Medical AssistingAssociate of Applied ScienceAccreditation and Credentialing InformationThe Curriculum Review BoardThe Curriculum Review Board (CRB), which operates under the authority of the Endowment, evaluates medical assisting programs according to Standards adopted by the Endowment and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CRB then recommends programs to CAAHEP for accreditation. Additionally, the CRB fulfills these functions:
The Accreditation departmentThe American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Accreditation department provides staff support to the CRB in the following activities:
The department also provides assistance to programs undergoing accreditation. CAAHEPCAAHEP is a non-profit, allied health education organization whose purpose is to accredit entry-level, allied health education programs. For more information, go to www.caahep.org. The A.A.S. Degree in Medical Assisting is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs The A.A.S. in Medical Assisting prepares students for potential employment in the business office of a hospital and/or in a physician’s office. This AAS degree meets the requirement for admission to the Dalton State College Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology Management. This degree requires proof of computer literacy.
Students must earn a “C” or better in the following courses to successfully complete the program:
Biology, math, medical lab technology, and allied health technology courses must have been taken within three years of admission or transfer into the program, or they must be repeated. Students must apply for entrance into the program. Applications available in the Medical Assisting Administration office. Deadline to apply is September 15 and February 15 of each year. Clinical facilities used by the program may require students to submit to background checks and drug screenings before the student will be allowed in the facility. Facilities may refuse a student based on the information obtained. A student’s failure to be accepted into clinical facilities may jeopardize a student’s ability to complete the program. ALHT CoursesALHT 1110. Allied Health Terminology I. 3-0-3 Units.
A study of medical language including word construction, definition, spelling, and proper usage of terms related to most allied health disciplines. (Career Course).(F,S,M) ALHT 1111. Allied Health Terminology II. 3-0-3 Units.
Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include: an overview of each body system, how systems coordinate activities to maintain a balanced state, recognizing deviations from the normal, and medical terminology including basic word structure and terms related to body structure and function are taught as an integral part of the course. (Career Course) ALHT 1112. Introduction to Health Insurance and Billing. 1-0-1 Unit.
This course is designed to familiarize students with basic functions of health insurance and its impact on medical care in the United States. Major emphasis will be placed on understanding how health insurance influences the management, profitability, accounts receivable and cash flow of physician practices and healthcare facilities. (Career Course) ALHT 1115. Medicolegal Ethics and Quality Assurance. 1-0-1 Unit.
Medical ethics, legal issues, and methods of quality assurance, including agencies which regulate health care institutions, are carefully reviewed. Students are made aware of their legal and ethical responsibilities to all aspects of professionalism and confidentiality. (Career Course) ALHT 1150. Introduction to Health Unit Coordinating. 3-0-3 Units.
Documentation of patient care within the hospital is stressed. Students apply techniques of transcribing physician's orders, computer applications of terminology, and appropriate communication skills. (Career Course) ALHT 1155. Health Unit Practicum. 2-9-5 Units.
The HUC student will be assigned to an area health care facility to apply the techniques learned in the classroom. Students will gather for a problem-solving seminar on a weekly basis. (Career Course) ALHT 1160. Basic Coding Skills. 3-0-3 Units.
Coding is a uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. It is the basis for insurance claims and for the development of guidelines for medical care review. Students will identify and properly code medical diagnoses and procedures performed by medical personnel. (Career Course)(S) ALHT 1170. Caring for Patients. 3-0-3 Units.
Introduces the student to the nuances of working in a multi-cultural healthcare environment, defines culture, the difference between surfaces and deep culture, and the nature of communication between workers of different cultures. Explores rituals surrounding birth, family structure and relationship, and how to deal with visitors and/or demanding families, cultural differences in expressions of pain, and attitudes toward sickness and death. (Career Course) ALHT 1175. Healthcare Management Practicum. 0-6-2 Units.
The student will be assigned to an area health care facility to apply the techniques learned in the classroom. Students will meet for a problem-solving seminar on a weekly basis. (Career Course) MOAS CoursesMOAS 1109. Pharmacology and Nutrition . 3-0-3 Units.
Introduces basic concepts in pharmacology, nutrition, and diet therapy. Concentrates on broad drug classifications, basic dosing calculations, side effects and actions of the most common medications, essential nutrients, and the effect of diet on health. (Career Course) MOAS 1110. Clinical Procedures I. 2-2-3 Units.
An introduction into the medical assisting field. Students learn both clinical and communication skills that are performed in the physician's office including the care, use and sterilization of instruments, how to obtain vital signs, and administer electrocardiograms, how to drape and position patients for examination, application of dressings and bandages, and how to assist with minor surgical procedures in the office setting. Students will have met state requirements and been approved by the Department of Human Resources to work with x-ray equipment upon successful program completion. (Career Course).(F,S) MOAS 1111. Clinical Procedures II. 3-0-3 Units.
Furthers the student's knowledge of the more complex activities in a physician's office. Topics include: collection/examination of specimens; venipuncture; urinalysis; administration of medications including oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intradermal medications; first aid and CPR; physical therapy procedures; and principles of radiology safety. (Career Course) MOAS 1112. Medical Ethics . 3-0-3 Units.
Introduces students to medical ethics, legal issues and methods of quality assurance, including agencies which regulate health care agencies. Introduces job search and human relations skills. Students will develop an employment package which includes a resume, application letter, and job application form. (Career Course) MOAS 1159. Medical Office Procedures. 2-2-3 Units.
Emphasis on the production of medical correspondence and various types of medical forms used in the clinical setting. Students will be responsible for transcribing in-depth history and physical reports, case studies, operative reports and follow-up visits. A wide variety of insurance forms will be used extensively. Sources must include the Internet as well as the usual literary materials. (Career Course).(F,M) MOAS 1189. Certification Preparation. 1-0-1 Unit.
