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Associate of Science in Medical Assisting

Medical Assistants are the only allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians’ offices, clinics, and group practices. These multi-skilled personnel can perform administrative and clinical procedures. Physicians value this unique versatility more and more, as managed care necessitates the need to contain costs and manage human resources efficiently. Medical Assistants are trained allied health professionals who work primarily in physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, but also in hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Medical Assistants are trained to perform clinical back office procedures and administrative tasks. In contrast to most other allied health professionals who work in inpatient hospital settings, Medical Assistants, work primarily in outpatient clinics under the direct supervision of a physician. One portion of his or her training that concentrates on administrative medical assisting provides suitable background for employment in health maintenance organizations, home health care organizations, and nursing homes. Their training as clinical medical assistants creates a well-rounded Medical Assistant that can perform a variety of tasks both administrative and clinical. The most common task performed by the medical assistant is recording patient history and personal information, measuring vital signs (such as blood pressure), helping the physician with patient examinations, giving patients injections or medications as directed by the physician, scheduling patient appointments, drawing and preparing blood samples for laboratory tests, and entering patient information into medical records. Once a student has successfully completed the Medical Assisting Program, he or she will be prepared to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) national certification examination through American Medical Technologists (AMT). The Guam Community College is an affiliated partner with the American Medical Technologist (AMT).

10700 West Higgins Rd, Suite 150
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 847.823.5169
Fax: 847.823.0458

With the exception of enrollment in MS101 Introduction to Medical Assisting, admission to the Medical Assisting program is required before enrollment in any Medical Assisting technical requirement course. Admission to the Medical Assisting program includes:
 
  • Advisement from Allied Health faculty.
  • Completion of English and Mathematics Placement Tests with minimum scores or completion of English and mathematics development courses and attainment of passing scores.
  • Health Clearance, which includes physical immunization (PPD, Hep B, 1, 2, 3).

Note: The student must have a “C” or better in all courses to receive a certificate in Medical Assisting. Students must pass each course with a “C” or better to continue toward the next course in the program. Those students who do not successfully complete a core technical of related technical requirement course will have to wait a minimum of one year for reentry. For further information, please refer to the Medical Assistant Program Handbook.

Pre-requisite courses are not required for program entry, but must be completed for approval for entry into the program learning group or cohort.  When the student enters the learning group, he/she will begin the Medical Assisting Program.
Other Prerequisite:
 
  • Health clearance to include physical and immunizations- PPD, with the addition of a Hepatitis B vaccine or declination form.
  • Police and court clearance will be required for acceptance into the Medical Assistant cohort.


Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

Upon successful completion of the AS in Medical Assisting program, students will be able to:
 
  1. Describe legal and ethical principles that affect the role of a medical assistant.                          
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in administrative medical office procedures.
  3. Demonstrate proficiency in clinical procedures.
  4. Perform medical laboratory procedures.
 
General Education Requirements
Course Course Name Credits
English (Choose 1)
EN110A Freshman Composition with Instructional Lab 4
EN110 Freshman Composition 3
Course Course Name Credits
MA___ Mathematics Requirement 3-4

 
Literacy for Life Requirement 3

 
Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement 3-4

 
Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement 3
HL190 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals 4
Major Requirements
Course Course Name Credits
HL120 Medical Terminology 2
HL131 Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers 1
HL150 Study of Diseases 3
HL201 Medical Law and Ethics 3
HL202 Nutrition 3
HL252 Pathology for Health Professions 3
MS125 Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical 1
MS101 Introduction to Medical Assisting 3
MS120 Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory 3
MS121 Clinical Medical Assistant: Laboratory 2
MS140 Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory 2
MS141 Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory 2
MS145 Administrative Medical Assisting: Clinical 1
MS160 Introduction to Pharmacology 2
MS161 Administration of Medications: Laboratory 1
MS180 Introduction to Clinical Laboratory 2
MS210 Medical Assisting Critique 1
MS220 Medical Assisting Specialties 3
MS225 Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical 1
MS292 Medical Assisting Practicum 5
Program Total 63-66
 

Course Sequence by Semester
Year 1
Semester 1 Semester 2
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
EN110/EN110A Freshman Composition 3-4 MS101 Introduction to Medical Assisting 3
MA___ Mathematics Requirement 3-4 MS140 Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory 2
HL150 Study of Diseases 3 MS141 Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory 2
CS___ Literacy for Life Requirement 3 MS145 Administrative Medical Assisting Clinical 1
HL190 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals 4 HL131 Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers 1
      HL120 Medical Terminology 2
      HL202 Nutrition 3
Total 16-18  Total 14
Year 2
Semester 3 Semester 4
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
HL201 Medical Law and Ethics 3 MS120 Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory 3
MS160 Introduction to Pharmacology 2 MS121 Clinical Medical Assistant: Laboratory 2
MS161 Administration of Medications: Laboratory 1 MS 125 Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical 1
  Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement 3-4 MS220 Medical Assisting Specialties 3
  Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement 3 MS225 Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical 1
 Total 12-13  Total 10
Year 3
Semester 5  
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
MS180 Introduction to Clinical Laboratory 2      
MS210 Medical Assisting Critique 1      
MS292 Medical Assisting Practicum 5      
HL252 Pathology for Health Professions 3      
 Total 11  Total  
Program Total 63-66
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