Medical Assistant Curriculum Guide and Course Descriptions

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled professionals dedicated to assisting in patient care management.

This health care professional performs administrative and clinical duties and may manage emergency situations, facilities, and/or personnel. Medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities under the supervision of a physician.

Requirements to Complete Certificate

Course code course title credit hours
MEDA-160 Medical Terminology 3
MEDA-150 Medical Administrative Aspects 4
MEDA-100 Medical Professional Issues 2
MEDA-110 Insurance Billing and Coding 3
MEDA-175 Human Body in Health and Disease 4
EMTP-115 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Health Care Provider 1
MEDA-155 Patient Care I 4
MEDA-255 Patient Care II 4
MEDA-240 Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics 5
MEDA-250 Pharmacology for Allied Health 3
MEDA-251 Pharmacology Administration 1
MEDA-185 Emergency Preparedness 1
MEDA-128 Phlebotomy Essentials 3
MEDA-129 Phlebotomy Clinical Applications 3
MEDA-280 Medical Assistant Externship I 3
MEDA-285 Medical Assistant Externship II 3
COMP-162 Computer Concepts and Applications 3

Associate in Applied Science Degree

Students completing the Medical Assistant Program may desire to seek the Associate in Applied Sciences Degree.  In addition to completing the certificate curriculum detailed above, this degree also requires the completion of 15 hours in general education.  Certain courses within this degree may or may not transfer to baccalaureate degree granting institutions. The student must complete 65 semester hours with a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above.

General Education Courses Required for A.A.S. in Medical Assistant

I. Communications (6 hours)

English Composition I and any ONE of the following:

Public Speaking or
Interpersonal and Group Communications

II. Math (3 hours)

*Business Mathematics or higher level math.

III. Humanities (3 hours)

From any of the following areas:

Art
Communications
History
Humanities
Foreign Language
Literature
Music
Philosophy
Theatre

IV. Business Management (3 hours)
(Choose one of the four)

Fundamentals of Business or
Psychology of Business or
Business Communications or
Small Business Management 

Accreditation

The Coffeyville Community College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). 

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
25400 US Highway 19 N.
Suite 158 
Clearwater, FL 33763 
727-210-2350 
www.caahep.org 

Description of Courses

MEDA-100.  Medical Professional Issues.  2 Hours.  The role and function of the medical assistant is reviewed.  This course focuses on the basic concept of professional practice of medicine and the scope of practice of the medical assistant.  Students discuss the personal and professional characteristics and legal and ethical standards for medical assistants, explore professional and personal therapeutic communication, and address time management and goal setting.

MEDA-110.  Insurance, Billing and Coding.  3 Hours.  This course explores the medical insurance system and related billing and coding.  Students learn how to complete and submit electronic and paper insurance claim forms, perform referrals, and apply the correct procedure and diagnostic codes.  Prerequisite:  Medical Terminology is recommended.

MEDA-128.  Phlebotomy Essentials.  3 Hours.  This course offers skill development in the performance of a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and universal precautions including: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture, and specimen collection on adults, children and infants.  Emphasis is on infection prevention, proper patient identification, labeling of specimens and quality assurance, specimen handling, processing and accessioning. Point of Care Testing (POCT) will also be discussed for waived laboratory procedures.

MEDA-129.  Phlebotomy Clinical Applications. 3 Hours.  This course is an intermediate or advanced type of health professions work-based instruction that helps students gain practical experience in the discipline, enhances skills, and integrates knowledge.  The emphasis is on practical work experience for which the student has already acquired the necessary theoretical knowledge and basic skills.  Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional, generally a clinical preceptor.

The student will demonstrate skill development in the performance of a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and standard precautions which include: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture, and specimen collection on adults, children, and infants.  Emphasis is on infection control and prevention, proper patient identification, labeling of specimens, quality assurance, specimen handling, processing and accessioning.

The course is designed to allow students to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitude required to function in a professional manner in the health care setting.  Laboratory information services, client services and quality assurance may be covered.  Students must perform a minimum of 50 successful venipunctures and 25 successful skin punctures.  Students will be scheduled for 120+ hours of clinical.  Students who successfully complete Clinical Rotation will be awarded a certificate of completion and be eligible to take a national certification exam.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Phlebotomy Essentials, students must be 18 years of age prior to sitting for national registry exam, and high school diploma/GED required before taking the national registry exam.

MEDA-150.  Medical Administrative Aspects. 4 Hours.  This course provides an introduction to the administrative skills needed for a medical office.  Students will learn how to maintain medical records (both paper and electronic), manage appointments, and perform routine office duties.  Focus is on the financial aspects of the medical office including accounts payable and accounts receivable.  Students will examine billing and collection procedures.  Prerequisite:  Medical Terminology is recommended.

MEDA-155.  Patient Care I.  4 Hours.  This course introduces basic clinical skills necessary for the medical assistant.  Aseptic practice for the medical office will be defined, basic patient interaction such as interviewing, obtaining and recording vital signs, assisting with basic physical exams and testing will be studied.  Prerequisite:  Medical Terminology.