Provides a review of basic knowledge from previous courses. Helps the student prepare for the national certification exam for medical assistants. Topics include anatomy and physiology, microbiology and infection control, effective communication, administrative functions, medical law, and ethics, and safety and emergency practices. (Career Course)(S,M) MOAS 1190. Clinical Practicum. 1-12-5 Units.
Introduces Medical Laboratory Technician students to the hospital environment. Students gain experience with venipuncture and microcapillary techniques while working under the direction of a hospital preceptor. (Career Course). OADM CoursesOADM 1101. Office Accounting Procedures. 3-0-3 Units.
Students are introduced to the accounting cycle with emphasis on accounting procedures typical in the service business. Students prepare financial statements, work with journals and ledgers, prepare banking statements, and develop skill in the use of spreadsheet software. Peachtree Accounting software is also used in this course, which includes setting up a new business, creating the chart of accounts, recording transactions into the general Journal and posting to the general ledger, creating reports for financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) and discussing how these are used to make business decisions. (Career Course) OADM 1102. Intermediate Office Accounting Procedures. 3-0-3 Units.
Students continue with the principles learned in OADM 1101, and will learn the procedures for accounting receivables and payables, promissory notes, bad debts, depreciation, accruals and deferrals, partnerships, and corporations. Students use EXCEL and Peachtree to work toward enhancing the skills in the computer environment. Students learn how to add customer and vendor accounts in the Peachtree environment. (Career Course) OADM 1104. Small Business Accounting Systems. 3-0-3 Units.
A study of accounting procedures using computer simulation packages. Students will create and manipulate data in the general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, as well other procedures needed for small businesses. (Career Course, offered as needed)(F,S,M) OADM 1120. Workplace Communication Skills. 3-0-3 Units.
A basic course in the effective use of oral and written communication skills related to the workplace. Emphasis is on effective preparation and presentation of workplace information. (Career course, offered as needed) OADM 1140. Basic Keyboarding. 1-0-1 Unit.
Students are taught the type-by-touch method of keyboarding, as well as file management, and some basic features of Microsoft Office and Word 2007. This course meets the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1150. Document Processing I. 3-0-3 Units.
Students are taught the type-by-touch method of keyboarding, file management, and features of Microsoft Office and Word 2007. As the course progresses, students develop skills in formatting business letters, memos, tables, reports applying features of Microsoft Word in preparing these documents. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, proofreading, prioritizing, and decision-making skills. Grammar and spelling rules are also reinforced in this course. This course meets the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1151. Document Processing II. 2-2-3 Units.
Students continue to develop skills in preparing business documents using advanced features in Microsoft Word. Students format reports in MLA style and APA style. Time management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are important components of this course. Grammar, number rules, capitalization rules, comma rules are reinforced. Speed-building and accuracy are stressed. This course meets the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1208. Mathematics for Office Careers. 3-0-3 Units.
Students develop skills in the fundamental processes of fractions, percentages, averages, interest, and the application of these skills to business situations. (Career Course) OADM 1214. Medical Machine Transcription I. 2-2-3 Units.
Designed to orient the student to the various medical reports and terminology used daily in the medical office. The student will learn to use dictation equipment by using cassettes to transcribe medical reports. This course satisfies the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1215. Medical Machine Transcription II. 2-2-3 Units.
Continuation of Medical Machine Transcription I. This course satisfies the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1216. Medical Machine Transcription III. 2-2-3 Units.
Continuation of Medical Machine Transcription II. Includes a practicum in a health care facility. This course satisfies the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1220. Office Procedures. 3-0-3 Units.
Students enhance their research skills as they prepare research papers on topics such as international customs, and they develop advanced presentation skills using electronic media. Teamwork is stressed, and students serve as both team managers and team members as they play and coordinate presentations and present finding on topics concerning meetings, travel, leadership skills, management of paper and electronic records, telecommunications, business ethics, postal services, lifelong learner concepts, and virtual workplace management skills. This class satisfies the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1230. Business English. 3-0-3 Units.
Students study English grammar and punctuation principles as they apply to communication in Business. Emphasis is placed on subject/verb agreement, verb tense, punctuation rules, recognizing and correcting run-on sentences, comma-splice errors, and sentence fragments. Students are taught to recognize active and passive voice and when to use the appropriate voice in business documents. (Career Course) OADM 1232. Business Communications. 3-0-3 Units.
Students must be able to transfer/assimilate their English/writing skills and their computer/document processing skills to be successful in this course. Students develop skills in communicating good/neutral news messages, unpleasant news messages, and persuasive messages with professionalism for the business world. Students are case studies, and they must read and prepare the appropriate written responses. Students also prepare an employment package. Critical thinking, time-management, and decision making skills are emphasized in this course. (Career Course) OADM 1240. Desktop Publishing. 3-0-3 Units.
This advanced level course requires students to develop desktop publishing skills for the workplace. Students complete assignments covering reports, letterhead and memorandum design, two- and three-column newsletters, booklets, and brochures, certificates, awards, promotional materials, business cards, labels, scanned items, graphics elements, WordArt images, advanced line formatting, merge, and style features. Students compile a portfolio of their work to submit to prospective employers during interviews. This class satisfies the campus literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1242. Spreadsheet Applications. 2-2-3 Units.
Students develop skills in Windows-based spreadsheet software. Emphasis is placed on office-style activities and critical thinking skills. This course meets the computer literacy requirement. (Career Course) OADM 1250. Professional Development. 3-0-3 Units.
Emphasis is placed on developing job search skills and human relation skills. Each student will prepare an employment package which includes a resume, application letter, and job application form. Time is also spent on in-depth communication skills, interviewing skills, goal setting and a variety of employment issues. (Career Course)(F,S,M) |
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