Clinical Medical Assistant

Overview

The Clinical Medical Assisting Profession
The Clinical Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings. Medical assistants with a clinical background perform various clinical tasks including assisting with the administration of medications and with minor procedures, performing an EKG electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and other related tasks. Job opportunities are prevalent with physicians offices, clinics, chiropractors offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities.

The Clinical Medical Assisting Program
This program prepares students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Instruction includes preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, taking and documenting vital signs, technical aspects of phlebotomy, the 12-lead EKG and the cardiac life cycle. Program also includes an optional clinical externship at a local healthcare provider!

The purpose of the Clinical Medical Assisting program is to prepare students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. This course covers the following key areas and topics:
Clinical responsibilities of the medical office - assisting the physician with patient related care
Preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing
HIPAA, patient confidentiality, legal aspects of healthcare and regulatory patient care issues
Recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressure, and other patient care items related to the physician office visit
Review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology related items
Laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and the proper techniques required to collect specimens for laboratory analysis
Cardiology and the proper placement of leads when taking a 12 lead EKG

Clinical Medical Assisting Detailed Course Information:
Responsibilities of the clinical medical assistant and introduction to healthcare facilities
Medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, circulation of the heart and blood vessels
Care & safety of patients, medical & legal aspects of care, confidentiality and HIPAA
Effective verbal and non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills and human behavior
Aseptic techniques, infection prevention, universal precautions, proper use and disposal of biohazards and sharps
Documenting patient medical histories, updating patient medical files, vital signs and documentation
Appling sterile dressings, preparing patients for x-rays, performing various injections, administering oral medications, instructing patients on the proper usage of medications
Phlebotomy, venipunctures and capillary sampling, collecting specimens and point of care testing
Performing 12 lead EKGs and EKG strip analysis (P,Q,R,S,T wave form)

Languages

English

Course Access Time

Students are given 6 months to complete the program. Extensions are available if needed, fees may apply.

Instructor

Patrice Arevalo Patricia has a degree in Medical Assisting from The Career College of Northern Nevada, Dental Assisting from the Community College of the Air Force, and is currently working on her B.S. in Criminal Justice Studies from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. She has over 10 years of experience working in doctors offices and has been an Air Force Reservist since 2009. She has worked as an instructor for multiple schools over the last 4 years teaching medical and dental assistant curriculum, as well as OSHA safety requirements and career development.

Prerequisites/Audience

Clinical Medical Assistants should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED. Students who complete this comprehensive course would be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification examination. In addition to facilitating entry-level clinical medical assisting related positions, this course is ideal for students interested in pursuing a future formal Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Nursing (LPN) or a Nursing (RN) program.

Requirements

System Requirements:
Windows Users:
Windows 7, XP or Vista
56K modem or higher
Soundcard & Speakers
Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mac OS User:
Mac OS X or higher (in classic mode)
56K modem or higher
Soundcard & Speakers
Apple Safari
iPad Users:
iPad iOS 5.1 (or latest)
Screen Resolution:
We recommend setting your screen resolution to 1024 x 768 pixels.
Browser Requirements:
System will support the two latest releases of each browser. When using older versions of a browser, users risk running into problems with the course software.

Windows Users: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mac OS Users: Apple Safari, Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox

Students will recieve these textbooks with their program:
Clinical Medical Assisting: Foundations and Practice