Glen Oaks Community College

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Medical Assistant Certificate

Are you interested in learning a diversity of different clinical and administrative skills in the medical field? Are you good at multi-tasking? Do you like working with computer programs that involve patient records and insurance claims?

Glen Oaks offers the Medical Assistant Certificate program which can be completed in less than a year. Graduates of the accredited program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA-AAMA).

Smiling confident female doctor standing in a hospital hallway next to a window, wearing a blue uniform and stethoscope, holding a folder
Program Information

Admissions Process

  • Register for admission to the college
  • Declare Medical Assistant Program interest and register for ALL required Fall semester courses
  • Meet placement criteria in basic Math and English criteria:
  • If course placement criteria not met, student may enroll in appropriate remedial course(s) to bring skill level up to criteria
  • No course may be transferred into the Medical Assistant program that contains MAERB core competencies. No experiential credit is awarded.
  • Meet with Director of Allied Health to discuss the guided pathway for successful completion of the program.

The Medical Assistant Program may be completed in two semesters beginning in the fall.

Is this for me?

Consider a career in medical assisting if you enjoy helping people during stressful times in their lives and can move seamlessly between being hands-on with patients and handling phones and paperwork.

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

Employment Information

Medical assistants help physicians and other health care professionals examine and treat patients, as well as perform routine tasks needed to keep a medical office running efficiently. They measure vital signs, help patients feel comfortable in the doctor’s office, document patient history, and often explain the doctor’s instructions.

Jobs are available in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient or health care facilities, such as specialty offices and clinics. Work ranges from answering phones, greeting patients and scheduling appointments to taking medical histories, performing basic laboratory tests and administering medications, assisting the physician with minor surgical procedures, and removing sutures and changing dressings.

Requirements of the role include knowledge of medical terminology, communication skills, technical skills and office management skills. The ability to maintain confidentiality is a must, as medical assistants deal with sensitive patient data.

Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth in employment of medical assistants of 23 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients. Medical assistants who earn certification and have familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs) may have better job prospects.

Occupational Risks Statement

Medical Assistants are exposed to work environment associated risks that may include:
  • Exposure to chemicals used for disinfection and sterilization
  • Injuries from handling needles and/or sharp instruments
  • Exposure to bloodborne pathogens
  • Exposure to airborne pathogens
  • Strains (heavy lifting)
  • Exposure to latex, blood and body fluids
  • Exposure to radiation from medical equipment

In addition, Medical Assistants may deal with patients and/or their family members who are rude, disrespectful, or demanding.  They may also be exposed to threatening or violent behavior by patients and or their family members.

Medical assistants may experience stress related to job demands, staffing issues, and work/life balance

Technical Standards Statement

In order to successfully complete all required competencies and objectives required to pass the Medical Assistant program at Glen Oaks Community College, an individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the following technical standards of general abilities for medical assistants:

Physical Standards:

  • Lift and carry equipment and patients up to 50 pounds. Support and assist patients in and out of a wheelchair, and on and off an examination table.
  • Ability to push an adult in a wheelchair
  • Ability to stand, walk, squat, sit, bend, and reach.
  • Ability to kneel, bend, stoop, and/or crouch to perform CPR, assist patients (including during emergencies), and to retrieve items from cabinets located below waist level.
  • Ability to bend, reach above shoulder height, and or twist to position examination table, adjust equipment, or obtain supplies.
  • Fine motor skills should be adequate to grip with both hands, pinch with thumb or forefinger, and operate equipment and delicate instruments.
  • Ability to use fingers to feel and palpate pulses, and locate bony and muscular landmarks.
  • Ability to differentiate between temperature and pressure variations.
  • Satisfactory visual acuity to prepare and administer medications, perform diagnostic laboratory procedures, and observe changes in patient’s physical appearance (with or without corrective lenses).
  • Accurately read numbers, letters, and both print and cursive writing on instruments, equipment, computer screens and paper (with or without corrective lenses).
  • Discriminate shapes and color in order to identify safety symbols, reagents and other materials such as laboratory media, stained preparations, and the physical properties of various body fluids (with or without corrective lenses).
  • Adequate ability to hear verbal communication from patients and members of the health care team either in person or over the telephone (with or without corrective devices).
  • Ability to hear heart sounds, blood pressure sounds, wheezing, etc. (with or without corrective devices).
  • Ability to hear instrument timers and alarms (with or without corrective devices).
  • Ability to hear telephone, paging systems, or intercom in order to communicate with patients and other members of the health care team (with or without corrective devices).

Communication Standards:

  • Adequate communication skills (verbal, nonverbal, and written) to interact effectively with individuals.
  • Speak using the English language in clear, concise manner in order to communicate with patients, families, healthcare providers, other members of the healthcare team and the community.
  • Comprehend oral and written language, including medical terminology, in order to communicate with patients, families, healthcare providers, other members of the healthcare team and the community.
  • Write in English clearly and legibly.

Cognitive Standards:

  • Display sufficient intellectual and emotive functions to plan and implement assigned duties in a responsible manner.
  • Ability to function safely, responsibly, and effective in stressful situations
  • Ability to be alert to surroundings and potential emergencies and to remain calm, rational, decisive, and in control at all times, especially during emergency situations.
  • Display attitudes and actions consistent with ethical standards of medical assisting.
  • Maintain composure while managing and prioritizing multiple tasks.
  • Communicate an understanding of the principles of confidentially, respectfully, sand tactfully.
  • Ability to manage difficult interpersonal situations in a calm and tactful manner.
  • Function without causing harm to others, including if under the influence of prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Apply your certificate toward a degree

This certificate can also be applied toward the Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health degree, for those seeking increased responsibilities, supervisory roles and health care office management in physician offices, health care clinics, hospital-based clinics, hospitals and small health care businesses.

Accreditation

The Glen Oaks Community 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).

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is located at 9355 113th St. North #7709 Seminole, FL 33772, Phone: 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org.