Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2017-18 
    
Catalog 2017-18 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Assistant


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Program Description


This course series prepares students to take the national certification exam to become a certified Medical Assistant (MA).  The MA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, www.caahep.org, upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review board (MAERB).

Medical Assistants perform clinical duties and some administrative duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, taking EKGs, and administering medications (e.g. flu shots) as directed by a physician.

Program Outcomes


Successful Completion:

CCBC Credential:

Students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate and have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript). Students will be prepared to take the national certification exam through National Healthcareer Association.

Certifying Organization:

National Healthcareer Association

www.nhanow.com

Medical Assistant exam cost: $155 (approx.)

Venipuncture exam cost: $115 (approx.)

Financial Aid and Payment Options:


  • Continuing Education Opportunity Grant
  • Partial Payment Option (through Nelnet Business Solutions)
  • Tuition Waiver for Senior Citizens and Individuals with Disabilities
  • Employer/Sponsor Paid Tuition
  • Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
  • Local Office of Workforce Development
  • Pell Funding:  Eligible for grants and college loans.  Go to www.fafsa.gov to apply for Federal financial aid.

Program Length


11-13 months

Courses start in July at CCBC Hunt Valley (daytime; moves slightly faster than the weekend/evening sessions), in September at CCBC Randallstown (evening/weekend), and in February at CCBC Essex (evening/weekend).

Program Requirements


High School Diploma or GED

All students must be computer literate and have Internet access.

 

The following paperwork is due at specified times. Completing it too early could result in the student having to redo the clinical tests or drug test. Students must have the following paperwork turned in to the coordinator PRIOR to beginning clinicals:

  • Negative PPD (six months) or negative chest x-ray less than one year old
  • Positive titer or proof of vaccination/immunity for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
  • Current Flu vaccination
  • Hepatitis B vaccination or declination form
  • Tetanus shot (less than ten years)
  • Copy of health insurance card
  • Copy of high school diploma or GED

Clinical eligibility is in part dependent upon a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Cost of testing is the responsibility of the student. Go to http://precheck.com/ for more info.

Application Process


Selective Entry - The Medical Assistant program requires the following application and acceptance process:

1. New Students: Call CCBC Registration at 443-840-2222 or 443-840-4700 to apply for a CCBC Student Identification (ID) number. Application cost is $10.00. After receiving your ID number, proceed to Step 2 below.

2. Go to https://shwa.ccbcmd.edu/ to retrieve your user name and create a password.

3. Go to https://ccbcmd-bb.blackboard.com/ to access the online application.

4. Enter your User Name and Password.

5. Click the “Course” tab at the top of the page. You will see the application course for your area of study on your list: Medical Assistant Series Application - AHC 381

6. Click on the application course and read the instructions on the first page.

7. You must submit the following items by the cutoff date – ‘Assignments’ in Blackboard - to meet all of the requirements for the application:

  • Application (2 pages)
    • Must be submitted as a .doc, .docx or .rtf
  • Essay
    • Topic listed in Blackboard
    • Must be submitted as a .doc, .docx or .rtf
  • Scanned copy of one or more of the following:
    • High School Diploma or other proof of completion
    • GED
    • College Transcript
    • Other requirements for specific areas of study as detailed in Blackboard

8. Check the Blackboard “Gradebook” for admissions decision approximately 10 days after the submission deadline.

9. Plan to attend the mandatory orientation for your series as detailed on Blackboard.

Application timeframes:

  • Course series starting in July: March 1 – April 15
  • Course series starting in September: June 1 – July 15
  • Course series starting in February: October 1 – November 15

 

Contact Claire Loeblein for more information 443-840-1389

Program Course Sequence


HIPAA Training, CPR and First Aid classes REQUIRE 100% attendance. Students arriving late to class will not be admitted. Late arrival to, or early exit from, class will also result in a failing grade and no refund. Students will then be required to retake the class at their expense.

 

Course Number

Course Title

Course Hours

Costs

T=Tuition/F=Fees

Textbook Information

(approximate cost; subject to change)

Module I:

AHE 534

 

 

Medical Terminology for Health Occupations

30

$329

T-$147/F-$182

A Short Course in Medical Terminology 3rd ed. Wolters Kluwer  9781451176063; $67.75

AHE 125

Introduction to Health

30

$329

T-$141/F-$188

Core Concepts in Health; published by Insel/Roth; 13:0078028670; $133.35

AHE 641

Introduction to Health Care Systems

15

$199 

 T-$93/F-$106

Introduction to Health Care, 4th edition; published by Mitchell and Haroun; 9781337192422; $159.95

AHL 719

 

HIPAA Training Online

5

 

$109         

T-$21/F-$88

 

Handouts online

WOS 064

Basic Math for Health Care Workers

10

$145

T-$55/F-$90

Handouts online

AHL 140

Essential Skills for the Healthcare Prof.  

20

$179.

T-90/F-$89

Handouts online

Module I Totals:

110

$1290

T-$547

F-$743

$361.05

Module II:

AHE 672

Anatomy and Physiology For Health Care Workers Online

30

$355      

T-$159/F-$196

The Human Body in Health & & Disease; Patton & Thibodeau, Elsevier Mosby; 7th edition; 978-0-323-402118; $74.60

AHE 577

Pharmacology

18

$275    

T-$119/F-$156

Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Occupations 13; 7th ed; published by Woodrow/Colbert/Smith;

9781285077888; $112.95

AHE 528

Medicine Administration

18

$275

T-$119/F-$156

Same as AHE 577

AHE 796

Basic Patient Intake

50

$575

T-$385/F-$190

Same as AHE 641 in Module I

AHE 802

Basic EKG Technician Training

20

$425    

T-$220/F-$205

Huszars ECG & 12 lead Interpretation, 5th Edition; published by Elsevier;

978-0-323-03974; $78.90

AHL 929

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

75

$715

T-$247/F-$468

Comprehensive Medical Assisting Text & Study Guide Package; 5th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 9781496331816; $149.65

Module II Totals:

211

$2620

T-$1249/F-$1371

$416.10

Module III:

AHE 126

Phlebotomy

60

$1099  

T-$371/F-$728

Phlebotomy Essentials, 6th Edition; published by Wolter’s Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 9781451194524; $90.35

AHE 578

Intermediate Patient Intake

70

$935

T-$550/F-$385

Same as CMAA AHL 929

AHL 721

Introduction to Laboratory Techniques

36

$879

T-$330/F-$549

Same as CMAA AHL 929

AHE 805

CPR for Healthcare Providers

7

$109

T-$52/F-$57

Books brought to class. $15.20.

Module III Totals:

173

$3022

T-$1303/F-$1719

$105.55

Module IV:

AHE 122

Medical Assisting Practicum I

80

$275

T-$93/$182

None

AHE 123

Medical Assisting Practicum II

80

$275

T-$93/$182

None

AHL 097

Medical Assisting Certification Review

3

$79

T-$39/F-$40

None

Module IV Totals:

163

$629

T-$225/F-$404

$0

Course Series Totals:

657

$7561

T-$3324/F-$4237

 

$882.70

 

 

Additional Information


Course Substitutions:

Medical Terminology (AHE 534) can be substituted with:  OFAD 141 or ALHL 115 or AHL 717

 

Anatomy and Physiology (AHE 519) can be substituted with:  AHL 672 or AHE 715 or BIOL 109 or BIOL 220 and BIOL 221

 

HIPAA (AHC 719) can be substituted with: AHC 356

 

Basic Math (WOS 064) can be substituted with:  AHL 716 or MATH 083

 

Additional Expenses:

The cost of all medical testing, background check, drug screening, scrubs/uniforms, is paid by the students.  An estimate of these costs is $850.

 

Skills for Success:

​See Technical Standards at the end of this document

 

Career Opportunities:

Students may be able to move into a position of first assist for minimal extra training, teach or become supervisors in surgical departments.

Career Coach


Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more.  View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnKS2W3Z4k8.  Explore career and training opportunities at: https://ccbcmd.emsicareercoach.com/.

Program Contact Information


Program Coordinator:

Donna Rowan

drowan@ccbcmd.edu

443-840-2028

Essex, HTEC 013

 

Administrative Assistant:

Claire Loeblein

cloeblein@ccbcmd.edu

443-840-1389

Essex, HTEC 005

 

Technical Standards


Technical Standards for CCBC’s Medical Assistant Training Series

 

The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Medical Assistant Series is to adequately prepare students for an entry-level position in the medical field.  Medical Assistants work under the direction of a physician, and therefore, are most often employed in physician practices.

 

The duties of a medical assistant require the ability to stand for long hours while moving among a variety of tasks.  They need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials, and communicable diseases.  Their duties also require them to be detail oriented and to have strong human relation skills.. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and integrity are vital.

 

Following is a partial listing of the types of skills usually required for adequate job performance:

 

Physical Requirements

A. Sufficient strength and mobility to:

  • Lift and position patients as needed.
  • Move swiftly within close quarters
  • Lift up to 50 pounds without assistance
  • Move quickly among tasks in different areas of an office

 

B. Fine motor coordination sufficient to perform precise and delicate tasks such as:

  • Handle instruments for minor surgeries
  • Safely handle hypodermic needles
  • Manipulate instruments
  • Perform a variety of tasks involving patients (needles, blood draws) requiring strong eye-hand coordination
  • Record medical information into an electronic record system

 

C. Adequate vision to:

  • Read physician or lab orders
  • Read small numbers on thermometers, sphygmomanometers, or other equipment
  • Identify correct instruments to assist with exams or procedures
  • Read small print as found on medication labels
  • Read instruction sheets and computer screens

 

D. Sufficient hearing to:

  • Hear and understand verbal instructions under noisy conditions from masked personnel
  • Sufficiently record breaths, heart rate or other sounds in noisy conditions

 

Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism

A. Have the ability to:

  • Work in a professional manner as a member of a medical team in stressful situations
  • Remain calm and perform as trained during emergency and life and death situations
  • Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds
  • Respect and protect patient rights and confidentiality without regard to personal beliefs and judgments
  • Maintain proper certifications required to perform the duties of the profession
  • Work shifts as assigned, which may include on-call, holidays, and weekends
  • Respond professionally to patients, colleagues and physicians in all circumstances
  • Demonstrate a strong work ethic with outstanding attendance

 

B. Sufficient communication skills to:

  • Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions
  • Carry out all written and verbal instructions
  • Follow proper channels of communication
  • Communicate in a calm and professional manner
  • Accurately interpret the patient’s needs
  • Communicate clearly and effectively to any team member
  • Provide patient/public education related to the medical office where employed

 

Intellectual ability and emotional stability to:

  • Exercise independent judgment to properly care for patients
  • Accurately utilize all resource material available perform tasks assigned
  • Accurately identify, calculate dosage, and transfer medications
  • Work calmly and efficiently in stressful situations
  • Maintain calm during emergency situations
  • Perform duties while exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials 
  • Accept feedback from others
  • Complete program requirements

 

Environment Requirements

  • Medical Assistant work involves risks and/or discomforts that require special safety precautions including, but not limited to:
  • Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection
  • Providing proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella
  • Receiving Hepatitis B vaccine and annual testing for exposure to tuberculosis
  • Submitting to periodic drug screening
  • Being exposed to bio-hazardous materials (blood).

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