Clinical Medical Assistant

Become a Clinical Medical Assistant to work alongside MDs, PAs, and NPs

The CMA course at Alvin Community College prepares you for an exciting career working alongside primary healthcare providers to provide “hands on” patient care. Clinical medical assistants (CMAs) prepare and assist the patient for examination by using a broad set of skills and knowledge. Medical assistants assist physicians with procedures, perform basic lab tests, administer basic medications, implement treatments, and explain basic care to patients.

Roughly 60% of Medical Assistants work in physician’s offices and 13% work in hospitals. Other roles for Medical Assistants may be assisting chiropractors or optometrists.

CMAs may be tasked with:

• “Rooming” the patient
• Checking vital signs
• Checking vital signs
• Reviewing patient history
• Assisting during exams
• Administering medications
• Collecting specimens
• Sterilizing instruments
• “Chaperoning” in gender-sensitive settings
• Specific activities for the practice setting.

According to indeed.com in July 2011, medical assistant annual salary in Texas averages at $44,000. Numerous jobs are posted for CMAs at “PayScale.com”; “salary.com”; and “monster.com” at this same time.

According to the US Department of Labor statistics in July 2011, the projected increase in Medical Assistant jobs from 2008-2018 will yield a 34% increase during that time period. Salaries profiled by the US DOL suggest that the median range in 2008 for CMAs nationally was $28,300.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/pdf/ocos164.pdf

ACC’s Clinical Medical Assistant program offers a comprehensive learning experience through classroom instruction followed by an off-site externship. Designed for busy adults, classes are held in the evenings or on Saturdays.

After completing the training program, students may choose to become certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT).

Clinical Medical Assistant Course Description

The ACC CMA course was designed to give you both a classroom and hands-on learning experience. It includes 134 hours of lecture as well as a 160-hour externship.

General topics in the course include: basic anatomy and physiology; medical terminology; basic medical diseases; proper communication, documentation and procedure for working with patients; wound care; basic first aid; specimen collection; basic pharmacology and medication administration; basic patient education protocol; how to obtain an EKG; customer service, resume writing and working with difficult individuals.

After successfully passing the classroom component of the course, students will be assigned to an externship site to work alongside a practicing Medical Assistant or nurse to hone new found skills. Students work with the Instructor for proper placement at a location preferable to the student if possible.

Courses Required

Basic Medical Assistant Technology Introduction to medical office operations, equipment, procedures, and human relations skills. Perform the procedures for rooming a patient. Learn to take vital signs, perform treatments, position patient for procedures, collecting and testing specimens, take EKGs, and locate information regarding medications. Must enroll simultaneously in CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, and CEMDCA 1091. Student must pass CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, and CEMDCA 1091 to advance to CEMDCA 1060 (Externship-clinical). Maximum number of absences: 2 classes for course series. TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED.

Essentials of Medical Terminology Define, pronounce, and spell medical terms with the use of medical references as resource tools; use terms in context; build and analyze medical terms; examine word origin and structure through the introduction of prefixes, suffixes, root words, plurals, abbreviations and symbols. Use medical terminology in written and spoken communication. Define medical terminology found in medical records. Must enroll simultaneously in CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, CEMDCA 1091 and CEMDCA 1060. Student must pass CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, and CEMDCA 1091 to advance to CEMDCA 1060 (externship).
PEARLAND CAMPUS

Advanced Medical Assistant Technology The continuation course to Basic Medical Assistant Technology. Identify anatomy and function of the human body and body systems, use proper techniques and safety concepts to administer oral and injectable medications, demonstrate first aid for musculoskeletal injuries, instruct patients in preventive health practices, and assist the physician/primary care providers with examination of the patient. Must enroll simultaneously in CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, CEMDCA 1091, and CEMDCA 1060. Student must pass CEHPRS 1006, CEMDCA 1000, and CEMDCA 1091 to advance to CEMDCA 1060 (clinical).

Externship

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the ACC CMA program, the student must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be at least 18-years-old
• Have a basic understanding of computers and access to email
• Have a current AHA Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certification (offered at ACC) prior to externship
• Have a current negative TB test prior to externship

Some externship sites may require Drug Screens, Background Checks or preparation prior to externing at their facility. The student will be responsible for costs associated with the externship requirements. Those costs are not included in the current tuition because they differ from site to site.

Financial aid is available to qualifying students. Click here to learn more.

 Upcoming Classes:

PEARLAND CAMPUS

Basic Medical Assistant Technology

Course No.                                  Date(s)                         Time                 Day     Room      Instructor

CEMDCA 1000 PC02   03/03/2012 - 03/31/2012   09:00AM - 04:30PM     S         TBA        A Hadley

Fee(s): Tuition IN $400.00  Tuition OD $420.00  Other Fees $100.00

Essentials of Medical Terminology

Course No.                                  Date(s)                       Time                  Day      Room       Instructor

CEHPRS 1006 PC02   04/07/2012 - 04/28/2012  09:00AM - 04:30PM     S           TBA         A Hadley

Fee(s): Tuition IN $400.00  Tuition OD $420.00  Other Fees $5.00

Advanced Medical Assistant Technology

Course No.                                 Date(s)                      Time                    Day       Room        Instructor

CEMDCA 1091 PC02  05/05/2012 - 07/28/2012   09:00AM - 04:30PM     S            TBA          A Hadley

Fee(s): Tuition IN $800.00  Tuition OD $820.00  Other Fees $5.00

Externship - Clinical Medical Assistant

Course No.                                   Date(s)              Time            Day      Room        Instructor

CE114 MDCA 1060                       TBA                   TBA             TBA         TBA             A Hadley

Fee(s): Tuition IN $1,200.00  Tuition OD $1,220.00  Other Fees $20.00
  

To learn more about this ACC program, contact Susan Priest at 281.756.5613 or spriest@alvincollege.edu

To register, please call Continuing Education Workforce Development at 281-756-3787.

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