Department of Medical Assisting

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.

Program Overview

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. Students may choose a hybrid design (Onground campuses - 9 month design) or a fully online design (Online - 6 month design)

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 curriculum does not train for employment in medical laboratories either in the state of Tennessee or any other state.

Occupational Risks

Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards as practitioners can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.

As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a Medical Assistant, and those hazards include the following:

Exposure to infectious diseases
Sharps injuries
Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
Chemical and drug exposure
Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
Latex allergies
Stress

At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients. Medical Assisting programs at South College include instructions to students about the hazards that they may face in the profession and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

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.

Issue	Standard	Examples of Necessary Activities (not all inclusive)
Critical Thinking	Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment	Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations and recognize emergency situations
Interpersonal	Interpersonal communication skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and educational backgrounds	Establish rapport with patients, clients, and colleagues
Communication	Knowledge of the English language sufficient to comprehend and successfully communicate orally and in writing	Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, interpret and document completion of medical orders, and respond to patient/client concerns
Mobility	Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces	Move around in patients’ rooms, workspaces, and treatment areas and administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Motor Skills	Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective care	Calibrate and use equipment, position patients/clients, perform venipunctures and injections, and enter data electronically
Hearing	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs	Hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, auscultatory sounds, and cries for help
Tactile	Tactile ability sufficient for performing physical assessment and procedures	Perform palpation, functions of physical examination, and/or therapeutic intervention
Visual	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for patient care	Observe patient/client responses and identify differences in shades of color to evaluate lab test results

Programs

Associate of Science

Certificate

Asheville Campus

Knoxville Campus

Knoxville Parkside

Nashville Campus

Atlanta Campus

Online

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