Accelerated Medical Assistant Certificate Program with Clinical Externship

Accelerated Medical Assistant Certificate Program with Clinical Externship

The Medical Administrative Assistant Profession

The Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings. Medical assistants with a clinical background perform various clinical tasks including assisting with the administration of medications and with minor procedures, performing an EKG electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and other related tasks. Job opportunities are prevalent with physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities.


The Medical Administrative Assistant Program

This program prepares students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Instruction includes preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, taking and documenting vital signs,technical aspects of phlebotomy, the 12-lead EKG and the cardiac life cycle.

The purpose of the Medical Assisting program is to prepare students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Clinical responsibilities of the medical office - assisting the physician with patient related care
  • Preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing
  • HIPAA, patient confidentiality, legal aspects of healthcare and regulatory patient care issues
  • Recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressure, and other patient care items related to the physician office visit
  • Review and administration of medications, allergies & other pharmacology related items
  • Laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and the proper techniques required to collect specimens for laboratory analysis
  • Cardiology and Cardiac Testing

Medical Administrative Assistant Detailed Course Information:

  • Medical Assistant Profession and Health Care
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Patient-Centred Care
  • Considerations of Extended Life
  • The Clinical Environment and Safety in the Medical Office
  • The Clinical Visit: Office Preparation and the Patient Encounter
  • Medical Asepsis
  • Surgical Asepsis
  • Pharmacology and Medication Administration
  • Vital Signs
  • Minor Surgery
  • Diagnostic Procedures
  • Microscopes and Microbiology
  • Hematology and Chemistry
  • Urology and Nephrology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiac Testing
  • Pulmonology and Pulmonary Testing
  • EENT
  • Immunology and Allergies
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Emergency Care
  • Gastroenterology and Nutrition
  • Orthopedics and Physical Therapy
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology

Module 1 – Introduction to Medical Assisting

  • Lesson 1 – Becoming a Successful Student
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 (pp.1-10)
  • Lesson 2 – The Healthcare Industry
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 (pp.11-29)
  • Lesson 3 – The Medical Assisting Profession
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 (pp.31-42)
  • Lesson 4 – Professional Behavior in the Workplace
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 4 (pp.43-51)
  • Lesson 5 – Interpersonal Skills and Human Behavior
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 5 (pp.53-73)
  • Lesson 6 – Medicine and Ethics
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 6 (pp.75-91)
  • Lesson 7 – Medicine and the Law
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 7 (pp.93-120)

Module 2 – Administrative Medical Assisting

  • Lesson 8 – Computer Concepts
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 8 (pp.121-134)
  • Lesson 9 – Telephone Techniques
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 9 (pp.135-153)
  • Lesson 10 – Scheduling Appointments
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 10 (pp.169-173)
  • Lesson 11 – Patient Reception and Processing
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 11 (pp.175-186)
  • Lesson 12 – Office Environment and Daily Operations
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 12 (pp.187-210)
  • Lesson 13 – Written Communications and Mail Processing
    • Reading Assignments: Chapter 13 (pp.211-233)

Module 3 – Health Information in the Medical Office

  • Lesson 14 – The Paper Medical Record
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 14 (pp.235-261)
  • Lesson 15 – The Electronic Medical Record
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 15 (pp.263-273)
  • Lesson 16 – Health Information Management
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 16 (pp.275-285)
  • Lesson 17 – Privacy in the Physician’s Office
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 17 (pp.287-300)

Module 4 – Billing and Coding Procedures

  • Lesson 18 – Basics of Diagnostic Coding
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 18 (pp.301-323)
  • Lesson 19 – Basics of Procedural Coding
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 19 (pp.325-348)
  • Lesson 20 – Basics of Health Insurance
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 20 (pp.349-370)
  • Lesson 21 – The Health Insurance Claim Form
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 21 (pp.371-394)
  • Lesson 22 – Professional Fees, Billing, and Collecting
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 22 (pp.395-420)

Module 5 – Financial and Practice Management

  • Lesson 23 – Banking Services and Procedures
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 23 (pp.421-439)
  • Lesson 24 – Financial and Practice Management
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 24 (pp.441-452)
  • Lesson 25 – Medical Practice Management and Human Resources
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 25 (pp.453-479)
  • Lesson 26 – Medical Practice Marketing and Customer Service
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 26 (pp.481-492)

Module 6 – Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Career Development

  • Lesson 27 – Emergency Preparedness and Assisting with Medical Emergencies
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 27 (pp.493-525)
  • Lesson 28 – Career Development and Life Skills
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 28 (pp.527-553)

Note: This program can be completed in 6 months. However, students will have online access to this program for a 12-month period.

Education and National Certifications

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • There are no state approval and/or state requirements associated with this program.
  • There are several National Certification exams that are available to students who successfully complete this program:
    • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam
  • In addition to facilitating entry-level clinical medical assisting related positions, this course is ideal for students interested in pursuing a future formal Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Nursing (LPN) or a Nursing (RN) program.

National Certification

Upon successful completion of this Auburn University Clinical Medical Assistant program, students would be eligible to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam. Although there are no state approval, state registration or other state requirements for this program, students who complete this Clinical Medical Assistant program at Auburn University will be prepared and are eligible to sit for this national certification exam. Students who complete this program are encouraged to complete the clinical externship option with their program. Students who complete this program can and do sit for the NHA CCMA national certification exam and are qualified, eligible and prepared to do so. Auburn University works with each student to complete the exam application and register the student to take their national certification exam.

National Certification will take place at the conclusion of this accelerated program.

Externship / Hands on Training / Practicum

Although not a requirement of this program, once students complete the Clinical Medical Assistant program they have the ability to participate in a clinical externship and/or hands on practicum so as to practice the skills necessary to perform the job requirements of a Clinical Medical Assistant. Students will be assisted with completing a resume and/ or other requirements necessary to work in a hospital, physicians practice, clinic and/or with other healthcare organizations. All students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an externship and will be placed in a healthcare organization near their location. Auburn University works with national healthcare organizations and has the abilityto place students in clinical externship opportunities nationwide.

Externship will take place at the conclusion of this accelerated program.