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 

This program requires students to achieve certain grades in order to advance each semester. Specific information is available in the program's student handbook. 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.

BI 170		Introduction to Computers		3 cr
HIT 208		ICD9-CM Coding				3 cr
HIT 209		CPT Coding				3 cr
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
MA 104		Introduction to 
		  Medical Assisting Administrative	4 cr
MA 200		Clinical Medical Assisting I		4 cr
MA 202		Phlebotomy and Administration 
		  of Medications			4 cr
MA 203		Computers in Medical Assisting		4 cr
MA 204		Clinical Externship			6 cr
MA 204S		Clinical Externship Seminar		1 cr
MA 205		Clinical Medical Assisting II		4 cr
MA 206		Administrative Externship		2 cr
MA 206S		Administrative Externship Seminar	1 cr
MA 207		Professional Development		1 cr
MA 208		Clinical Medical Assisting III		4 cr
HO 111		Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology	4 cr
	OR
BIOL 301, 301L, 302, 302L
		Anatomy and Physiology, and Labs	8 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 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 I 4 credits. Basic clinical procedures: taking and recording vital signs, histories, and chief complaints; asepsis; OSHA standards; health maintenance; disinfection and sterilization procedures; inventorying and ordering medical supplies; maintaining equipment; therapy modalities; preparing patients for exams; CPR and First Aid; 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 Computers in Medical Assisting Administrative 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.Abstracting patient information from medical records and using electronic medical records and templates to manage patient health records. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. F

MA 204 Clinical Externship 6 credits. Application of the principles and practice of medical assisting in an external learning environment/externship of a medical practice under the supervision of a physician and the medical practice staff. PREREQ: All other MA required courses (including general education and HO courses). F, S

MA 204S Clinical Externship Seminar 1 credit. Extension of the clinical externship; students meet for one hour each week to discuss experiences and progress with their clinical advisor and other students. PREREQ: All other MA required courses (including general education and HO courses). COREQ: MA 204. F, S

MA 205 Clinical Medical Assisting II 4 credits. Assisting with minor surgery and office procedures; applying dressings, bandages, casts, and sutures; scheduling radiology and patient preparation; diagnostic CLIA and screening; collecting specimens; OSHA regulations. F, S

MA 206 Administrative Externship 2 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 206S Externship Seminar 1 credit. Extension of MA 206. Discuss experiences and progress with advisor and other students.  PREREQ: All other MA required courses (including general education and HO courses). COREQ: MA 206. 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 208 Clinical Medical Assisting III 4 credits. Vital signs, asepsis, and health maintenance; charting; patient education; assisting with specialty examinations in pediatrics, OB/GYN, cardiology, pulmonary, gastroenterology, eyes, ears, nose, and throat. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. 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: August 2009