Through a series of specialized courses, laboratory work and practical field experience, students acquire the competencies and standards of proficiency which are required for certification by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The program also provides a broad base of information which allows graduates to successfully continue their education in a related medical field. The remainder of the coursework has been designed to build clinical, administrative and secretarial skills. Lectures help students build a professional vocabulary of medical terminology and teach present medical ethics, concepts and basic medical assisting theory. College laboratories are well equipped with modern instrumentation to allow students extensive and varied training in a simulated office setting.
Students learn clinical office assisting techniques and clinical diagnostic procedures on campus.
Computers are used by the students in these laboratories for patient data recording and for retrieval of patient data. In office technology courses, computers are used for the word processing of written communications and for office billing procedures. Courses in medical transcription and medical accounting provide additional useful skills. In the final semester, students participate in an off-campus supervised externship. Each student is assigned to an approved physician s office for additional training for a minimum of 160 clock hours.