The Anoka Technical College Medical Assistant diploma is a 49-credit program that prepares students to be a processional, multi-skilled medical assistant who is dedicated to assist in patient care management. Graduates are prepared to assist medical providers with examinations and treatments, conduct medical histories, perform Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing, sterilize instruments and supplies, assist with minor surgery, medical office administrative services, and administer medications.
Graduates of the Medical Assistant program are eligible to take the Certification Exam of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Course Prerequisites
Some courses may require appropriate test score or completion of basic math, basic English and/or reading courses with a "C" or better.
Background Study
Minnesota Law requires any person with direct patient and resident contact at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to have a background study conducted by the state. An individual disqualified from direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Anoka Technical College will withdraw any student from the Medical Assistant program who is disqualified by the MDH. The student is then responsible for requesting the commissioner to reconsider the qualification.
Full-Time Sequence
First Semester
Please see advisor for proper advisement.
|
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
ENGL 1107
|
Composition I |
4
|
| OR |
|
ENGL 2105
|
Business and Technical Writing |
4
|
| HLTH 1005 |
Anatomy and Physiology
|
4
|
HLTH 1040
|
Medical Terminology
|
2
|
MAST 1200
|
Medical Assistant Seminar
|
2
|
MAST 1300
|
Medical Administrative I
|
2
|
MAST 1400
|
Pharmacology I |
1
|
MAST 1500
|
EKG |
1
|
MAST 2300
|
Medical Administrative II |
2
|
MAST 2400
|
Pharmacology II |
2
|
| TOTAL |
|
20
|
| |
Second Semester
Please see advisor for proper advisement.
|
MAST 1600
|
Laboratory I
|
4
|
MAST 1700
|
Clinical Procedures I
|
3
|
MAST 2600
|
Laboratory II
|
4
|
MAST 2700
|
Clinical Procedures II
|
3
|
EMED 1076
|
BLS for the Healthcare Provider
|
1 |
| TOTAL |
|
15
|
| |
Summer
Please see advisor for proper advisement.
|
ADSC 1055
|
Electronic Health Records
|
2
|
HLTH 1000
|
Disease Conditions
|
2
|
MATH 1020
|
Math for HealthCare
|
2
|
| TOTAL |
|
6
|
| |
Third Semester
Please see advisor for proper advisement. |
MAST 2900
|
Externship
|
7
|
| TOTAL |
|
7
|
| |
|
Although the general education courses are listed in the sequence above, the courses may be taken any semester and in any order.
**All required course work must be successfully completed before participating in the externship.
|
Program Learning Outcomes
This profession is the only allied health specifically trained to work in ambulatory health settings. Medical assistants are multi-skilled employees, competent to perform administrative, clinical and laboratory procedures within the supervising physician’s scope of practice consistent with medical assisting education, training and experience.
Upon successful completion of program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Communicate effectively with patients, family members, and/or colleagues of diverse sociocultural backgrounds through the use of verbal and non-verbal skills, written communications, technology communications, and active listening within an ambulatory care setting.
-
Demonstrate responsibility within the scope of practice for medical assistant.
-
Apply administrative policies and procedures effectively.
-
Demonstrate professionalism as a healthcare professional.
-
Apply knowledge of medical laboratory techniques to accurately collect specimens, perform CLIA waived testing, and communicate laboratory test result to patients.
-
Illustrate a caring and empathic approach while meeting patient's needs across their lifespan and with a diverse community.
-
Perform clinical procedures and medication administration in a medical practice setting while utilizing critical thinking skills
Program Goals
- Competently perform as entry level Medical Assistants in the cognitive (learning), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behaviors) learning domains
- Continue to provide quality graduates to support the needs of our community and area employers
- Help students and communities live and learn well
- Foster an environment of critical thinking, effective communication, personal responsibility and initiative
Graduation Requirements
Anoka Technical College students seeking an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or diploma in Medical Assistant must complete all of the required course outlined on the program plan with a C or better grade in each course.
Accreditation
The Anoka Technical College Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
Certification
Graduates can take the National Certification Examination to become certified with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Transfer Opportunities
To see how this program may transfer into other Anoka Technical College programs or into another college, please visit:
Industry Information
A medical assistant is eligible to work in clinics, urgent care/express care/ minute clinics, blood collection centers, research facilities and insurance companies. Duties could include administering injections, taking blood pressure readings, rooming patients, drawing blood, performing commonly ordered laboratory tests and electrocardiograms (EKG), insurance coding, medical records and scheduling patients for special procedures or other medical appointment.
Medical assistants have direct patient contact and work closely with physicians, nurses and other health care professionals. The ability to demonstrate professionalism, communicate effectively, multitask, and perform procedures quickly and accurately is essential for success.
Advancement typically requires more training and certification. Many medical assistants choose to become nurses or other health care workers through further study. Administrative positions provide another popular career path because an administrative medical assistant can rise to the position of office manager without additional education.
Wage/Outlook/Advancement
Gainful Employment Report
Faculty