Meridian Allied Health Series Medical Assistant Teacher s Guide
Introduction This teacher s guide provides information to help you get the most out of Medical Assistant. The contents of this guide will allow you to prepare your students before using the program and to present follow-up activities to reinforce the program s key learning points. The program informs viewers about the career choices for a medical assistant, the training needed, and how to determine if this field is the right one for them. Learning Objectives After viewing the program, students will be able to: Understand the overall business opportunities in the career area of Certified Medical Assistant. Describe the general duties performed and skills required for this career. Understand the specific career field outlook for a Certified Medical Assistant. Describe the certification requirements for becoming a Certified Medical Assistant. National Educational Standards for Certified Medical Assistants CAAHEP Content Standards Students will understand the following General requirements for certification: Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, Professionalism, Communication, and Medicolegal Guidelines and Requirements. Students will understand the following Administrative requirements for certification: Data Entry, Equipment, Computer Concepts, Records Management, Processing Mail, Appointment management, Resource Information and Community Services, Managing Physician s Schedule, and Other General Office Management Skills. Students will understand the following Clinical requirements for certification: Principles of Infections Control, Treatment Area, Patient Preparation, Patient History Interview, Collecting and Processing Specimens, Preparing and Administering Medicines, Emergencies, First Aid, and Nutrition. 2 AAMA Code of Ethics Members of AAMA dedicated to the conscientious pursuit of their profession, and thus desiring to merit the high regard of the entire medical profession and the respect of the general public which they serve, do pledge themselves to strive always to: render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity; respect confidential information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performance of duty to divulge such information; uphold the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines; seek to continually improve the knowledge and skills of medical assistants for the benefit of patients and professional colleagues; participate in additional service activities aimed toward improving the health and well-being of the community Copyright 2007 Meridian Education Corporation
Program Summary The program provides information for high school students and young adults who are intere s t- ed in one or all of three healthcare assistant-level careers. It provides both general information on the healthcare industry as well as some detailed information about what these jobs might be like, who they would appeal to, and the training needed to obtain them. Main Topics Topic 1: General Healthcare Industry Overview Topics in this section include the universal need for healthcare professionals and the pride in career for those who achieve required certifications. Topic 2: Basic Job Description and Skill Sets Understanding the job duties, required skills, typical work environment, and the pros and cons of the medical assistant field. Topic 3: Certification and Educational Requirements C a reers in allied health all have certification re q u i rements, primarily dealing with education and passing an examination. The program covers the organization which issues the certifications, the main subject areas for the certification examination, any educational and work experience re q u i rements, and more details on the examination itself. Topic 4: Work Settings This section contains a review of the typical working settings for a medical assistant. Topic 5: Career Field Outlook For each career in allied health, the program looks at the rate of expected growth, future employment opportunities, related jobs for consideration, some typical salary ranges, and opportunities for advancement. Fast Facts A CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) credential is awarded to qualified individuals who have passed the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) CMA Exam. Only graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs are eligible to sit for the CMA Exam. It is possible to become a medical assistant without being certified. Certification to earn the CMA title is voluntary, but strongly recommended. To become a CMA requires earning a certificate or diploma; it is also possible to earn a 2-year Associate Degree from an accredited medical assisting program. In general, the more education you get, the higher your potential salary will be. Medical assisting is projected to be the fastest-growing occupation over the next 10 years, with employment opportunities expanding by more than 36%. This is thought to be due to the aging of the population, resulting in an increased need for clinics, group practices, and other healthcare facilities that employ medical assistants. 3 Physicians hire medical assistants more frequently than they do any other allied health p rofessional such as physical therapy assistants, health information technicians, etc.
