Medical Assistant

Program Overview

Medical Assistants work in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, urgent care center, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. They assist doctors and physicians, take patient history, assist with procedures, manage online medical records, measure vital signs, give injections, schedule appointments and administer laboratory tests. In addition to obtaining a Medical Assistant certification, this program offers the hands on skills that prepare students to pursue careers in medicine, nursing and other allied health professions.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • Emotional & mental stability
  • Empathy to understand the pains & suffering of others
  • Good personal hygiene–hair pulled back, no artificial nails, facial piercings removed, no dangling earrings nor visible tattoos
  • Lift heavy objects/people
  • Not disturbed by instances such as bodily fluids, surgeries, injections & traumatic situations
  • Prolonged standing, bending & stooping
  • Clearances required
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • Basic Chemistry, Anatomy/Physiology, Biology
  • Ability to work with a team
  • Focus and Motivation to accomplish tasks and goals.
  • Complex problem solving
  • Social perceptiveness
  • Service orientation
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • Evaluate how an author’s point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text
  • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument
  • Evaluate how words and phrases shape meaning and tone in texts
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols, abbreviations, and acronyms correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Read and understand diagnostic and medical data to solve a problem
  • Compare & contrast information in a text
  • Summarize information from different written resources
  • Evaluate credibility of sources
  • Actively seek out highly reputable sources
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
  • Textbook: Comprehensive Medical Assisting, Fifth Edition, Average grade reading level: 14.63
Writing
  • Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience
  • Develop and analyze the topic with relevant, well–chosen, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, and quotations
  • Organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a whole
  • Use precise language, domain–specific vocabulary, a formal style, and objective tone to manage the complexity of the topic.
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims; develop claim(s) fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns
  • Develop and strengthen writing by brainstorming, revising, editing & rewriting
  • Write with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabulary
  • Write routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiences
  • Clearly convey with precision step–by–step work completed
  • Write fast–paced, accurate documentation
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
Math Levels

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Fraction computations
  • Grade 6 – Representing negative values
  • Grade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversion
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Decimals to rational number (fraction) conversion
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Measurement:

  • NG – Units: English, Metric, and Apothecary Precision: Nearest mm or ¼ inch
  • Grade 6 – Unit conversion within and between measuring systems
  • Algebraic Concepts:

  • Algebra 1 – Analyze graphs – include those with different scales
  • Data and Probability:

  • Grade 6 – Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, and mean absolute deviation
  • Grade 8 – Scatterplots – create then use to find patterns and identify line of best fit
  • Grade 8 – Investigate relationships between two sets of data
  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
Theory Time
  • 1.5 hours/day
Homework
  • 4 hours/week
Lab Time
  • 5 hours/day
Tests
  • 12 per quarter
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs)
  • Industry certifications
    • Medical Assistant Certification
    • OSHA 10
    • AHA–BLS Provider
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • College Prep English & Math are part of the DCTS program
Study & Other Skills
  • Attention to detail is extremely important
  • Basic computer & keyboarding skills
  • Excellent note taking & listening skills
  • Pleasant Demeanor
  • Promptness and punctuality
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Navigate and use school–issued laptop
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Perform basic computer applications including spreadsheets, presentations, and publishing
  • Navigate and use electronic medical databases
  • Navigate learning management system and instructional technology tools
  • Video conferencing
Certifications Offered
  • Medical Assistant Certification
  • OSHA 10
  • AHA–BLS Provider
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed

    Employment

  • EMT
  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Pharmacy Techician
  • B.A.

  • Nursing (RN)
  • Biology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Health Care Administration
  • Radiology/Ultrasound
  • Physician Assistant (requires graduate work)
  • Pharmacist (requires graduate work)
  • Associates

  • Medical Laboratory Technician
  • Occupational Therapist Assistant
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiology
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
  • Certification Programs

  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Phlebotomist
  • EKG Technician
  • ER Technician
  • ER Scribe