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.
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Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
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Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change)
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|
Module I:
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AHE 534
|
Medical Terminology for Health Occupations
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30
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$329
T-$147/F-$182
|
A Short Course in Medical Terminology 3rd ed. Wolters Kluwer 9781451176063; $67.75
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|
AHE 125
|
Introduction to Health
|
30
|
$329
T-$141/F-$188
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Core Concepts in Health; published by Insel/Roth; 13:0078028670; $133.35
|
|
AHE 641
|
Introduction to Health Care Systems
|
15
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$199
T-$93/F-$106
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Introduction to Health Care, 4th edition; published by Mitchell and Haroun; 9781337192422; $159.95
|
|
AHL 719
|
HIPAA Training Online
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5
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$109
T-$21/F-$88
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Handouts online
|
|
WOS 064
|
Basic Math for Health Care Workers
|
10
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$145
T-$55/F-$90
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Handouts online
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|
AHL 140
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Essential Skills for the Healthcare Prof.
|
20
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$179.
T-90/F-$89
|
Handouts online
|
|
Module I Totals:
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110
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$1290
T-$547
F-$743
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$361.05
|
|
Module II:
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|
AHE 672
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Anatomy and Physiology For Health Care Workers Online
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30
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$355
T-$159/F-$196
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The Human Body in Health & & Disease; Patton & Thibodeau, Elsevier Mosby; 7th edition; 978-0-323-402118; $74.60
|
|
AHE 577
|
Pharmacology
|
18
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$275
T-$119/F-$156
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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
|
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AHE 796
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Basic Patient Intake
|
50
|
$575
T-$385/F-$190
|
Same as AHE 641 in Module I
|
|
AHE 802
|
Basic EKG Technician Training
|
20
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$425
T-$220/F-$205
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Huszars ECG & 12 lead Interpretation, 5th Edition; published by Elsevier;
978-0-323-03974; $78.90
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|
AHL 929
|
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
|
75
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$715
T-$247/F-$468
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Comprehensive Medical Assisting Text & Study Guide Package; 5th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 9781496331816; $149.65
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|
Module II Totals:
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211
|
$2620
T-$1249/F-$1371
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$416.10
|
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Module III:
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|
AHE 126
|
Phlebotomy
|
60
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$1099
T-$371/F-$728
|
Phlebotomy Essentials, 6th Edition; published by Wolter’s Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 9781451194524; $90.35
|
|
AHE 578
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Intermediate Patient Intake
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70
|
$935
T-$550/F-$385
|
Same as CMAA AHL 929
|
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AHL 721
|
Introduction to Laboratory Techniques
|
36
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$879
T-$330/F-$549
|
Same as CMAA AHL 929
|
|
AHE 805
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CPR for Healthcare Providers
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7
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$109
T-$52/F-$57
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Books brought to class. $15.20.
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|
Module III Totals:
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173
|
$3022
T-$1303/F-$1719
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$105.55
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Module IV:
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AHE 122
|
Medical Assisting Practicum I
|
80
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$275
T-$93/$182
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None
|
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AHE 123
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Medical Assisting Practicum II
|
80
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$275
T-$93/$182
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None
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AHL 097
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Medical Assisting Certification Review
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3
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$79
T-$39/F-$40
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None
|
|
Module IV Totals:
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163
|
$629
T-$225/F-$404
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$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.
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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