Medical Assisting

Program Description

Medical Assistants help physicians examine and treat patients and perform routine tasks to keep offices running smoothly. The duties of Medical Assistants vary depending on the location and size of the practice and the physician's specialty. Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, explaining treatment procedures and educating patients, preparing patients for examination, assisting during the examination, collecting blood and other specimen samples, and performing basic lab procedures on those specimens, assist in minor office surgeries, and complete tests such as electrocardiogram, urinalysis, holter monitor, and spirometry to name a few.

This program takes the students through all specialty areas such as orthopedics, cardiology, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dermatology and gastroenterology. You will be dealing with the public, scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims, bookkeeping, etc. Your duties may also include management responsibilities as assigned by your employer which include a wide variety of clerical tasks. You may be employed by a medical office, multiple specialty clinic, public health agency, Urgent or emergency care clinic or similar setting, medical labs, insurance companies, and medical billing agencies.

Graduates of the Medical Assisting Program are eligible to sit for the AAMA Certifying exam to be awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential. The following chart shows National Exam outcomes from the past five years.

Graduates Employed or Continuing Education Five-Year Average

96%

Idaho Median Income

$37,120

National Median Income

$37,190

Program Overview

Program accepts students in August
Typical classroom hours vary dependent on semester
Program admits 18 students each year
The Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org