Medical Assisting

4 1/2 Semester Program for full-time students. Part time program also available.

One Associate of Applied Science degree, one Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree, and one Bachelor of Applied Technology degree are available.

This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to:

1. Help physicians examine and treat patients and
2. Perform routine tasks to keep offices running smoothly.
3. Deal with the public, schedule appointments, process insurance claims, perform bookkeeping duties, etc.
4. Perform some transcription of medical reports and perform a wide variety of other clerical tasks.
Graduates will also take and record vital signs and medical histories, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, assist during the examination, collect blood and specimen samples, and perform basic lab procedures.

The ISU College of Technology Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP, www.caahep.org), upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). The program’s accreditation status is current until January, 2006.

For Program Information Packets, use this link, where there are descriptions of each program in general, course descriptions, lists of course sequences, and the cost of books, tools, uniforms, fees, and other expenses.

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting

Required Courses:

The following courses must be completed with a "C" or better in each identified course.
HO 105          Introduction to
                  Allied Health Careers               2 cr
HO 106          Medical Terminology                   2 cr
HO 107          Medical Law and Ethics                3 cr
HO 204          Medical Transcription                 4 cr
HO 208          Introduction to Pathology             3 cr
HO 111          Introduction to Anatomy
                   and Physiology                     4 cr
          OR
BIOL 301,302    Anatomy and Physiology                8 cr
HIT 208         ICD9-CM Coding                        3 cr
HIT 209         CPT Coding                            3 cr
MA 104          Introduction to Medical
                  Assisting Administrative I          4 cr
MA 200          Clinical Medical Assisting I          4 cr
HO 209          Introduction to Drugs and Their Uses  3 cr
MA 202          Administration of
                  Medications/Phlebotomy              4 cr
MA 203          Computers in Medical Assisting        4 cr
MA 204          Clinical Practice                     8 cr
MA 205          Clinical Medical Assisting II         4 cr
MA 206          Administrative Practice               4 cr
MA 207          Professional Development              1 cr
OT 170          Introduction to Computers             3 cr

General Education Requirements:
The following General Education courses and any goal class taken in conjunction with a bachelor's degree must have an accumulated GPA of 2.0 or better.

BIOL 101/101L   Biology I                             4 cr
ENGL 101        English Composition                   3 cr
ENGL 102        Critical Reading and Writing          3 cr
MATH 123        Mathematics in Modern Society         3 cr
PSYC 101        Introduction to General Psychology    3 cr
                                           TOTAL: 76-84 cr

Courses

MA 104 Introduction to Medical Assisting Administrative I 4 credits. An introduction to the administrative skills and functions of the Medical Assistant in the physician's office which include: communications, scheduling, accounting, insurance processing, professionalism, and management. PREREQ: HO 105, HO 106, and OT 170. S

MA 200 Clinical Medical Assisting 4 credits. Clinical assisting including vital signs; assisting with minor surgery; asepsis; health maintenance; disinfection and sterilization; data collection; assisting with the physical examination; application of bandages, dressing, splints and casts; emergency care; and specimen collection. Diagnostic tests, laboratory examinations and treatment modalities are covered. PREREQ: HO 106, BIOL 301, and BIOL 302. S

MA 201 Pharmacology For Allied Health 2 credits. This course is designed for the health professional working outside of the hospital setting. This course reviews mathematical computations used in computing dosages. It introduces legislation relating to drugs, drug references, drug classifications and actions. The function of vitamins and minerals is covered as well as the subject of substance abuse. The effects of medications in the body systems details how specific drugs act on the body system. PREREQ: HO 106, BIOL 301, and BIOL 302. S

MA 202 Phlebotomy and Administration of Medications 4 credits. The course covers the routes of administration and the proper methods of delivery of medication by those routes. Various types of medication are discussed as well as the absolute rules concerning medication administration. Phlebotomy skills and safety requirements associated with processing blood specimens are also covered. PREREQ: HO 106; BIOL 301 and BIOL 302 or PNUR 111 or HO 111. F

MA 203 Computers in Medical Assisting 4 credits. Computerized data entry of demographic patient information, accounting, scheduling and insurance filing. Complete and accurate computer accounting process. Simulated exercises of all computerized functions as they pertain to the medical office and abstracting patient information from medical records. F

MA 204 Clinical Practice 8 credits. Application of the principals and practice of medical assisting in an internship/externship environment of a medical practice under the supervision of a physician and the medical practice staff. F, S

MA 205 Clinical Medical Assisting II 4 credits. Clinical assisting including speciality exams and procedures, radiology and diagnostic imaging, electrocardiography, urinalysis specimen collection and preparation, patient instruction, venipuncture, OSHA, and clinical laboratory. PREREQ: HO 106, MA 200, MA 201, MA 202, BIOL 301, and BIOL 302. F

MA 206 Administrative Practice 4 credits. Application of the principles and practice of the business and management of a medical office in an internship/externship environment under the supervision of a physician and the management staff. F, S

MA 207 Professional Development 1 credit. Principles and applied techniques for Medical Assisting professional career development. Preparation for transition from school to the work place. PREREQ: HO 106, MA 202, MA 205, and CIS 101. F

MA 298 Special Topics 1-8 credits. This course is designed to address the specific needs of individuals. It will enable students to upgrade their technical skills through part-time enrollment in units of instruction that are currently available through the program's full-time pre-employment curriculum. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. D
 

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: June 2004