Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant Overview

If you like helping people, experience the rewards of caring by entering one of the most in-demand career fields in healthcare!

The Medical Assistant field is projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the 2004-14 period, according to the US Dept. of Labor.1

The Medical Assisting program prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills, computer proficiency, and work habits necessary for entry-level employment in various healthcare positions.

Students gain proficiency in both administrative and clinical skills through interactive and “hands-on” learning including a “real world” externship experience. Student studies include:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Pharmacology
• Computer Applications
• Clinical Procedures

What You Can Learn in Medical Assistant

Graduates in the Medical Assistant field may assume a range of responsibilities including:

• Administrative – Initial contact with patients, scheduling appointments, receiving and processing payments, preparing billing statements, and handling mail. Experienced graduates may function in supervisory or managerial capacities including personnel selection, hiring, and evaluation.
• Clinical – Assisting the physician with patient care responsibilities such as taking medical history and vital signs, preparing the patient for examination, and assisting the physician during patient examination and surgical procedures. Additional clinical duties may include collecting and performing various laboratory tests, administering medications, performing diagnostic procedures such as EKGs, and patient education.

Where You Can Go in Medical Assistant

Upon completion of the program, Medical Assistant graduates are qualified to take professional certification exams. Entry-level employment opportunities available for graduates include physician offices, clinics, and related healthcare settings.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook March 2006.

Degree Objectives

Program Purpose

This program prepares the student to perform clinical and administrative functions, such as measuring patients' vital signs, collecting laboratory samples, or creating accurate medical records, in a physician's office or other medical setting.

Program objectives include:

Students learn to use diagnostic equipment and tests such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), and they learn to perform various laboratory procedures (such as "drawing blood") for patients. They learn to complete and maintain medical records accurately and efficiently. Students learn correct medical office procedures and how they are applied in various healthcare settings. They also learn about medical terminology and learn fundamental concepts about human anatomy and physiology so that they can understand and record information about medical procedures accurately.

About the Profession

Medical Assistants perform a combination of clinical and administrative duties. Clinical duties might include preparing the patient for a physician's examination, collecting and preparing specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, removing sutures after surgery, changing dressings, sterilizing medical instruments, and administering injections. They also communicate extensively with patients and their physicians, and use their oral and writing skills to do so. The administrative duties include scheduling appointments, updating and filing medical records, completing insurance forms, arranging for referrals to other healthcare institutions, performing billing functions, and purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment. These duties occur in a wide range of healthcare settings, such as doctors' offices, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and clinics.

Requirements for Typical Employment Opportunities (i.e., background checks, drug screening, security clearances.)

Requirements may vary depending on employer. Students will generally need to pass a routine physical examination, background check, credit check, drug screening, and Mantoux test for tuberculosis. Students must be able to comply with all federal regulations on access, use, and release of all medical information. CPR certification is often required.

Entry Level Employment Opportunities By Job Title and/or Industry

Graduates could obtain employment as Medical Assistants, Phlebotomists, or EKG technicians, and they could be expected to work in any healthcare environment.

Physical Requirements

Medical Assistants are required to work in an office environment, and may need to assist and position patients who require medical test procedures.

Certifications Recommended for Entry Level Career.

Certifications are not required for completion of this program but are encouraged. ECPI University provides vouchers allowing students to take certification exams at a greatly reduced cost. Students graduating from this program may be eligible to become Certified Medical Assistants (CMA), Registered Medical Assistants (RMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, and EKG Technicians. Students should also obtain their CPR certification.

Student Evaluation

Students must achieve a grade of 'C' or better in all clinical courses such as MED 133, MED 158, MED 235, MED 237, and MED 238.

Externships and clinical experiences are opportunities for students to gain mentored, practical experience in "real-world" job settings. Career opportunities may be greatly enhanced for graduates who complete an externship. Each student will be assisted by Career Services and the Medical Assisting Department in finding a suitable externship opportunity. In order for students to go out on externship they must complete all courses prior to MED 295. They must complete the Exit Sheet provided by Career Services with the required signatures for clearance of the specific departments listed.

Program Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Admissions test with passing score

Core Curriculum

¹The certifications listed in the "Potential Certifications" column are the actual certification exams that students may be prepared to take following achievement of student learning outcomes from a course or a set of courses. Some certifications may require additional outside preparation prior to taking the exams; and receipt of one or more certifications is not guaranteed. Students are strongly encouraged to take all appropriate certification examinations for their program of study. To facilitate student access to the certifications, ECPI offers its students access to the certification exams at a significant discount. Some programs may require the student to obtain one or more certifications as part of the curriculum.

Future Possible Careers For This Program

Success

Q

How long will it take to complete this program?

A

The program is designed to take 15 months to complete. 31% of graduates from this program finish in this time.

The median time for graduates to complete this program was 16.3 months.

Q

What percentage of students that graduated got jobs?

A

The following are the employment rates as reported to the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) for the 2009-2010 period.

• Northern Virginia, VA - 69%
• Richmond, VA Moorefield - 72%
• Richmond, VA Emerywood - 83%
• Virginia Beach, VA - 73%
• Newport News, VA – 63%
• Charlotte, NC – 87% diploma
• Charlotte, NC Concord – 74% diploma
• Greensboro, NC – 70%
• Charleston, SC – 73%
• Raleigh, NC – 70%
• Greenville, SC – 76%

Cost

Q

How much will tuition and fees be?

A

The cost of tuition and fees is: $25,800

Q

What about the cost of books and supplies?

A

The cost of books and supplies is: $1,000. Foundation course requirements can result in additional costs and increase the time to graduation.

Financing

Q

What are my financing options to pay for the program?

A

In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, graduates used loans to finance their education. The median debt for program graduates is: