Program Info
Program Description
Focuses on the preparation and the foundation necessary to prepare medical assistants for increasing management responsibility within the medical office or clinic and to perform routine administrative duties in physicians’ offices, clinics, and other ambulatory health care facilities. Students may elect to stop out at either one of the following two stages depending upon career or educational objectives.
- Medical Assistant, Level II Certificate of Achievement, 36 credit hours
- Medical Practice - Clinical Management Associate in Applied Science degree, 64 credit hours.
Credits in this certificate program may be applied to the Associate in Applied Science degree centered around the Medical Assistant.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Perform entry level patient assessment and care in an ambulatory setting showing proficiency in patient safety, wellness and education based on scope of practice and national standards.
- Demonstrate mathematical processes related to administering medication, mensuration of a patient using various methodologies, and reading clinical/laboratory equipment and graphs.
- Demonstrate clinical lab procedures, safety and emergency procedures along with patient preparation in the ambulatory and inpatient care setting.
- Communicate effectively using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication as it relates to various health care providers and businesses.
- Perform administrative duties based on scope of practice as it relates to finances, billing and insurance, and effective practice management.
- Apply management theory to effectively supervise the human resources of an organization.
- Solve common problems in managing the business office of a medical or medical related organization.
According to recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2030 as the health care industry expands due to technological advances in medicine and a growing aging population.
Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group practices and other health care facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle both administrative and clinical duties.
Information about career placement and job success is available through either the Health Careers Office or the College Placement Office.
Applicants who consider a career in medical assisting should be aware that during the course of their education and subsequent employment they are likely to work in situations where exposure to infectious diseases is possible. This is an occupational risk for all health care workers. Persons should not become health care workers unless they recognize and accept this risk. Proper education and strict adherence to well established infection-control guidelines, however, can reduce the risk to a minimum. Thorough education in infection control procedures is an important part of the medical assistant program of study.
Latex Early recognition of sensitization to natural rubber latex (NRL) is crucial to prevent the occurrence of life-threatening reactions in sensitized healthcare workers. The Medical Assistant Program Faculty strongly advises that students sensitized or allergic to latex consult a physician for guidance on the merits of continuing in a healthcare career. NRL sensitized students who choose to continue in their program must notify the program director upon admission.
Upon completion of the Medical Assistant program, students graduating from medical assistant programs accredited through Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accreditation Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) are eligible and required to sit for either of the following certification examinations. Each credential is equal in weight, importance, and acceptance for future employment.
CMAs and RMAs receive a better salary than those without credentials. Employers prefer medical assistants from accredited programs with professional certification.
- The American Association of Medical Assistant (AAMA) offers the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) examination. The CMA is a national certification.
- The American Medical Technologist (AMT) offers the RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) examination. The RMA credential is an international certification.
All educational experiences are under the guidance of the Medical Assistant program. Student progress is evaluated in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting throughout the program. Progression in the program is based upon the student meeting the following requirements:
- Adherence to the program requirements outlined in the Medical Assistant Student Handbook.
- Achievement of a minimum grade of C or better in all MOA and required courses including the last in the sequence (MOA 190).
- Maintenance of an overall cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or better.
- All MOA courses taken at HFC must be successfully completed within three consecutive calendar years. HFC continuously attempts to improve each program, and as a result courses and requirements may be modified. Curriculum, course content, and admission criteria are subject to change by action of the College faculty and administration.
The medical assistant portion of the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL. 33763, 727-210-2350.
Admission Requirements
- A minimum high school grade-point-average of C+ (2.5) or a minimum average score of 55 on the GED test, or a minimum college grade-point-average of C (2.25) for both transfer students and Henry Ford College students.
- ACCUPLACER Reading score of 80 or higher or successful completion of ENG-081 or higher.
- Eligible for placement into MATH 080.
- Health Careers typing test at 45 words/min or better or successful completion of BCA-101 with a grade of B or better.
The program is restricted, has a limited enrollment, and admits students based on space availability. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must see the Health Careers Student Success Navigator for admission to the program and are highly encouraged to complete their admission requirements as early as possible.
Accreditation standards require that students do not receive compensation/payment, monetary or otherwise, from any clinical site for any portion of their clinical practicum (MOA 190 – Medical Office Externship). In order to begin the clinical procedures course of the Medical Assistant Program, MOA-150, students must meet the following pre-requisites:
- Complete: MOA-100, MOA-110, MOA-120, HCS-124, MATH-101 and BIO-134 or BIO-233/BIO-234 all with a C grade or better.
During the program the students will be required to submit proof of all of the following by designated program deadlines:
- Active health insurance coverage.
- Completion of physical examination.
- Two-step tuberculosis PPD test (2-step TB test).
- Evidence of required immunizations and titers.
- American Heart Association (AHA), Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR) certification valid beginning MOA-150 and 6 months post MOA-190 (may be satisfied by AH-105).
- American Heart Association, First Aid certification valid prior to beginning MOA-150 and 6 months post MOA-190.
- Valid driver’s license or state issued identification card with a photo.
- Must pass the drug screen on the first test.
- Criminal background check.
Program Requirements
| Course name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
Natural Science: Complete one
|
5.00 |
| MATH-101: Mathematics for Health Careers | 4.00 |
| HCS-124: Basic Health Assessment | 1.00 |
| PSY-131: Introductory Psychology | 3.00 |
| HCS-131: Computers in Health Care | 3.00 |
| ENG-131: Introduction to College Writing | 3.00 |
English Composition or Communication: Complete one |
3.00 |