Medical Assisting, AAS (MA23) (510801) Degree

Campus Locations: Moultrie (Veterans Parkway), Thomasville, Tifton

Medical Assisting is a six (6) semester degree program that trains the student for administrative and clinical duties, primarily in physicians’ offices or clinics. Clinical skills include taking vital signs, obtaining medical histories, performing basic lab tests, sterilizing instruments, administering medications, and assisting the physician. Administrative skills include answering phones, scheduling appointments, filing medical and insurance reports, and arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services.

Length of Program: Two (2) Semesters of prerequisite courses and Four (4) of occupational courses

Minimum Expectations: MAST Minimum Expectations

Entrance Date: Beginning of each term for general education courses; however, all prerequisite courses (BIOL 2113 – Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2113L – Anatomy and Physiology Lab I, BIOL 2114 – Anatomy and Physiology II, BIOL 2114L – Anatomy and Physiology Lab II, One Degree level Mathematics Course, and ALHS 1090 – Medical Terminology for AHS) must be successfully completed prior to beginning certain cohort occupational courses.

Program Admission: Moultrie: Fall Semester; Thomasville: Spring Semester; Tifton: Spring Semester.

Entrance Requirements: Refer to Admissions criteria. Contact Advisor or Admissions for details. Click for Entrance Score Requirements.

Age: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older prior to first clinical course.

Education: An applicant must be a high school graduate or the equivalent (GED). College transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Advisor: A Program Advisor should be consulted prior to enrolling in any course. An advisor will be assigned by admissions.

Additional Requirements: American Heart Healthcare Provider CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, Physical Exam, Current Immunizations, Drug Toxicology, Criminal Background Check, and TB Screening.

Medical Assisting Occupational Risks: The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that workers in the healthcare industry have a high incidence of injury and illness and medical assistants are likely to encounter a number of workplace hazards while performing their duties, such as exposure to infectious diseases, injuries from sharps, back injuries and latex allergy. Medical assisting can be a mentally stressful and physically challenging career.  However, it can also be a very rewarding profession to work in.

Note: As of January 2001, felons are not eligible to sit for the Medical Assisting Certification Examination unless granted a waiver by the Certifying Board. The waiver would be based on one or more mitigating circumstances listed in the Disciplinary Standards. Disciplinary standards are available in the office of the Southern Regional Technical College Medical Assisting Program Director.

In order for a student to graduate, he/she must sit for the Certified Medical Assistant Exam prior to graduation.

Program Final Exit Point: Medical Assisting, Associate of Applied Science. Eligible to apply for additional national certification exams.

Credits Required for Graduation: 65 minimum semester hour credits required for graduation.

Cost

Books: $787.56
Fees: $326.00
Tuition: $1,000.00
Total: $2,113.56

Books: $579.60
Fees: $301.00
Tuition: $900.00
Total: $1,780.60

Books: $438.60
Fees: $301.00
Tuition: $1,300.00
Total: $2,039.60

Books: $604.83
Fees: $651.00
Tuition: $1,300.00
Total: $2,555.83

Books: $442.10
Fees: $413.00
Tuition: $1,200.00
Total: $2,055.10

Books: $142.10
Fees: $433.00
Tuition: $900.00
Total: $1,475.10

Curriculum Outline (65 hours)

1: General Core Courses	15
Area I: Language Arts/Communications (3 Hours)	3
ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing, ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice, revision, and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience.	3
Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 Hours)	3
PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology Pre-requisite(s): Entrance exam reading and writing scores in accordance with approved TCSG admission score levels Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design, the organization and operation of the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, thinking and intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychopathology and interventions, stress and health, and social psychology.	3
Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics (3 Hours)	3
Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts (3 Hours)	3
and one additional course from Area I, II, III and IV (3 Hours)(as approved by program advisor)	3

2: Institutional Credit (3 hours)	3
COLL 1500Student Success This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/ technical program of study. Topics include: Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communications Skills, Career Exploration, Research Skills, College Campus Knowledge, Memory & Reading Skills, Presentation & Interview Skills, and Group Skills. Effective Fall 2016, students who already have an Associate Degree or higher will be given exemption credit for the COLL 1500 course.	3

2: Institutional Credit (3 hours)

COLL 1500Student Success

This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/ technical program of study. Topics include: Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communications Skills, Career Exploration, Research Skills, College Campus Knowledge, Memory & Reading Skills, Presentation & Interview Skills, and Group Skills. Effective Fall 2016, students who already have an Associate Degree or higher will be given exemption credit for the COLL 1500 course.

3: Occupational Courses (47 hours)	47
COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy Introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include an introduction to computer and digital terminology, and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.	3
BIOL 2113Anatomy and Physiology I Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2113L, ENGL 1101 Introduces the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Emphasis is placed on the development of a systemic perspective of anatomical structures and physiological processes. Topics include body organization, cell structure and functions, tissue classifications, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous and sensory systems.	3
BIOL 2113LAnatomy and Physiology I Lab Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2113: ENGL 1101 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in BIOL 2113. The laboratory exercises for this course include body organization, cell structure and functions, tissue classifications, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous sensory systems.	1
ALHS 1090Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences Pre-requisite(s): Provisional Admission Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.	2
BIOL 2114Anatomy and Physiology II Pre-requisite(s): BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L Co-Requisite(s): BIOL 2114L Continues the study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Topics include the endocrine system, cardiovascular system, blood and lymphatic system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.	3
BIOL 2114LAnatomy and Physiology II Lab Pre-requisite(s): BIOL 2113 and BIOL 2113L Co-Requisite(s): BIOL 2114 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in BIOL 2114. The laboratory exercises for this course include the endocrine system, cardiovascular system, blood and lymphatic system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.	1
MAST 1030Pharmacology in the Medical Office Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, (MATH 1012 or Degree Level Mathematics Course) Pre/Co-requisite: MAST 1120 Introduces medication therapy with emphasis on safety; classification of medications; their actions; side effects; medication and food interactions and adverse reactions. Also introduces basic methods of arithmetic used in the administration of medications. Topics include: introductory pharmacology; dosage calculation; sources and forms of medications; medication classification; and medication effects on the body systems.	4
MAST 1060Medical Office Procedures Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1030 and students must be able to type 32 wpm or have taken BUSN 1100 Co-requisite: MAST 1080 and MAST 1100 Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice. Topics include: office protocol, time management, appointment scheduling, medical office equipment, medical references, mail services, medical records, and professional communication.	4
MAST 1120Human Diseases Pre/Co-requisite(s): ALHS 1090 Pre-Requisite: ALHS 1011 Provides fundamental information concerning common diseases and disorders of each body system. For each system, the disease or disorder is highlighted inlcuding: description, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, management, prognosis, and prevention. Topics include: introduction to disease and diseases of body systems.	3
MAST 1010Legal and Ethical Concerns in the Medical Office Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission and MAST 1080 Introduces the basic concept of medical assisting and its relationship to the other health fields. Emphasizes medical ethics, legal aspects of medicine, and the medical assistant*s role as an agent of the physician. Provides the student with knowledge of medical jurisprudence and the essentials of professional behavior. Topics include: introduction to medical assisting; introduction to medical law; physician/patient/assistant relationship; medical office in litigation; as well as ethics, bioethical issues and HIPAA.	2
MAST 1080Medical Assisting Skills I Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, ALHS 1011 and ALHS 1090, MAST 1030 Co-requisite(s): MAST 1060, MAST 1100 Introduces the skills necessary for assisting the physician with a complete history and physical in all types of medical practices. The course includes skills necessary for sterilizing instruments and equipment and setting up sterile trays. The student also explores the theory and practice of electrocardiography. Topics include: infection control and related OSHA guidelines; prepare patients/assist physician with age and gender-specific examinations and diagnostic procedures; vital signs/ mensuration; medical office surgical procedures and electrocardiography.	4
MAST 1100Medical Insurance Management Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1030. Co-requisite: MAST 1060, MAST 1080 Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice. Topics include: managed care, reimbursement, and coding.	2
MAST 1090Medical Assisting Skills II Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1080. Co-requisite: MAST 1010, MAST 1110 Pre/Co-requisite: PSYC 1010 or PSYC 1101 Furthers student knowledge of the more complex activities in a physician's office. Topics include: collection/examination of specimens and CLIA regulations/risk management; urinalysis; venipuncture; hematology and chemistry evaluations; advanced reagent testing (Strep Test, HcG etc); administration of medications; medical office emergency procedures and emergency preparedness; respiratory evaluations; rehabilitative therapy procedures; principles of radiology safety and maintenance of medication and immunization records.	4
MAST 1110Administrative Practice Management Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1080. Co-requisite: MAST 1010, MAST 1090 Emphasizes essential skills required for the medical practice in the areas of computers and medical transcription. Topics include: medical transcription/ electronic health records; application of computer skills; integration of medical terminology; accounting procedures; and application of software.	3
MAST 1170Medical Assisting Externship Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1010, MAST 1030, MAST 1060, MAST 1080, MAST 1090, MAST 1100, MAST 1110, MAST 1120 Co-requisite: MAST 1180 Provides students with an opportunity for in-depth application and reinforcement of principles and techniques in a medical office job setting. This clinical practicum allows the student to become involved in a work setting at a professional level of technical application and requires concentration, practice, and follow-through. Topics include: application of classroom knowledge and skills and functioning in the work environment.	4
MAST 1180Medical Assisting Seminar Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission, MAST 1010, MAST 1030, MAST 1060, MAST 1080, MAST 1090, MAST 1100, MAST 1110, MAST 1120 Co-requisite(s): MAST 1170 Seminar focuses on job preparation and maintenance skills and review for the certification examination. Topics include: letters of application, resumes, completing a job application, job interviews, follow-up letter/call, letters of resignation and review of program competencies for employment and certification.	4