Program’s Mission Statement

The mission of the Medical Assisting program at Robert Morgan Educational Center is to ensure job readiness by providing state-of-the-art theory and clinical training using competency – based curriculum which is self-paced and individualized for our culturally diverse student population.

Program Content

This program is designed to prepare the student for employment as a Medical Assistant or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in an occupation where selected taught in the Medical Assistant Program are skills required for employment.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits the program.  Upon completion of the program, the student is eligible to take the national certification exam for CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Classroom and laboratory activities follow a competence-based format where students establish their own learning pace based on their individual learning style.  This allows for flexibility based on life-long experience and basic skills level achievement.

Program content areas include:

CORE curriculum

Administrative

¹    Schedule, coordinate, and monitor appointments

¹    Schedule inpatient/outpatient admission & procedures

¹    Perform procedural and diagnostic coding

¹    Manage accounts receivable and payable

¹    Document and maintain accounting and banking records

Clinical

¹    Prepare and assist with examinations, procedures, and treatments

¹    Medical laboratory: urinalysis, CBC and phlebotomy

¹    Pharmacology-theory and administration of medications and immunizations

¹    Assist with minor office surgery

¹    Electrocardiograph

¹    Basic x-ray machine operation

General (Transdisciplinary)

¹    Professionalism

¹    Medical and ethical principles

¹    Prioritizing tasks and time management

¹    Communication skills

¹    Use medical terminology appropriately

¹    Awareness and compliance of federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines

¹    Patient teaching according to their needs

¹    Methods of health promotion and disease prevention

When students have completed instruction and clinical practice in the classroom, they are placed in a medical office or appropriate clinical working environment for externship experience.

Students must provide their own transportation from externship assignments.

Entrance Requirements

¹    Occupational Interest

¹    Complete physical exam

¹    Transportation to clinics and offices

Length of Program

The entire program is 1300 hours and is only offered to post-secondary students who are 18 years or older.  Students may earn a certificate at the completion of the following OCP’s:

OCP A (Basic Healthcare Worker) 90 hours

OCP B (Medical Office Receptionist)

             100  hours

OCP C (Phlebotomist) 75 hours

OCP D (EKG Aide) 75 hours

OCP E (Medical Assisting) 960 hours

Minimum basic-skills grade levels required for awarding a Full Program Completion Certificate  are 10^th grade in Math, Reading, and Language on the TABE Test

Employment Opportunities

Excellent opportunities for employment are available in the following areas:

¹    Medical offices and clinics

¹    HMO facilities

¹    Emergency departments and selected specialty areas

¹    Walk-in treatment centers

¹    Cardiovascular labs

¹    Medical office administration

¹    Veterinary medicine

Salary

The average salary of medical assistants is $9.43 to $12.95 an hour. Medical assistant held about 329,000 jobs in 2003. Sixty percent were in physicians’ offices, and about 15 percent were in hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities.