Medical Assistant

The second of a two-course sequence, Clinical Procedures II builds on the clinical skills learned in MEDA101W required for medical assisting. This course covers the disease processes, as well as preparation and assistance in selected diagnostic studies, including laboratory tests, treatment protocols, and drug and diet therapies as they relate to the various systems of the human body. The course also emphasizes professionalism and teamwork. Instruction includes theory and principles of ECGs, spirometry, medication administration, diagnostic imaging test preparation, and a variety of Clia-waived laboratory testing for urinalysis, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and blood chemistry. Students also learn responses to medical office emergencies. They progress and gain confidence in communication, documentation, patient teaching, patient-care skills, and the operation and maintenance of clinical equipment.

Medical Terminology applies a system's approach to teaching the vocabulary necessary for people employed in the allied-health professions. Topics include medical vocabulary, medical history, physical examination, an introduction to anatomy, and all body systems, including eye, ear, nose, and throat. Topics also include surgery, pathology, discharge summaries, mental health, and autopsies.

Office Systems and Procedures provides a realistic approach for students to learn the skills required in a medical office, including scheduling, terminology, communications, telecommunications, records management, administrative functions, protective practices, and legal and ethical considerations.

Medical Billing is designed for students interested in working in a medical office. It covers the insurance billing process: fees, coding, managed care, source documents, insurance programs, and the insurance claim cycle.

Physician Coding incorporates Evaluation and Management (E/M), Modifiers, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM to the surgery section of CPT, which includes specialty areas such as the integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. The course also addresses the coding areas of radiology, maternity care, and delivery. Students develop the skill set needed to sit for the CPC examination.

In Advanced Coding, students apply what they learned in the previous coding classes to analyze the reports to determine the diagnoses and the procedural codes. The course gives students practice in what they will do in an actual medical office setting.