Medical
Assisting Program
Introduction
Medical assistants assist physicians in private medical offices, clinics,
and hospital outpatient clinics. They assist with patient care and perform
routine office laboratory and diagnostic tests (clinical medical assisting),
as well as business procedures (administrative medical assisting). Duties
often overlap with those performed by medical secretaries, physician
assistants, and nurses.
Certification
Graduates of either the certificate or the degree program are eligible
to take the national certification examination of the American Association
of Medical Assistants.
Qualities
Needed
Aptitudes and interests that may be helpful include an interest in health
care and helping people. Personableness, manual dexterity, compassion,
sensitivity, ability to follow instructions and work neatly and accurately
are equally important.
The
MEDAS Program
The Medical Assisting program provides instruction in both clinical
and administrative medical assisting, offering both the Certificate
of Achievement and the Associate of Science degree. The curriculum consists
of didactic studies (most major courses are now delivered over the internet),
on-campus lab practice, and supervised practice in affiliated offices
and clinics. New students are accepted in both fall and spring semesters.