Upon successful completion of program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Perform scheduling of admission, appointments and tests.
- Organize medical records.
- Apply administrative policies and procedures effectively.
- Demonstrate competent written and medical terminology skills.
- Demonstrate handling and disposing of medical waste.
- Apply principles and safety for laboratory procedures.
- Demonstrate efficient interpersonal skills with patients, medical personal and co-workers.
- Adapt methods and techniques to individual needs/capabilities of patients.
- Demonstrate professionalism with the legal and ethical boundaries of the medical assisting profession.
- Demonstrate safety and emergency practices in health care surroundings.
- Perform vital signs, exam room preparation, patient data collection, documentation, billing, medical transcription, medical and surgical asepsis, dressing changes, injections, drug administration, nutrition, electrocardiograms, capillary punctures, assisting with minor surgical procedures and urinalysis.
- Demonstrate responsibility within the scope of practice of a medical assistant.
A medical assistant is eligible to work in clinics, urgent care/express care, clinics, research facilities and insurance companies. Duties could include administering injections, taking blood pressure readings, rooming patients, electrocardiograms (EKG), assist the physician with minor surgical procedures, insurance coding, medical records and scheduling patients for special procedures or other medical appointments.
Medical assistants have direct patient contact and work closely with physicians, nurses and other health care professionals. The ability to demonstrate professionalism, communicate effectively, multitask, and perform procedures quickly and accurately is essential for success.
Advancement typically requires more training and certification. Many medical assistants choose to become nurses or other health care workers through further study. Administrative positions provide another popular career path because an administrative medical assistant can rise to the position of office manager without additional education.