The median expected salary for a typical medical assistant is $29,771. This figure will very depending on the employee s experience, education, what part of the country they are working in, and the type of employer (for instance, working at a university s healthcare center may pay more than working at an outpatient clinic). A medical assistant performs both administrative and clinical duties. Clinical duties vary by state, but may include assisting the physician during an exam, performing basic lab tests, drawing blood, taking electro c a rdiograms, removing sutures, changing dressings, and giving injections under certain conditions. Workers in other medical support occupations include medical secretaries, hospital admitting clerks, pharmacy helpers, medical re c o rds clerks, dental assistants, occupational therapy aides, and physical therapy aides. The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants offers certification as a Podiatric Medical Assistant, and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology offers three diff e rent levels of certification. Vocabulary Terms anatomy: The branch of biology that deals with the structure of plants and animals. biology: The science of life. It is concerned with the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into being, and what interactions they have with each other and their environments. chiropractor: A practitioner of chiropractic. Chiropractic is based on the concept that disease results from a lack of normal nerve function. Chiropractors therefore manipulate the spine with their hands to realign the vertebrae and thus restore nerve function. A Doctor of Chiropractic must complete at least 2 years of undergraduate work in areas such as anatomy, chemistry, and biology, followed by 4 to 5 years at an accredited chiropractic school. pharmacology: The study of drugs and the body s reaction to drugs. phlebotomy: The act or practice of drawing blood as a therapeutic or diagnostic measure. p h y s i o l o g y : The study of how living organisms function, including such processes as nutrition, movement, and re p ro d u c t i o n. podiatrist: A podiatrist is a physician that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of diseases of the foot. s t rep scre e n : A diagnostic test commonly used to demonstrate whether streptococcus b a c t eria ( strep ) are present in the throat. u r i n a l y s i s : A test that determines the content of urine. Because urine removes toxins from the b o d y, analysis can be used to detect some types of disease, particularly in the case of metabolic d i s o rders and kidney disease. It can also be used to uncover evidence of drug abuse. 4
vena puncture: The act of puncturing or perforating the superior or inferior vena cava, the veins which return blood to the heart from other parts of the body. vital signs: Indications that a person is alive, or indicators of their general physical condition, such as breathing and blood pressure. Pre-Program Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever considered a career in the healthcare field? If so, what types of jobs come to mind? 2. What type and level of education do you think is necessary to become a certified medical assistant? 3. What do you think a typical day for a medical assistant would be like? What sorts of tasks do you think they would perform on the job? 4. What are the three most important factors you consider when thinking about a potential career? How can you get more information to address those factors? 5. Do you think your personal interests (group sports, reading, computers, etc.) can translate into professional interests? Discuss some ideas on this topic. Post-Program Discussion Questions 1. Whose perspective from the program did you find most useful in learning about and considering this career field? Why? 2. Was there anything that surprised you about the educational, certification, and experience requirements for this field? Did any seem very difficult to achieve? Did some seem not as difficult as you might have imagined? 3. What seems most appealing to you about this career field based on the information included in the program? What do you think the certified medical assistants interviewed in this program would say were the biggest advantages of their career? 4. Which clinical setting most appeals to you based on the information in the program? Which is the least appealing? 5. How were your impressions about daily routines for medical assistants reinforced or changed after viewing this program? 6. If this career field seems particularly interesting to you, how can you learn more about it? 5
Group Activities Divide the class into pairs of students. Have each pair consider the following statement: I would be a good certified medical assistant. Each pair will discuss their ideas about this, then decide on one idea to present to the class for discussion. Students are to play the role of guidance counselor, providing information on the pros and cons of a career as a medical assistant. They should prepare materials for a group discussion, including hand-outs and questions to write on the board. Break the class into pairs. Assigning one student to be the interviewer and one to be the interviewee, have them conduct practice interviews for a specific job in the medical assistant field. The interviewer should type up a list of questions, leaving room for responses. The interviewee should type a list of qualifications for this job. Individual Student Projects Have students take the Myers-Briggs assessment (either on paper, or online). Talk through with each student their results and how they might influence their interest in pursuing this career field or another in the program series. Have each student contact the American Association of Medical Assistants (either nationally or locally). They should request more information about the field, and ask if it is possible to directly contact association members or staff to discuss career choices. Students will then make a report on their findings, including whether or not the staff was helpful to them as a prospective member of both their association and their career field. Each student should take the information they learned in this program and create a poster that might be hung in a job counselor s or job re c r u i t e r s office that stresses in a visual way the key selling points and an appealing visual image to reflect a career as a medical assistant. Internet Activities Have students use the Internet to search for jobs as a medical assistant. They should note the variety of locations of the jobs, any salary information provided, certification requirements, and job duties. Students will then write up a report of their findings, which will also include answers to the following questions: 1) Is the information found online consistent with the information provided in the pro g r a m? 2) Are there geographic variations within the job postings? 3) As you browse through the listings, what appeals to you? 4) Do the listings reinforce your interest in this career, or dissuade you from considering it? 5) Should a particular job s availability influence your career choice? 6 Student should search online for discussion groups, message boards, blogs, or email listservs that pertain to being a medical assistant. They should then track the opinions and facts presented, and the issues raised, for one week. At the end of the week, they ll write a report of what the predominant concerns seem to be, and include an analysis of the percentage of positive and negative comments, the split between facts and opinions, and the ratio of practitioners with certification and without in the discussions.
Assessment Questions Q1: According to the program, where does the field of Certified Medical Assistant rank in job growth? a) 3rd b) 1st c) 4th d) 2nd Q2: Which of the following is not indicated as a useful emphasis in a high school education as preparation for a career as a Certified Medical Assistant? a) Biology b) Chemistry c) English d) Keyboarding Q3: What percentage of CMAs work in a physician s office? a) 14% b) Less than 5% c) 6 out of 10 d) 11% Q4: What is required for certification as a CMA? a) Externship, graduation from an accredited degree program, and passing a certification exam b) Passing a certification exam, and 5 years of work experience c) Externship, passing a certification exam, and 5 years of work experience d) Graduation from an accredited degree program, and passing a certification exam Q5: A typical starting salary for a CMA is $ per hour. Q6: There may be more CMA jobs from 2007 to 2016. Q7: How long will it typically take to earn a diploma in a CMA program? Q8: According to the educator in the program, the first skill a prospective employer seeks in a CMA is. Q9: Describe the basic, typical duties of a CMA working in a physician s office. Q10: Describe the externship portion of the degree program and its importance to a new CMA career. Q11: What did the practicing CMAs interviewed in the program list as their favorite parts of their careers? Of those items listed, which appeal to you the most? 7
Assessment Questions Answer Key Q1: According to the program, where does the field of Certified Medical Assistant rank in job growth? A1: (b) 1st. As the fastest-growing career field, this ranking also represents a 54% increase in job growth. Q2: Which of the following is not indicated as a useful emphasis in a high school education as preparation for a career as a Certified Medical Assistant? A 2 : (b) Chemistry. The life sciences, specifically biology, anatomy, and physiology (but not c h e m i s t ry), are all important, as are English (due to the need to communicate clearly with patients and co-workers) and keyboarding (for the administrative portions of a CMA s job). Q3: What percentage of CMAs work in a physician s office? A3: (c) 6 out of 10. Six out of 10, or 60%, of CMAs work in a physician s office. Alternatively, 14% work in hospitals, 11% work for other health practitioners (such as podiatrists), and a small percentage work in other settings such as home healthcare, etc. Q4: What is required for certification as a CMA? A4: (a) Externship, graduation from an accredited degree program, and passing a certification exam. An externship (which is part of the degree program requirement) is required for certification, as is passing the exam and graduating from an accredited program. The work experience requirement mentioned in the program was that to obtain a Registered Medical Assistant designation (RMA, not CMA), you need 5 years of work experience. Q5: A typical starting salary for a CMA is $ per hour. A5: $13 per hour. The hourly salary could increase to approximately $16 per hour over time. The work setting affects the pay scale for both CMAs and Massage Therapists. Q6: There may be more CMA jobs from 2007 to 2016. A6: 200,000. The projected 200,000 additional jobs for CMAs is a portion of the expected explosive growth in the healthcare field overall in the next decade. Q7: How long will it typically take to earn a diploma in a CMA program? A7: It typically takes from 9 to 12 months to earn a certificate; to earn an Associate s Degree requires an additional 12 months, for a total of approximately 2 years. Q8: According to the educator in the program, the first skill a prospective employer seeks in a CMA is. A8: People skills. There is a lot of patient and co-worker interaction on this job, so good people skills and a willingness and interest in interacting with people regularly are key. 8
Q9: Describe the basic, typical duties of a CMA working in a physician s office. A9: Answers could include all or some of these responses: taking medical histories, assisting with procedures, running lab tests, filing, coding, helping with office administrative duties, handling insurance questions or issues, refilling prescriptions, rooming patients, opening or closing the office, greeting patients, and handling phone calls and messages. Job duties will be both clinical and administrative. Q10: Describe the externship portion of the degree program and its importance to a new CMA career. A10: Working for 180 hours in a clinical setting is a requirement of externship, usually performed at the end of the degree program cycle; practical experience could be in an outpatient or inpatient facility; gives the student real-world experience in both adminis - trative and clinical aspects of the job; also provides possible job opportunities at the loca - tion of the externship; is a necessary requirement of certification. Q11: What did the practicing CMAs interviewed in the program list as their favorite parts of their careers? Of those items listed, which appeal to you the most? A11: Answers could include all or some of these responses: patient care (including encourag - ing patients and working with people in general), lab work, X-rays, meeting people and helping people, different work to do every day (a lot of variety), and job security. Additional Resources The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) www.fsbpt.org American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) www.apta.org American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) www.ahima.org The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) www.himss.org The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) www.cahiim.org The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) www.aama-ntl.org The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org 9 Medical Assistant Net www.medicalassistant.net
Monster.com s Healthcare Job Overview http://healthcare.monster.com/articles/jobprofiles Bureau of Labor Statistics Data on Medical Records and Health Information Technicians www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics Data on Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics Data on Medical Assistants www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm Additional Resources at www.filmsmediagroup.com Available from Films Media Group www.filmsmediagroup.com 1-800-257-5126 Health Information Management VHS/DVD Preview clip online Close captioned Correlates to educational standards Includes viewable/printable teacher s guide and 15-minute bonus video Item # 29321 Compiling and retrieving up-to-date information on patients illnesses, injuries, and medical history is more important than ever for effective medical care. This video focuses on opportunities in the field of healthcare information management and technology. Examples of HIMrelated positions are covered including medical billing specialist, diagnostic and procedural coder, and privacy officer along with the two main types of schooling that precede a HIM career: an associate degree leading to work as a Registered Health Information Technician, and a baccalaureate degree required for employment as a Registered Record Administrator. Patient confidentiality is an important subject in the video. A Meridian Production. (15 minutes) 2002. 1 0 Health Services VHS/DVD Preview clip online Close captioned Correlates to educational standards Item # 29741 This program looks at the required training, qualifications, and licensing for emergency medical technicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and dental hygienists. The video also points out the differences between a dietetic technician and a dietician as well as a licensed practical nurse and a registered practical nurse. Health care professionals in all these positions talk about the rewards of their chosen careers. A Cambridge Educational Production. (16 minutes) 2002.
The Patient Care Nursing Team VHS/DVD/Digital On Demand Preview clip online Close captioned Correlates to educational standards Includes viewable/printable teacher s guide and 15-minute bonus video Item # 29320 Wherever people need wellness services, acute care for an illness or injury, or medical support when bedridden or shut-in, nurses are standing by. This video introduces students to the rewarding career of nursing, the largest healthcare profession in America. Incorporating interviews with working nurses from a range of medical specialties, the program describes the challenges that nurses face in a variety of work environments including hospitals, clinics, schools, and homes and outlines the education and licensing process that nurses must complete. The importance of organization, coping with stress, and the personal and emotional benefits of nursing are also communicated. A Meridian Production. (15 minutes) 2002. Exploring Health Occupations 2-part series VHS/DVD/Digital On Demand Preview clip online Correlates to educational standards Includes viewable/printable teacher s guide and 15-minute bonus video Item # 25377 This two-part series provides a detailed view of the field of medical technicians and technologists, EMTs, nurses, therapists, and assistants. A Meridian Production. The series includes EMTs, Nurses, Therapists, and Assistants; Medical Technicians and Technologists. (15 minutes each) 2000. 1 1
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