Medical Assisting

Program available at/via: [Walla Walla]

Department Overview: The Medical Assisting program prepares students for a career as a Medical Assistant. Completion of the Medical Assisting program will provide the student with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in an entry level position in Medical Assisting. Medical Assisting courses will combine cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning in classroom and laboratory settings first. Clinical training through internships in local outpatient clinics and physician offices will allow students to observe and apply skills gained in the classroom and laboratory in actual healthcare settings. Medical Assistants are skilled professionals who have specific training to work in a physician’s office, clinic or telehealth settings. Medical Assistants perform administrative functions and basic clerical skills, including writing business letters, managing patient health records, medical insurance coding and processing third party reimbursement, transcription, reception, and preparing requisitions. Additionally, Medical Assistants are trained in many clinical skills, including vital signs, sterile technique, assisting physicians with diagnostic testing, minor surgical procedures and physical examinations, administering medications orally and via injection, laboratory procedures, phlebotomy, and processing/sterilization of medical equipment by autoclaving or other methods of disinfection. The Medical Assistant program currently operates under the accreditation of the NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities). 8060 165th Ave NE, Suite 200 - Redmond, Washington - nwccu.org

Industry Description: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 16 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 123,000 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm

Entrance Requirements: Prior to entering the program, students must have a high school diploma or GED, math placement score of Recommend AMATH 105 or higher, or college coursework demonstrating classes successfully completed with a C or higher. National Criminal Background Screening, Tuberculosis screening and immunizations are required to enter workplace settings where clinical rotations occur.

Related Instruction: Students must complete FYE 101 prior to or during the first quarter of the program. CS 110 recommend but not required prior to beginning the Medical Assisting certificate.

Physical Requirements: Physical requirements include the ability to either sit or stand for long periods of time and the strength to lift supplies, lift and move patients, and maneuver heavy equipment. Detailed work requires adequate vision, hearing and manual dexterity.

Program Level Outcomes:

Apply the fundamental knowledge base acquired in medical assisting courses to safely, efficiently, and accurately perform clinical and administrative competencies.
Use knowledge gained in interrelationship and social science courses to assist in being able to communicate with patients and other members of their healthcare team with sensitivity to cultural, legal and ethical implications.
Integrate knowledge gained in medical assisting courses to prepare for and assist with medical emergencies.
Use technology skills, including computer hardware and software, in the performance of clinical and administrative competencies.
Employ appropriate medical terminology to communicate professionally and accurately in the clinic setting, both verbally and in their documentation.
Demonstrate professionalism relative to the practice of medical assisting on a personal, institutional, local, state, and national level.
Enter the profession as entry-level medical assistants competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) domains.

Students must earn a C/2.0 GPA in each course in order to be awarded the certificate in Medical Assisting.

Courses

Medical Assisting