MAT Medical Assisting (MAT)

Medical Assisting I introduces the students to the profession of Medical Assisting and their responsibilities in the clinical area of the health care facility. Emphasis is placed on communication skills and the clinical techniques employed by the medical assistant. Pathophysiology and medications are presented as related procedures. Electronic Health Records will be implemented throughout the course.

This course is designed to prepare students for advanced medical office administrative procedures. Hands-on projects will allow students to experience appointment scheduling, telephone screening, written communication, billing and collection techniques, general banking, and accounts payable. Students will demonstrate the ability to organize their work, set priorities, and make decisions. Electronic health records and accounts receivable software are used in this course.CTAG approved, CTMMS001, effective summer 2017

Medical Assisting II focuses on performing and assisting with advanced clinical skills, EKG monitoring, and patient communication and education. Proper documentation of clinical procedures is covered using electronic medical records. Pathophysiology is presented as related to the procedures. Electronic Health Records will be implemented throughout the course.

This course will focus on developing an understanding of ethics and various points of view on current ethical issues. Students will learn and discuss how legal issues are applied to the medical office.

This course introduces the student to basic medical laboratory techniques used in the physician’s office. Our lab is run in compliance with OSHA/CLIA standards. Laboratory tests taught represent all departments of a clinical lab and include spirometry and EKG. Electronic Health Records will be implemented throughout the course.

This course focuses on developing knowledge of private, government and managed care insurances. Students will learn to code and complete electronic claim forms from CPT and ICD codebooks. Students will learn basic bookkeeping terminology, and post payments from Remittance Advice forms. This course covers risk management for reimbursement issues, following up on unpaid claims, and appealing disallowed claims. Electronic Health Records will be implemented in the course.

This course focuses on specific drug classifications including the action and usage with direct relationship to diseases and disorders; mathematical units of measure and dosage calculations; methods for preparing and administering oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal medications used in the physician's office; and managing the office drug inventory. Pathophysiology is presented as related to medications. Electronic Health Records will be implemented throughout this course.

The "Total Concept of Patient Care" simulation gives Medical Assisting students the opportunity to incorporate and use their acquired knowledge of clinical and administrative procedures in health care delivery while working and managing a simulated clinic. The clinic is a structured and controlled OSHA/CLIA compliant environment, simulating a medical office, for the sole purpose of integrating skills and preparing the student for a practicum experience in a clinical facility.

This course focuses on creating a Policy and Procedure Manual that includes management principles, policies and procedures, financial management, marketing the practice, human relations and safety and disaster plans.

This course will teach students how to prepare resumes, write cover letters and develop interview skills. Students will also prepare for the practicum.

The student is placed in a medical facility for 210 hours of practical application of all skills learned in the classroom and for additional instruction in the actual operation and management of the health care facility. The student works under the close observation and supervision of the physician and office staff.

This course is designed to enable students to become certified in American Red Cross Professional Rescuer and Standard First Aid. In addition, supplementary information is presented covering manual resuscitation with Ambu bags, administering oxygen, crash carts, and incident reports. Study of the disease process is integrated with illnesses, injuries, and treatment covered in the course.

Focuses on anatomy and physiology of the eye; disease pathology, including systemic diseases with ocular manifestation; introduction to optics; pharmacology and microbiology; ocular emergencies and medical care; ophthalmic office procedures; medicolegal aspects of care; and preliminary workup for the ophthalmology patient.

Focuses on visual field testing; ocular motility; contact lenses, including insertion and removal instruction, care of, advantages and disadvantages of soft and rigid contacts; instrument maintenance and calibration; glaucoma and tonometry, including medical, surgical and laser treatment methods; and clinical optics. Forty hours of clinical externship are required in the ophthalmology office to apply ophthalmology skills, to receive credit for the ophthalmology course, and to receive a certificate of completion.

This course is designed to introduce students to health care reimbursement. Content covers insurance terminology, legal considerations, third party guidelines, reimbursement methods and managed care reimbursement. It also includes an overview of national insurance plans and coding issues that affect reimbursement. There will also be emphasis on tracking and follow-up of processed claims.

This course focuses on phlebotomy and microcapillary puncture skills, collection/handling of specimens, quality assurance, infection control, safety and law and ethics.