Medical Assisting Certificate

Purpose

The Medical Assistant certificate program prepares individuals as multi-skilled health care practitioners who are competent in urgent care, physician’s offices, hospitals, and long term care environments. The Medical Assisting program will prepare students for work in hospitals, physician offices, urgent care facilities and nursing homes. Graduates will be prepared to perform traditional medical assistant responsibilities include administrative and clinical duties. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) for certification.

Program Requirements and Special Conditions

Information packets containing the necessary documents for application may be requested from Student Services.

The deadline for applying to the program for the class beginning in August is May 1st. Depending upon the number of applicants, only selected applicants, based on fulfillment of prerequisite requirements and date of application (if necessary), will be admitted. All transcripts must be received before May 1st. Students must contact the Student Services to set up placement test(s). 757-789-1720.

Introduction to Medical Assisting

Medical assistants are allied healthcare professionals responsible for various clinical and/or administrative duties. They perform clinical functions including but not limited to direct patient care and preparation, ECG, phlebotomy, and pharmacology while maintaining patient safety and confidentiality. They may also perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, bookkeeping, and billing and insurance processing. (NCCT, 2017).

The program will enroll approximately twenty (20) students annually. Students will rotate through an internship. Clinical affiliates for medical assistants will include nursing homes, rehabilitation, the hospital, physician’s offices and other allied health agencies. Upon completion of the program students are eligible to take the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) for certification as a Medical Assistant (NCMA).

Program Admission Requirements

Prospective students must:

1. Complete application to Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC).
2. Have High School diploma transcript or GED certification sent to ESCC Registrar office.
3. Complete placement testing and master placement MTE 1-4 or completion of appropriate developmental math courses;
4. Achieve placement to ENG 111  or completion of appropriate developmental English courses;
5. Complete drug screening and criminal background check with no records of concern or pending actions.
6. Be eligible for employment with the Riverside Health System and Eastern Shore Rural Health entities.
7. Students are responsible for their own transportation to off-campus facilities for clinical experiences.
8. In all MDA courses, students must earn a grade of at least a “C” (which is an 80% average for these courses) to remain in the program.
9. Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Continuation Requirements following admission to the program:

These requirements must be fulfilled prior to the start of the second semester or entry into the clinical internship: (Students must be current, certified and or maintain standards through the end of the program for all of the continuation requirements.);

1. Students are responsible for costs necessary for program completion such as required testing fees, liability insurance, uniforms, stethoscopes, medical assisting pins and graduation uniform, books, criminal history and sex offender crimes against minors’ background checks.
2. Purchase of ESCC approved Student Uniforms, Blood Pressure cuff and stethoscope, non-skid white shoes, drug handbook, and basic calculator.
3. Completion of a physical examination, two step PPD (or chest x-ray if already PPD positive). Immunizations must be up to date including tetanus, MMR or positive titers, varicella or positive titers, Hepatitis B series or positive titer, tetanus, and current flu vaccine.
4. Potential for random drug screening.
5. Appropriate professional and social media use as defined by the college or syllabus.
6. Participation in community based activities that support student development.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Apply diagnostic testing skills.
• Apply the principles of law and ethics in performing office operations.
• Apply medical terminology in the workplace appropriately.