Mar 28, 2024  
2015-16 Academic Catalog 
    
2015-16 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Assistant - MEDA.COC


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The STCC Medical Assistant program offers a one-plus-one option. All students who are accepted into the Medical Assisting department will enter the Certificate option for the first year. After successful completion of the certificate requirements students will be eligible to enter the workforce and/or transfer to the associate degree program for one additional year. The one-year Certificate of Completion prepares students to perform routine administrative and clinical skills in a variety of health care settings. Administrative responsibilities may include answering telephones, scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, handling correspondence, billing and bookkeeping. Clinical duties can vary according to state law but typically include activities such as taking medical histories, performing vital signs, preparing and assisting with examinations and procedures, performing venipuncture, recording electrocardiograms and administering injections. Medical Assistants work in variety of settings including physician’s offices, clinics, laboratories and hospitals.

The Medical Assistant program prepares competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains. Medical Assistants are multiskilled 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 a master of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skill requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the into the profession.

Students graduating from the Medical Assisting Certificate Program at Springfield Technical Community College are satisfied with the education they received, as there is an average 98% graduate satisfaction over the past five years.

A supervised, unpaid externship of at least 160 contact hours in an ambulatory setting must be completed. The 3 credit externship component of the program meets beyond the published end of the spring semester and continues to the end of June. Students must be aware that the externship period will require traveling and that they are responsible for their own transportation. Medical Assistant courses are planned in conjunction with the clinical agencies, and may deviate from the college hours. Students will be required to participate in all scheduled laboratory sessions. All students will be required to assume the role of “patient” as well as that of the “medical assistant.”

Springfield Technical Community College’s Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Information can be obtained from:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

25400 US HIghway 19 North, Suite 158

Clearwater, FL 33763

727-210-2350

www.caahep.org 

Minimum Grade Requirements: To continue in the progression of courses offered in the Medical Assistant program, a student must obtain a grade of “C” (73%) or better in all courses. Students not meeting the minimum grade requirement of “C” (73%) will be withdrawn from the program.

Students who complete this program may articulate into the two-year Medical Assistant associate degree program. Graduates of this accredited program are eligible to take the national certification exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment and upon successful completion will earn the credentials; CMA-AAMAE. Graduates may also be eligible to take a national certification exam for Phlebotomists.

For information regarding gainful employment within this field, please Click Here.

Upon successful completion of the requirements for this program, a Certificate of Completion in Medical Assistant will be awarded.

Applying to this Program


All applications for consideration for acceptance into the program should be received by the Admissions Office no later than March 1 of the application year.

All applicants must be high-school graduates or hold a graduate equivalency degree. High school courses in biology and algebra are preferred. Medical Terminology (MED-100 ) is a required course; MED-100 - Medical Terminology 1  and OIT-100 - Basic Keyboarding Skills  are recommended prior to entry into the program. 

Students must achieve the following scores on the STCC placement tests: Math: MAT-081 , English: ENG-101 , Reading: DRG-092  and Keyboarding: OIT-110. 

All accepted students will be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check. The outcome of the CORI could impact a student’s ability to continue in the program.

Applicants must be able to meet the following technical standards: possess motor skills, manual dexterity, normal vision/hearing or device corrected, eye/hand coordination, and skill in the art of oral and written communication.

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program


Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Click here  for information about the re-admission policy and process.

(MEDA.COC) Curriculum


Total (MEDA.COC) Curriculum Program Credits: 29


Notes:


  1. MED-106 /MED-105  must be taken concurrently.
  2. MED-107 /MED-108  must be taken concurrently.
  3. This is a 7-week course consisting of 3 hours of lecture and 36 hours of clinical each week.

Department Personnel


Name Title Office Phone Email
Connie Pettengill Professor/Department Chair 20/302C 413-755-4843 pettengill@stcc.edu
Karolyn Ryan Assistant Professor/Clinical Supervisor 20/302A 413-755-4951 kryan@stcc.edu
Robyn Ledwith Assistant Professor, CMA 20/302K 413-755-4871 RALedwith@stcc.edu

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