Medical Assistant

The Medical Assistant program prepares individuals to assist physicians in their offices or other medical settings. Medical assistants perform a wide range of duties. The medical assistant is responsible for medical and surgical asepsis, taking vital signs, assisting the physician with examinations and surgery, administering ECGs, and administering medications. The business/administrative duties include patient reception, appointment making, record keeping, filing, bookkeeping, insurance handling, typing medical correspondence and transcription, and microcomputer applications. Laboratory functions include specimen collection, the performance of basic laboratory tests, and microscopic work. Graduates find jobs as medical assistants, secretaries, medical laboratory assistants, phlebotomists, receptionists, medical insurance clerks, and electrocardiogram technicians. A caregiver background check is required prior to the beginning of program-specific courses. This should be completed before the first day of the semester. Please note: drug testing may also be required by clinical sites. The drug test and other health requirements will be due prior to practicum which is during the final semester of the program. There are fees associated with these tasks. For more information, please contact the program faculty and/or program advisor.