Course work includes instruction in scheduling appointments, insurance coding and billing, computer simulations, assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.
Becoming a Medical Assistant, NHA (National Healthcareer Association) Certified: After completing the courses in this program, while maintaining grades of 80% or better for each course section, the student will have the opportunity to sit for the NHA Medical Assisting Certification Exam. This will be administered in the last week of class. Upon passing, the student will become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, CCMA.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirement is a minimum of a high school diploma or GED certificate. CPR will be scheduled as part of the course.
Pre-requisite Course: Medical Terminology, 19 total weeks, Begins in July
- Includes 5 in-person classes once per month
- All other work is completed online
Total weeks in the program: 45, Begins in January
Session I - 12 weeks - Medical Assisting, Non-Clinical Skills
- Includes in class discussion 2 nights a week for 3 hours each night
- Online work assigned
Session 2 – 12 Weeks – Phlebotomy for Medical Assistants, Begins in April
- Includes in class discussion and lab 2 nights a week for 3 hours each night
- Online work assigned
Session 3 – 21 Weeks – Medical Assisting, Clinical Skills, Begins in July/August
- Includes in class discussion and lab 2 nights a week for 3 hours each night
- Online work assigned
Total program hours: 615
- Lecture/Lab: 261 hours
- Online: 354 hours
Medical Assisting Program includes 2 Courses:
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Terminology
SCHOLaRSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH NC WORKS
Contact your local NC Works Career Center about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program to seek assistance with funding for the medical assisting program. Our local office serves Catawba & Alexander (828-466-5535), Burke (828-438-6161) and Caldwell (828-759-4680) counties. If outside these four counties, contact your local NC Works Career Center.
WIOA is a needs-based program requiring application and enrollment to be completed 4 weeks PRIOR to the class start in July.
Apprenticeship
Our Medical Assisting program is aligning with local medical offices to offer some students the option of an apprenticeship. This program is sanctioned by the US Department of Labor and offers paid working hours while the student is in the program. Tuition/book reimbursement may also be available through the Adult Educational Assistance Grant once enrolled in an apprenticeship. Upon successful completion, the student will receive a National Journey Worker certificate.
The candidates will be selected by the employer/instructors before or during the first class to work a schedule mutually agreed upon between the student and employer. Each year the number of apprenticeships and start dates will change; there may or may not be apprenticeships for every student.
Online Registration
Please register online for the pre-requisite class: Medical Assisting - Med Term. We accept the first 25 students who register. (Keyword: Medical).
CLASS OFFERING
Program Schedule/Classes
PROGRAM SCHEDULE AND CLASSES
Pre-Req
| Course Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| MED 8701 |
Medical Assisting - Med Term |
6 hours/week online plus class time | 5 in-class sessions, once per month, on Mon. from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. |
FIRST 12 WEEKS (Term 1)
| Course Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| MED 3300 | Medical Assisting (Office) | 6 hours week plus online work | 6 hours Lab per week on Mon. and Wed. from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM |
SECOND 12 WEEKS (Term 2)
(CPR class to be taken during this term) Course
| Course Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| MED 3300 | Medical Assisting (Phlebotomy) | 6 hours/week plus online work | 6 hours Lab per week on Mon. and Wed. from 5:30 PM- 8:30 PM |
THIRD 21 WEEKS (Term 3)
| Course Section | Title | Class/Lecture/Clinic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MED 3300 | Medical Assisting (Clinical) | 6 hours/week plus online work | 6 hours Lab per week on Mon. and Wed. from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM |
Program Cost/Supplies
Program Cost and Supplies
| Items | Cost (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Medical Assisting -Tuition | $180.00 |
| Medical Assisting - Fees | $6.25 |
| Medical Assisting - Liability Insurance | $18.00 |
| Medical Assisting - Books | $199.99 |
| Medical Assisting - Supplies | $90.00 |
| Medical Assisting - NHA Certification | $160.00 |
| Medical Terminology -Tuition | $180.00 |
| Medical Terminology - Fees | $6.25 |
| Medical Terminology - Books | $129.99 |
| Medical Assisting - Lab Fees | $95.00 |
| Medical Assisting - Castlebranch Background Check & Drug Screening | $98.00 |
| Medical Assisting - Cost to become current with immunizations | Varies |
| Medical Assisting - CPR | $15.00 |
| Shoes & Scrubs | $110.00 |
| Phlebotomy - NHA Certification Exam | $ 125.00 |
| Total (estimated) cost of program (subject to change) | $1,414 |
Course Descriptions
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Medical Assisting: This course prepares students for a broad range of skills that make medical assistants versatile and valuable to any healthcare team. Students will learn skills to perform duties from the front office to the back office. Core topics include principles of allied health, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, medical assistant office procedures, pharmacology, clinical lab procedures & phlebotomy, clinical procedures, medical law & ethics and communications, advanced laboratory procedures & minor medical office surgeries. This course requires students to participate in a clinical externship. Upon completion, the student will have the knowledge to sit for industry-recognized certifications.
