Medical Assisting

This course is an introduction to basic clinical procedures designed to provide an overview of the disorders and abnormalities, diagnostic procedures, and pharmacology associated with clinical procedures. Skills are introduced on taking vital signs, patient histories, preparing patients for, and assisting with, various treatments, assisting with minor office surgeries, identifying, and caring for surgical instruments, and maintaining the exam room. Students practice diagnostic testing, electrocardiography, respiratory testing, and topics in professionalism, developmental psychology, and patient education.

This course introduces basic medical laboratory techniques. It will provide instruction in standard precautions, specimen collection, processing, and diagnostic testing. This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of hematological diseases and disorders. Students will be taught the proper methods for blood specimen collection and will perform phlebotomy techniques, diagnostic procedures, basic neurological assessment, glucose testing, labeling the skin and understanding different type of burn treatments, instructing patients in mobility assistance, and performing spirometry testing.

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the program learning objectives and to prepare students to take and pass the National Certified Medical Assistant exam and Limited Scope X-Ray Technician state licensure exam. This course also provides the students with career planning and job search techniques and skills. Topics include career exploration, sources for job information, networking, employment applications, cover letters, resumes, and interviewing. Students will develop skills that, along with their education, can lead to achieving personal goals and career success.

This course allows the student to apply what they have learned in the program curriculum to practical use in a healthcare facility under the direct supervision of a preceptor on the site. Through the externship experience, the students gain first-hand knowledge of the workplace and perform the assigned duties to meet the expectations in a professional setting. Students are expected to adapt to the work environment and reflect regularly on their learning and observations. The externship work performed is not to be paid.