Medical Assisting

Coordinator/Master Instructor:  Bird
Advanced Instructor: Mooso

5 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 Idaho State University College of Technology Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL  33756; (727) 210-2350; fax (727) 210-2354;  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.

NOTE: Graduates will be eligible to take the national certification exam for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Individuals who have been found guilty of a felony, or pleaded guilty to a felony, are not eligible to take the CMA Exam. However, the Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances.

For a Program Information Packet, use this link, which leads to descriptions of each program in general, course descriptions, lists of course sequences, and the cost of books, tools, uniforms, fees, and other expenses.  The URL is  http://www.isu.edu/ctech/programs.shtml 

The Medical Assistant Curriculum is sequenced to provide the student with the best possible learning experience. Students who do not complete proper class sequence each semester will not progress to the next semester. ALL classes must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher to progress to any Clinical or Externship course.

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 208          Introduction to Pathology             3 cr  
HO 209          Basic Principles of Drugs 
		  and Their Uses		      3 cr
HO 111          Introduction to Anatomy  
                  and Physiology                      4 cr 
           OR  
BIOL 301,301L,302,302L 
		Anatomy and Physiology, and Labs      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
MA 202          Phebotomy and Administration 
		  of Medications              	      4 cr
MA 203          Advanced Coding and Computers 
		  in Medical Assisting 		      4 cr
MA 204          Clinical Externship                   8 cr
MA 205          Clinical Medical Assisting II         4 cr
MA 206          Administrative Externship             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, and Lab                    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: 75-80 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 medical office, which include: communications, appointment scheduling, accounting, insurance processing, and management skills. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. F

MA 200 Clinical Medical Assisting 4 credits. Course includes vitals; medical asepsis and health maintenance; disinfection and sterilization procedures; charting; assisting with examinations and minor surgery; application and removal of bandages, dressings, and casts; therapy modalities; patient education. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. F

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 Administration of Medications and Phlebotomy 4 credits. Covers routes of administration and the proper delivery of medication by those routes. Medications and rules of administration are discussed. Includes phlebotomy skills and safety requirements for hematology, chemistry, and serology. Principles and theory of IV Therapy are also covered. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. S

MA 203 Advanced Coding and Computers in Medical Assisting 4 credits.Data entry of patient information, accounting, scheduling, insurance filing. Complete, accurate computer accounting process. Simulated computer exercises in functions pertaining to the medical office, advanced coding, and abstracting patient information from medical records. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. S

MA 205 Clinical Medical Assisting II 4 credits.Course includes assisting with specialty exams and procedures, radiology, diagnostic CLIA waived lab testing and screening; EKGs, spirometry, specimen collection; urinalysis, microscopic testing, and OSHA regulations are covered. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. S

MA 206 Administrative Externship 4 credits. Application of the principles and practice of the administrative clerical functions of a medical office in an external learning/externship environment under the supervision of a physician and the business management staff. PREREQ: All other MA required courses (including general education and HO courses). 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: Previous semester course sequence, and OT 170. S

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: July 2007