Medical Assistant

The focus of this course is the use of technology in healthcare. Learners use common business software applications, including word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and databases. Communication methods using technology are addressed. Learners gain experience with using the electronic health record (EHR). Healthcare EHR security issues, social media use, and digital healthcare resources are examined.

In this course, students explore the Gateway Technical College community. They examine college resources and services, investigate skills that lead to academic success, and identify strategies for achieving educational and personal goals.

This course focuses on diseases that are frequently first diagnosed and treated in the medical office setting. Students learn to recognize the causes, signs, and symptoms of diseases of the major body systems as well as the diagnostic procedures, usual treatment, prognosis, and prevention of common diseases.

This course introduces medical assistant students to office management and business administration in the medical office. Students learn to schedule appointments, perform filing, record keeping, telephone and reception duties, communicate effectively with patients and other medical care staff, and keep an inventory of supplies. Students apply introductory medical coding skills and managed care terminology.

This course introduces Medical Assistant students to the clinical procedures performed in the medical office setting. Students perform basic examining room skills, including screening, vital signs, patient history, minor surgery, and patient preparation for routine and specialty exams in the ambulatory care setting. This course is equivalent to 509-304 at other WTCS schools.

This course introduces Medical Assistant students to laboratory procedures commonly performed by medical assistants in a medical office setting. Students perform routine laboratory procedures commonly performed in the ambulatory care setting under the supervision of a physician. Students follow laboratory safety requirements and federal regulations while performing specimen collection and processing, microbiology, and urinalysis testing. This course is equivalent to 509-303 at other WTCS schools.

This course focuses on the component parts of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes, and word roots. Students practice formation, analysis, and reconstruction of terms, with an emphasis on spelling, definition, and pronunciation. They are introduced to operative, diagnostic, therapeutic, and symptomatic terminology of all body systems, as well as systemic and surgical terminology.

This course prepares students to perform patient care skills in a medical office setting. Students perform clinical procedures, including administering medications, assisting with minor surgery, performing an electrocardiogram, assisting with respiratory testing, educating patients/community, and maintaining clinical equipment in an ambulatory care setting.

This course prepares students to perform laboratory procedures commonly performed by medical assistants in the ambulatory care setting under the supervision of a physician. Students perform phlebotomy, immunology, hematology, and chemistry laboratory procedures.

This course prepares students to display professionalism and perform within ethical and legal boundaries in the health care setting. Students maintain confidentiality, examine legal aspects of the medical record, perform risk management procedures, and examine legal and bioethical issues.

This course introduces students to health insurance and finance in the medical office. Students perform bookkeeping procedures, apply managed care guidelines, and complete insurance claim forms. Students use medical coding and managed care terminology to perform insurance related duties.

This course introduces students to classifying indications into correct drug categories and applying basic pharmacology principles. Students apply basic pharmacodynamics to identifying common medications, medication preparation, and administration of medications used by the major body systems.

Reviews the fundamentals of grammar. Emphasizes practical application of English in business correspondence.

This course requires students to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from all previous medical assistant courses in actual patient care settings. Learners perform medical assistant administrative, clinical, and laboratory duties under the supervision of trained mentors to effectively transition to the role of a medical assistant. This AAMA required externship lasts between 160 hours (AAMA minimum) and 216 hours.