Medical Assisting

Graduates may be hired in a variety of settings to perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep healthcare delivery running smoothly. The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty.  In small practices, Medical Assistants are usually generalists, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators. An experienced Medical Assistant might advance to office administrator or clinical lead Medical Assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistant Job Outlook through 2026 projects a 29% growth rate, which is much faster than the average of 7% for other occupations.

CERTIFICATION: Upon successful completion of the Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting, graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam offered through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).  Upon satisfactory completion of the exam, they will be qualified to use the credentials of Certified Medical Assistant CMA, (AAMA).  The CMA credential is recognized nationally; however, each state mandates the scope of practice for Medical Assistants. 

The SPSCC Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 210-2350, http://www.caahep.org/, on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), http://maerb.org.

In accordance with the Medical Assisting Education Review Board, the program goal is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor, (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains.

CAAHEP requires all Medical Assisting Programs to make public measurable program outcomes. In compliance with this rule, South Puget Sound Community College is publishing outcome data for 2016:

• Student Retention: 81.58%
• Job Placement: 77.42%
• National Exam Passage: 90.91%
• Employer satisfaction rate: 88.89%
• Graduate satisfaction rate: 100%

Additional Costs (dollar values are approximate and subject to change):

It is strongly recommended that the student complete all pre-college English and Math (if indicated on college placement test), General Education, Diversity and Elective Requirements prior to starting the Core Medical Assistant Requirements.

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Upon successful completion of the Medical Assisting Degree, students will be able to:

• Evaluate self-improvement while mastering clinical and administrative skills
• Measure, record, interpret, and report data in both clinical and office settings
• Adjust communications techniques to interact effectively with colleagues and patients who have diverse backgrounds, expectations, and needs
• Incorporate legal, ethical and professional considerations into delivery of healthcare
• Perform the duties of an entry level medical assistant in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor, (skills) and affective (behavior) domains

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

• Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series and titer required prior to the start of MED 155
• MED courses must be completed within 5 years of completion of the program. Any MED courses taken prior to five years of completion would need to be repeated
• Students must provide proof of current provider-level CPR certification through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association prior to beginning their externship (MED 159)
• Students are required to pass a Washington State Patrol Background check
• Keyboarding skills of 45 wpm are required prior to graduation 

GRADING POLICY:

• All MED courses must be completed with a “C" or better to continue in and complete the program. A “C” for all MED courses represents a grade of 76%- 85%; a “B” is 86%-92% and an “A” is 93%-100%.  Any MED course with a grade below 76% would need to be repeated.
• In addition, medical assisting students must complete all cognitive objectives and all psychomotor and affective competencies in the course. CAAHEP accreditation requires 100% of all medical assisting graduates pass 100% of all psychomotor and affective competencies. A passing score for psychomotor and affective competencies is equivalent to 85% or above. The student will be given up to two opportunities to demonstrate achievement of competency for each procedure required for the course. All competencies must be successfully completed by the date indicated on the class schedule in order to progress in the Medical Assisting Program. 

Health and Safety
Prior to the beginning of their second quarter in the program, students registered in the Medical Assisting Program are required to have started the Hepatitis B vaccination series. Documentation for this requirement must be presented by the first day of class of the second quarter of the program.

Practicum 
The capstone course is the student practicum (MED 159).  All cognitive objectives and psychomotor and affective competencies must be completed prior to the practicum.  It is highly recommended that all required coursework for the AAS degree be completed prior to the start of the practicum.  The practicum allows the opportunity to use your administrative and clinical skills under the guidance of a mentor in an ambulatory healthcare setting.  The practicum is a 200-hour non-remunerative arrangement.

Entry into the Medical Assisting Program does not guarantee students a job placement, nor does it guarantee a practicum placement in Thurston County. Practicum placements require successful interviews and background checks.  Due to increased competition for practicum placements with other schools in Washington State, South Puget Sound Community College cannot guarantee that the practicum will be in the last quarter of the program.

• Medical Assisting
• General Program Information