Medical Assisting AS

1.0 Unit

9 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This course is designed for those with little or no computer experience. Learners practice file management, email, instant messaging, and Internet browsing and searching. This course includes a brief introduction to industry standard word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation application programs. Computer terminology and identification of fundamental hardware and software applications are also introduced. (Formerly CSCI C070.)

2.0 Units

Advisory: ENGL C101

36 hours lecture. This course is designed to prepare the student to recognize human behaviors and communicate effectively with clients and other healthcare providers in the workplace. Topics include verbal and non-verbal communication techniques, listening skills, therapeutic communication skills, and communicating with other healthcare providers. This course meets the competency standards for Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) certification.

1.5 Units

Advisory: ENGL C101

27 hours lecture. This course is designed to explore the theories, models, and principles that serve as guides for ethical behavior within the medical assistant context. The student explores the complexities of the ethical and legal aspects of patient care related to the medical assistant's practice, while learning the importance of principled behavior in personal and professional situations.

1.5 Units

Advisory: ENGL C101

27 hours lecture. This course covers concepts and techniques for managing and maintaining manual and electronic health records (EHR). Topics include structure and use of health information including data collection and analysis, data sources/sets, archival systems, and quality and integrity of health care data. The focus of this course is system-wide clinical documentation guidelines and regulatory standards.

3.0 Units

54 hours lecture. This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine. The components of medical terminology are highly beneficial for any individual with a healthcare employment objective. The course presents the components of medical works including word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes. Using medical terminology as a focal point, the instructor discusses the systems of the body.

1.0 Unit

Advisory: ENGL C101

9 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This course provides the learner with a basic understanding of word processing with Microsoft Word, including document creation, formatting, and editing. Learners create, edit, and format business letters, multiple-page reports, newsletters, and cover letters. This course begins preparation for the Microsoft Office User certification exam for Word.

1.0 Unit

Advisory: BSOT C075, ENGL C101

9 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This course provides a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel beginning with spreadsheet design, creation, revision, formatting, and printing a workbook. Basic formulas, functions, and syntax are introduced along with an introduction to using charts and graphs. Problem solving for Excel solutions is also emphasized. This course begins preparation for the Microsoft Office User Certification exam for Excel.

3.0 Units

Prerequisite: HCRS C150, HCRS C130, HCRS C131, HCRS C132

Advisory: ENGL C101

54 hours lecture. This course enables the student to gain a wide range of skills that may be required in a medical front office, which is an area that requires a high level of adaptability. This course covers basic office procedures, which include receptionist, appointments, scheduling, telephone techniques, interpersonal relations, computer data entry, oral communication, and medical-legal doctrines.

3.0 Units

Prerequisite: HCRS C150, HCRS C130, HCRS C131, HCRS C132

Advisory: ENGL C101

54 hours lecture. This course presents the basic functions of the insurance and billing practices for healthcare workers. Topics include management of basic financial activities for healthcare facilities including medical insurance, methods of establishing professional fees, billing laws and regulations, banking, and bookkeeping.

2.0 Units

Corequisite: HCRS C133

Advisory: BIOL C121, ENGL C101

36 hours lecture. This course presents a thorough overview of basic International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding. Procedural coding and International Classification of Diseases provides students with the detailed knowledge to implement the specialized coding needed for billing insurance companies.

1.5 Units

Prerequisite: HCRS C133, HCRS C134, HCRS C135 or concurrent enrollment

90 hours volunteer work experience. The Administrative Medical Assistant (AMA) Externship is a practical application of the theory and skills learned in the classroom. The student participates in front office procedures under the direct supervision of the physician and the office manager and the indirect supervision of the classroom instructor.

3.0 Units

Prerequisite: HCRS C150, HCRS C130, HCRS C131, HCRS C132

45 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This is an introductory course designed to provide basic education and training for the individual who is interested in working as a Clinical Medical Assistant in a medical or clinical back office. Topics include basic infection control, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations, principles of nutrition, vital signs and height/weight measurements, initial medical record documentation, and maintenance of the clinical facility. Common office practices, such as taking vital signs are discussed and practiced in the skills lab.

3.0 Units

Prerequisite or Corequisite: HCRS C138, HCRS C139

45 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This course is designed to provide advanced education and training for the individual who is interested in working as a Clinical Medical Assistant in a medical or clinical back office. Topics include patient history and interviewing, techniques of assisting the physician with patients, minor surgeries and sterile dressing changes, staple and suture removal, theory of x-ray examination and treatment, patient education, electrocardiographic methods, and first aid. Common office procedures are discussed and practiced in the Skills Lab. Emphasis is placed on the role of the clinical medical assistant.

2.0 Units

Prerequisite or Corequisite: HCRS C136, HCRS C137, HCRS C138

27 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This course provides basic education and training in medications and administration for the individual who is interested in working as a Clinical Medical Assistant in the medical back office environment. Topics include basic mathematics, terminology, medication orders, medication administration, including oral and intravenous, and documentation. Emphasis is on client education and the role of the clinical medical assistant.

2.0 Units

Prerequisite or Corequisite: HCRS C136, HCRS C137, HCRS C138

27 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This introductory laboratory course provides basic education and training for a clinical medical assistant in a physician's office laboratory. The focus of the training includes methods of specimen collection, principles of routine office laboratory tests, techniques for blood tests, microbiology office procedures, and blood withdrawal.

1.5 Units

Prerequisite: HCRS C136, HCRS C137. Corequisite: HCRS C137

90 hours volunteer work experience. The Clinical Externship is a practical application of the theory and skills learned in the classroom and lab. The student participates in physician's office or clinic providing patient care under the direct supervision of the physician and the office manager with indirect supervision of the classroom instructor.