MEDA-160.  Medical Terminology.  3 Hours.  This course presents a study of basic medical terminology.  Prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms, special endings, plural forms, abbreviations, and symbols are included in the content.  A programmed learning, word building system will be used to learn word parts that are used to construct or analyze new terms.  This provides the opportunity to decipher unfamiliar terms and check their spelling.  Emphasis is placed on spelling, definition, usage and pronunciation.  Abbreviations will be introduced as related terms are presented.

MEDA-175.  Human Body in Health and Disease.  4 Hours.  This course focuses on diseases that are frequently diagnosed and treated in the medical office setting.  Basic anatomy and physiology will be discussed.  Prerequisite:  Medical Terminology is recommended.

MEDA-185.  Emergency Preparedness.  1 Hour.  This course is designed to provide healthcare professionals with an orientation for their possible future roles in disaster response and the importance of staying within the scope of practice of their profession.  Students will be prepared to meet the expectations of their employers, to volunteer effectively, and to be competent and safe responders.

MEDA-190.  Certified Professional Coder.  6 Hours.  This course is designed to teach students the coding rules for the CPT, ICD-9-CM and Level II (HCPCS) coding systems and then apply the rules to code patient services.  In addition, a variety of payment systems are presented.  The medical topics of Medicare fraud/abuse, HMOs, and PROs are also reviewed.  The course also covers the use of International Classification of Disease, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in medical billing and insurance claims.

MEDA-200.  Basic EKG Interpretation.  3 Hours.  This course is designed to provide healthcare providers the ability to understand and interpret basic EKG's.  The student will be provided with a practical yet comprehensive approach to the skill of EKG interpretation.

MEDA-240.  Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics.  5 Hours.  The role and function of the professional in the clinical laboratory is introduced.  Topics include safety in the laboratory, CLIA government regulations and quality assurance, and microscope procedures and concepts.  Students perform procedures in the different departments of the laboratory including specimen collection and performance of CLIA 88 low and moderate complexity testing.  Students demonstrate competency in the wide variety of specimen techniques used to collect process, and test specimens.  Prerequisite:  Phlebotomy is recommended.

MEDA-250.  Pharmacology for Allied Health.  3 Hours.  This course is designed to enable the beginning medical professional to understand the foundation and principles of entry level pharmacology.  The student will be provided with an introduction to the classifications, effects, side effects and adverse reactions for medications.

MEDA-251.  Pharmacology Administration.  1 Hour.  In this course students will prepare and administer medications via several routes including oral, parenteral (excluding intravenous), transdermal, and inhalation.  Emphasis is placed on safe and accurate administration.

MEDA-255.  Patient Care II.  4 Hours.  This course introduces basic clinical skills necessary for the medical assistant. Aseptic practice for the medical office will be defined, basic patient interaction such as interviewing, obtaining and recording vital signs, assisting with basic physical exams and testing will be studied.  Prerequisite:  Patient Care I.

MEDA-280.  Medical Assistant Externship I. 3 Hours.  This course provides the student with an opportunity to apply clinical, laboratory, and administrative skills in a supervised, non-remunerated externship in a medical facility.  Emphasis is placed on enhancing competence in clinical and administrative skills necessary for comprehensive patient care and strengthening professional communications and interactions.  Upon completion, students should be able to function as an entry-level health care professional.  Prerequisites:  Student must have completed all Medical Assistant curriculum courses to be eligible for this class and approved by the director of the Medical Assistant program; proof of immunizations:  Hep B SERIES/Titer within 3 years, MMR, Tetanus Toxoid within 5 years, current Tb Tine; students must pass the college specified background check and random drug screen; and current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (health care provider level) is required.

MEDA-285.  Medical Assistant Externship II.  3 Hours.  This course provides the student with an opportunity to apply clinical, laboratory, and administrative skills in a supervised, non-remunerated externship in a medical facility.  Emphasis is placed on enhancing competence in clinical and administrative skills necessary for comprehensive patient care and strengthening professional communications and interactions.  Upon completion, students should be able to function as an entry-level health care professional.  Prerequisites:  Student must have completed all Medical Assistant curriculum courses to be eligible for this class and approved by the director of the Medical Assistant program; proof of immunizations:  Hep B SERIES/Titer within 3 years, MMR, Tetanus Toxoid within 5 years, current Tb Tine; students must pass the college specified background check and random drug screen; and current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (health care provider level) is required.

COMP-162.  Computer Concepts and Applications.  3 Hours.  This course provides an introduction to computer concepts and terminology, information technology, and software applications used in business and industry.  Included are word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation management.

EMTP-115.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Health Care Provider (CPR).  1 Hour.  This course includes didactic and practical skills components.  Students will learn techniques for recognizing and treating foreign body airway obstructions and cardiopulmonary arrest.  Students will be tested in both written and practical skills abilities, adhering to American Heart Association curriculum for basic life support.