Medical Assisting Technology
Program Description, Mission, and Objectives
Mission
J. F. Drake State Community
& Technical College Medical Assistant program supports and adheres to the
mission of the College. The Medical Assistant program is committed to enabling
the medical assisting graduate to enhance and demonstrate the knowledge, skills
and professionalism required by employers and patients; protect medical
assistants' right to practice; and promote effective, efficient health care
delivery through optimal use of multi-skilled Registered Medical Assistants
(RMA)
The Medical Assisting Program is structured to prepare students to
provide patient care in physician’s offices, minor emergency centers, long-term
care facilities, and other types of free-standing medical clinics. In the
clinical role, the medical assistant provides assistance to the physician
during assessment and examination of patients, treatment interventions, and
in-office diagnostic protocols. Students in this program will learn to perform physical
assessments, take medical histories, take and record vital signs, administer
medications, assist with diagnostic procedures, take electrocardiograms,
interpret life-threatening arrhythmias, perform venipuncture, and interpret
basic laboratory results.
Career Opportunities
According to the United
States Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook publication, employment for
Medical Assistants is expected to grow much faster than average. The annual
report cites the increasing prevalence of conditions, such as obesity and
diabetes and an aging population, as factors contributing to the demand for
healthcare services and medical assistants. Utilizing multi-skilled medical
assistants allows doctors to care for more patients and will further stimulate job
growth for this sector of the medical field.
Also driving the growth in
this field is the increasing number of medical practices, clinics and other
healthcare facilities that utilize a high proportion of support personnel,
particularly medical assistants, who can handle both administrative and
clinical duties.
Additional
information is available from the Department of Labor’s Occupational
Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm
Skills Needed
Medical assistants interact with the public;
therefore, they must be neat and well groomed, have a courteous and pleasant
manner, and have excellent communication skills and respect the confidential
nature of medical information. Clinical duties require a reasonable level of
manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Medical assistants interact with the public; therefore, they must be neat and well groomed, have a courteous and pleasant manner, and have excellent communication skills and respect the confidential nature of medical information. Clinical duties require a reasonable level of manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Expected Earnings/Salary
Source - http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm
Source for Huntsville wages - https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26620.htm
Types of Programs Offered
The Medical Assisting
program offers an Associate in Applied Science and a short certificate in
Medical Assisting.
Please visit the College
Catalog to view the current course requirements for each of these program
options.
Estimated Program Costs
Medical Assisting Technology (MAT)
|
Award Level
|
Credit Hours
|
Est. Tuition/Fees
|
Est. Books/Supplies
|
Est. Total Cost
|
|
Associate (AAS)
|
76
|
$11,020.00
|
$2,000.00
|
$13,020.00
|
|
Career Skills Certificate (STC)
|
26
|
$3,770.00
|
$700.00
|
$4,470.00
|
The
above credit hours will change for students admitted in the fall 2017 semester
onwards. Please see College Catalog for the curriculum and
courses for currently enrolled students.
Advisory Committee
Mr. Jason Allman
Office Manager, Allman Family Medicine
Mr. Tiernan O'Neill
Office Manager, Panacea O'Neill Medical Group
For more information about this program contact the Medical Assistant Instructor, at 256.551.5239, or the Health Science Office at 256-551-3156.