Department of Medical Assisting

Return to: Schools and Departments

Mission

In keeping with the mission of the college, the mission of the Medical Assisting program at South College is to prepare graduates as medical assistants who are multi-skilled health care professionals that perform administrative and clinical tasks, manage emergency situations, communicate effectively, and provide instruction to patients, thus performing as an integral member of the health care team.

The program seeks to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.  In-depth study of the medical sciences of the human body, including anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the body systems and clinical including room procedures, medical lab procedures, medical terminology, pharmacology, and administrative procedures, including but not limited to medical insurance and coding and front office procedures is provided.

Goals include:

• Establish a firm base of knowledge in general education, medical science, and medical office routines which provides entry-level competencies in the fundamental concepts and theories applicable to medical assisting practices and procedures. (Cognitive)
• Engender the development of skills in clerical/administrative, clinical, and laboratory/technical areas pertinent to entry-level competencies of a medical assistant and the needs of the community and employment market. (Psychomotor)
• Foster the growth of students into competent medical assisting professionals who will demonstrate superior principles of legal, ethical, and moral integrity. (Affective)
• Expect and provide for the continued professional development of the medical assisting faculty to assure excellence in the program’s curriculum.

Role of the Medical Assistant in Health Care Delivery

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession. The Medical Assisting program is established based upon the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs (2015 Revision) which emphasizes competency-based skills, as well as general knowledge. Student competencies are validated through performance on written and practical exams, skills performance assessments, and a clinical practicum. Graduates of the program are prepared to assist practitioners in examining and treating patients, performing laboratory testing, and managing the administrative and clinical responsibilities associated with efficient medical office operations. The curriculum does not train for employment in medical laboratories either in the state of Tennessee or any other state.

Program Requirements

All students admitted in the Medical Assisting program must recognize that various occupational hazards exist in the medical laboratory and the clinical setting. All Medical Assisting students are responsible for understanding health requirements and general safety procedures and precautions.

Throughout the training, strict adherence to OSHA guidelines and standard precautions is mandated and observed. In compliance with these guidelines and precautions, all Medical Assisting students are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as indicated.

Students will be required, during the course of the program, to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. These requirements include maintaining a state of good health, achieving a comprehensive knowledge base (cognitive ability), achieving procedural proficiency (psychomotor skills), and demonstrating suitable behavioral and emotional fitness (affective domain). Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. A student should notify the Department Chairperson if he or she has a communicable disease. This disclosure will be handled in strict confidence and used to assure safe lab conditions. Hepatitis B vaccination and/or immunization verification is required.

Students must provide the department with a statement of good health, immunization verification, and hepatitis B vaccination record or declination. Clinical agencies may also require students to provide proof of the flu vaccine. Students are responsible for covering the costs associated with physical examinations, and immunizations as well as the cost incurred from an illness or injury while in the Medical Assisting program.

Students must submit to a background check and drug screening. If a student does not pass the drug screen, he/she will be removed from the program and not allowed to reapply for ninety days. Placement of students with prior convictions is at the discretion of the clinical site(s).

Clinical sites are dispersed. Students may have to travel outside of the local area.

All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better within 2 attempts. Readmission to the program is limited to one-time on a space available basis.

All medical assisting students are required to complete 15 hours of unpaid, supervised observation at a medical practice during the second quarter and a 200-hour unpaid, supervised practicum at a medical practice during the last quarter of their program. Students are required to meet all health guidelines and policies of the affiliating agencies.

Students applying to the Medical Assisting program must accept the following:

1. Eligibility for the Certification Examination may be denied by the AAMA Certifying Board if the applicant for the CMA credential has been found guilty of a felony or pleaded guilty to a felony (Contact the MA Department Chair for more information on eligibility requirements).
2. Failure to produce proof of the following in a timely manner may severely limit practicum placement (possibly increasing the overall length of the program or resulting in program dismissal) and future employment options:
   1. Negative TB test
   2. Hepatitis B vaccination
   3. Health release to participate in clinical practicum/physician’s certification that student is in good health
   4. Other immunizations, such as MMR, Polio, Tetanus, and Varicella/Chicken Pox
   5. CPR and first aid training.

Students are responsible for costs incurred from injury or illness while in the Medical Assisting program. Fees charged to cover physical exams, CPR certification, and immunizations are the responsibility of the student.

Upon successful completion of the curriculum (39 quarter credit hours) for the Certificate and satisfaction of all graduation requirements, the student is awarded the Certificate in Medical Assisting and is eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination administered through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Upon completion of the 91 required credits, the student is awarded the AS in Medical Assisting.

Accreditation

The South College Certificate program in Medical Assisting offered at the Knoxville and Asheville campuses are 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).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2530, www.caahep.org

Students completing the certificate program may choose to continue and complete the Associate of Science in Medical Assisting program.

Certification Credential

Although there is no state licensure for medical assistants, as a graduate of a CAAHEP accredited program, students graduating from the Knoxville and Asheville program are qualified to sit for the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) Certification Exam and required to do so. The CMA (AAMA) credential is awarded to individuals who pass the AAMA Certification Exam. Graduates may also choose to take the RMA from the American Medical Technologist (AMT) exam. Students graduating from the Nashville or Atlanta campus are eligible to pursue the National Health Career Association (NHA) credential.

Admission Requirements

All students must minimally meet the requirements for general admission to South College.

Medical Assisting Program Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression
The South College Medical Assisting program has adopted the following performance standards. Admission to and progression in the program are not based on these standards; rather they will be used to assist each student in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary.

If a student believes that he or she cannot meet one or more of the standards without accommodations or modifications, the Medical Assisting program will determine, on an individual basis, whether or not the necessary accommodations or modifications can be reasonably made. In no instance will an accommodation be made that will put other students or patients at increased risk.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Prepare competent entry-level Medical Assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains;
• Prepare Medical Assistants who meet the academic standards as set forth by South College and the requirements of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) as established in the Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for Medical Assistants 2015;
• Produce graduates that have the competence to perform in entry-level positions as a Certified Medical Assistant within the community;
• Prepare graduates that can successfully become employed within the community health care market.

Programs

• Medical Assistant, AS

• Medical Assistant, Certificate

Return to: Schools and Departments