Curriculum Description


Module A: Basic Medical Assisting/Medical Law & Ethics This course is designed to provide the students with an overall understanding and introduction to the field of healthcare, particularly as it relates to the multi-skilled medical assistant. This module includes an introduction to healthcare, infection control, safety and emergencies, legal and ethical responsibilities, communication, and interpersonal skills along with skills involved in hands on applications providing basic patient care. Some of these skills include preparing a medical record, vital signs, positioning patients for examination, providing personal, physical and social needs of the patient according to the Patient’s Bill of Rights.

Module B: Medical Terminologies/Anatomy & Physiology/Billing & Coding This course is designed to provide the students with an overall understanding of basic terminology principles, structures that are associated with building terminology words by the using prefixes, suffixes, and root words. This module also includes also includes basic anatomy & physiology principles that cover the body systems, their definitions, diseases, and disorders to include diagnostic exams. This module also focuses on tying in a basic understanding of basic billing and coding principles as they relate to a physician’s office, with demonstrating knowledge of CMS1500, ICD-9 & CPT basic coding procedures to include insurance verification, EOB, RA terminology, along with computerized practice management software.

Module C: Hematology/Phlebotomy/Specimen Collection This course is designed to provide the students with an overall understanding of the theory of blood and its components and hands-on-skills involved in phlebotomy and special collecting and processing. These skills also include discussing the aspects of both phlebotomy and lab assisting. Additional focus is on performing basic laboratory skills requiring quality assurance and specimen handing, including blood draws, urine collection, wound, throat and stool specimen collection, with emphasis on the various departments within the lab. Other laboratory policy and procedure terminology is discussed.

Module D: Special Procedures/EKG/Tray Set-Ups This course is designed to provide the students with an overall understanding of EKG’s, basic lead placement and interpretation, rules and regulations that apply to patient identification and safety. Theory includes the circulatory and cardiovascular system with emphasis on the standard 12 lead EKG’s, diseases, and diagnostic exams. Special procedures include tray set-ups for diagnostic exams and invasive exams, examples include pap smears and wound care.

Module E: Injections This course is designed to provide the students with the knowledge and understanding as it relates to medication administration, rules for administering various types IV drugs. This module also focuses on the muscular system and integumentary systems and how those areas affect medication administration. The students will gain an understanding of multi-check systems before administering any medications.

Module F: Clinical Skills Review/Career Development Upon completion of courses A-E, the students will review and strengthen their clinical skills. This course will serve to ensure that the students have mastered basic medical assisting skills in the following areas: phlebotomy, specimen collections, laboratory procedures, injections, EKG’s, vital signs, charting, filing, telephone techniques, billing from progress notes. Practice certification exams will be given during this 10 course and students must complete a senior MA skills assessment before exiting the course. This prepares the student for entering the job market. Students learn interviewing skills, formatting professional resumes and rendering a successful interview.

Module G: Externship Students will work under the direct supervision of the physician designee in the medical practice. The medical practice or institution will be in constant contact with the school while the student is on their 160- hour externship. All students will be evaluated at the half-way point and again at the conclusion of the externship assignment. The students must complete hours in both the administrative and clinical setting/environmental while on externship in order to fulfill their requirements for graduation. Prior to graduation, students MUST participate in the National Credentialing Exam in order to graduate. Successful candidates who meet all the requirements of graduation and pass the credentialing exam will be awarded the NCMA (NHA) credential.