Medical Terminology: This course is an introduction to the study of the structure of medical words and terms. Emphasis is placed on spelling and defining commonly used prefixes, suffixes, root words, their combining forms, and body organization. Program content covers the basic human anatomy and physiology for all systems, laboratory medicine, pharmacology, and elements of medical terms and names of major diseases, including terms used in physical exams, operative procedures and diagnosis.
Essential Competencies
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES OF A MEDICAL ASSISTANT
- Demonstrate comprehension of job responsibilities, professionalism, communication skills, HIPAA and law and ethics.
- Demonstrate understanding of types of insurance and plan types.
- Demonstrate procedures for OSHA and safety including but not limited to CPR, body mechanics, fall prevention, emergency response and general safety.
- Show understanding for medical terminology and anatomy and physiology of the body systems.
- Perform patient care outpatient duties.
- Obtain and document patient medical history
- Take and document vital signs
- Chart patent existing medical conditions
- Discuss nutrition, special treatment care, and pre/postoperative care
- Perform infection control techniques including but not limited to hand washing and universal precautions.
- Demonstrate understanding of phlebotomy and blood draws.
- Phlebotomy techniques with all types of collection equipment
- Factors to consider before a blood draw and possible complications
- Finger and heel collection
- Special testing and supplies needed.
- Perform and understand components of other testing to include
- Full electrocardiograms, explaining the purpose and proper placement of leads.
- Point of Care Testing
- DOT testing
- Perform simulations in the electronic medical record such as
- Entering patient demographics and insurance
- Scheduling appointments
- Processing insurance, billing and coding
- Use basic pharmacology with calculating dosages, medication orders, parenteral and non-parenteral medicine management, the “Seven” Rights of drug administration, and the basic drug classifications.
Essential Functions
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical requirements: Physical activities include but are not limited to frequent walking, standing, and light physical effort performed on a level surface. Some carrying, lifting, kneeling, bending, reaching, and squatting are involved in the medical office.
Testing procedures require use a computer and telephone and employ writing and organizational skills. Manual dexterity, mobility and good vision that includes near acuity, depth perception.
Front desk or non-clinical skills require the ability to sit for extended periods of time using a computer. This will require multi-tasking while entering data directly into the computer and speaking with the patient.
Communication requirement: Communication includes but is not limited to writing, speaking, hearing, and dealing with the public. Electronic communications via computers, printers, interfaces, and fax machines are utilized in this job role. Inter-relationships define the broad level of communication needs involved in these technical responsibilities.
Cognitive requirement: Cognitive requirements include but are not limited to reading, writing, simple arithmetic, math reasoning, weighing, measuring, and analyzing data and report information. Judgment and actions required in performing and reporting analyses under supervision could result in decisions regarding management.
Working environment/safety: The work environment is indoors in an office/clinical setting. The environment includes but is not limited to infectious material hazards involve regular exposure to disease-bearing specimens, body fluids, wastes and risk of blood-borne disease. Laboratory testing procedures may expose some odorous chemicals and specimens. Phlebotomy procedures require contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances and conditions. Safety is required in the form of personal protective equipment.
Contact Information
Department Head, HMT, MOA, & HE Continuing Education Coordinator
Health Services - Healthcare Management Technology
Email:
Laura Richard
Phone: 828-327-7000
x4523
Office Number: CAD 540
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Registration
Course Schedules