MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT Begin a career in health care by learning to work in a medical clinic or physician's office. You will learn to perform the administrative tasks of a medical receptionist and work in the clinical areas by helping with physical examinations, diagnostic tests and treatment procedures. Clinical duties can include: Taking brief medical histories, obtaining vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting health care providers during examinations and procedures, taking electrocardiograms, preparing and administering medications, and performing phlebotomy and basic laboratory tests. Administrative duties could include: using electronic medical records, arranging for diagnostic tests and laboratory services, completing insurance information, answering telephones, scheduling appointments, and assisting with billing and coding. Program Strengths Complete the certificate requirements in one year as a full-time student Eligible to take a certification examination from the American Medical Technologists, a national certification agency, to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Practical internship practice provides 225 hours of direct hands on training Continue your education and become more competitive in the work place with an associate degree Emphasis / Degree Options Associate of Applied Science, Medical Office Assistant Certificate, Medical Office Assistant Classes begin January 22, 2013. Call 249.7009 for individual advising and learn how to get started today or visit coloradomesa.edu/montrose. Financial aid is available to those who qualify! REV Summer 2012
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT The Medical Office Assistant Certificate Program is available at the Montrose Campus of Colorado Mesa University, with classes starting each Fall semester. For more information, call 970.249.7009 or visit the Montrose Campus at 234 S. Cascade Avenue, Montrose. Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. Significant points from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008-2018 decade. Job prospects should be excellent. About 62 percent of medical assistant work in offices of physicians. Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1-year or 2-year programs. Starting salary usually $25,000 - $27,000/year ($12.00-$13.00/hour) Grand Junction. Clinical duties include: Taking brief medical histories Obtaining vital signs Preparing patients for examinations Assisting physicians during examinations and treatment procedures Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens Performing basic laboratory test Preparing the examining room Ordering supplies Keeping patient areas neat and clean As directed by a physician, medical assistants: Prepare and administer medications Draw blood Take electrocardiograms Remove sutures Change dressings Assist with minor surgery Administrative duties include: Using Electronic Medical Records Arranging for diagnostic tests and laboratory services Completing insurance information Answering telephones Scheduling appointments Greeting patients Handling correspondence REV Summer 2012
Western Colorado Community College, A Branch of Colorado Mesa University MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT PROGRAM Receive a Technical Certificate from the college. Complete in one year as a full time student or in two years as a part time student. Eligible to take a certification examination from the American Medical Technologists, a national certification agency, to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). Classes starting each Fall. Proposed Courses Credits Fall Spring Summer OFAD 147 Medical Terminology 4 4 OFAD 118 Intro PC Applications 3 3 MOAP 111 Intro Medical Assisting 3 3 MOAP 133 Basic Medical Sciences I 4 4 MOAP 136 Introduction to Clinical Skills 2 2 OFAD 249 Medical Office Procedures 3 3 MOAP 135 Basic Medical Sciences II 4 4 MOAP 138 Medical Assisting Laboratory Skills 4 4 MOAP 140 Medical Assisting Clinical Skills 4 4 MOAP 150 Pharmacology for Medical Assists 3 3 MOAP 183 Medical Assistant Internship (225 hours) 5 5 MOAP 189 Review for National Exam 1 1 Totals 40 16 18 6 For information, contact: Colorado Mesa University- Montrose Campus 234 S. Cascade Avenue Montrose, CO 81401 970-249-7009 montrosecampus@coloradomesa.edu www.coloradomesa.edu/montrose REV Summer 2012
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT Medical Office Assistant Program Admission Guidelines To be successful in this program, students need to be able to read, write and have math skills at the college entry level. If students do not meet recommended skill standards as measured by ACT, SAT or ACCUPLACER scores, they may improve basic skills while taking beginning courses in the program. Acceptable documentation: SAT/ACT or Accuplacer scores (less than 2 years old). Previous ENGL 090 or higher course work at a college, a college degree or a certificate. Recommended basic skill standards as measured by Accuplacer: ENG 090 MAT 060 REA 090 Students need to be able to sufficiently speak and understand English to comprehend the verbal communication of English speaking clients. Skills (from O*NET OnLine 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants) Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively. Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people. Summer 2012
Abilities Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. Summer 2012
Medical Office Assistant Program Western Colorado Community College, 2012 Course Descriptions MOAP 111 Introduction to Medical Assisting (3) Description and career opportunities. Professionalism and effective communication. Overview of health care, types of organizations and health care team. Legal considerations in the medical office, patient rights and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), and principles of law and ethics in health care. OFAD 118 Introduction to Personal Computer Applications (3) Basic computer terminology, file management, and PC system components. Provides an overview of office application software including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation graphics. Includes the use of a web browser to access the Internet. MOAP 133 Basic Medical Sciences I (4) Organization and function of the human body. Introductory anatomy, physiology, and patho-physiology of integumentary, nervous, cardiovascular, lymphatic, pulmonary, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems. Health problems, illnesses, diagnostic tests, drug therapy and treatment common in the ambulatory patient care setting. MOAP 135 Basic Medical Sciences II (4) Organization and function of urinary, male and female reproductive systems, musculoskeletal, and eyes, ears, nose and throat. Implications in pediatrics, geriatrics and nutrition are reviewed. Health problems, illnesses, diagnostic tests, drug therapy and treatment common in the ambulatory patient care setting. MOAP 136 Introduction to Clinical Skills (2) Principles and procedures. Collection of patient history and data, vital signs, height, weight, and appropriate documentation. Methods of assisting clinicians with physical examinations, procedures, and treatments in the medical office. Infection control and medical asepsis. MOAP 138 Medical Assisting Laboratory Skills (4) Laboratory skills and techniques for collection, handling, examination and testing of laboratory specimens often encountered in the ambulatory care setting. Emphasizes hands on experience. MOAP 140 Medical Assisting Clinical Skills (4) Principles and procedures. Methods of assisting clinicians with specialty physical examinations, diagnostic testing, procedures, treatments, and minor surgical procedures in the medical office. Principles of medication administration with an emphasis on oral and parenteral routes of drug administration. OFAD 147 Medical Terminology (4) Basic medical terminology as applied to major systems of the body and related diseases. Includes special applications related to medical practice with emphasis on spelling.
Medical Office Assistant Program Western Colorado Community College, 2012 MOAP 150 Pharmacology for Medical Assistants (3) Overview of pharmacology. Drug action and uses, names, classifications, effects, interactions, regulation and safety. Vaccine and immunization schedules and administration. Information regarding the measurement of medications, dosage calculations, routes of administration, and commonly prescribed drugs in the medical office is provided. OFAD 249 Medical Office procedures (3) Introduction to office administration duties specifically used in medical offices. Ethical issues related to a medical office setting, interpersonal communications, appointment scheduling, patient reception and registration, health information and management, medical billing, health insurance, financial management and human resource management. MOAP 183 Medical Assistant Internship (5) Supervised placement in contracted facility for guided experience in application of knowledge and skill acquired in the classroom. Business and clinical procedures. Positions are non-paid due to accreditation requirements. Permission of program coordinator to begin internship. MOAP 189 Review for Medical Assistant National Examination (1) Preparation and practice for a national registration examination.