Medical Assisting - Curriculum

Medical assistants are multiskilled health professionals specifically educated to work in a variety of healthcare settings performing clinical and administrative duties. The practice of medical assisting necessitates mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Course work includes instruction in scheduling appointments, coding and processing insurance accounts, billing, collections, computer operations; assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, electrocardiography, supervised medication administration; and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.

Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants. Employment opportunities include physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, and hospitals. Please note that the certificates offered under this Associate Degree medical assisting program, while they may be part of the overall MA program, are not CAAHEP-accredited.

Curriculum Plans

Degree

• Medical Assisting Degree

Certificate

• Electronic Health Record Certificate
• Clinical Certificate

Medical Assisting - Schedule

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Medical Assisting - Program Outcomes

The goal of ECC’s Medical Assisting Program is for students to obtain a multi-skilled level education. The medical assistant is a healthcare professional specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative, clinical and laboratory skills. In addition, the Medical Assisting program prepares students to take a National Certification exam. A strong focus on the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains is weighed heavily by the program and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA).

Students will obtain subjective information and objective findings of the patient that are factual and apply to the given problem. The student will use critical thinking skills within the boundaries and scope of their practice to make connections among the facts relevant to a given situation. They will be able to document all aspects of the patient interaction that aid in collecting and processing specimens. Quality control and safety measures that are required of every medical facility are done so accurately.

The student understands the legal and ethical implications of their actions. Students focus on the many different cultures, beliefs and religions. Students learn professionalism skills that aid in cultural sensitivity when interacting with patients, staff, physician and community. Students will demonstrate ethical decision making within a medical setting.

Each student learns communication skills that expand on a work relationship that is positive for the patient and their family, staff members and physicians. Students are tested on verbal and written communication skills along with the nonverbal aspects of communication.

Outcomes

• The graduate will effectively demonstrate the standards and competencies based on administrative skills, clinical skills, and laboratory skills of an entry-level medical assistant by satisfying the learning outcomes and passing the required courses.
• The graduate will meet the learning expectations of an entry-level medical assistant in the following three domains: Cognitive (knowledge), Psychomotor, (skills), and Affective (behavior).
• Measurement of student success will be their ability to pass the national credentialing examination. It is highly recommended that each graduate maintain their certification through continuing education and membership within the AAMA.
• It is also recommended that graduates actively participate in their local chapter of medical assistants to broaden the needs of the community. Volunteering within the community is recommended as well.

Exam Pass rate for 2021 Graduates: 83.33%

Medical Assisting - Contact

Faculty Advisor