Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 SLCC General Catalog 
    
2017-2018 SLCC General Catalog [**** ATTENTION: YOU ARE VIEWING AN ARCHIVED CATALOG ****]

Medical Assistant: CC (CTE)


Certificate of Completion | 43 credits minimum

Program Division Allied Health
Program Location Jordan Campus, JHS 059
Program Information (801) 957-6200
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advisor Jordan Campus, JHS 047, (801) 957-6215
Health Sciences Admissions JHS 065, (801) 957-6253

Program Faculty
Assistant Professors - Diana L. Carroll, CMA (AAMA), CPC; Diane Robinson CMA (AAMA); Angela Belnap, CMA (AAMA), BS

Program Description
Medical assistants are trained primarily to work in doctors’ offices, clinics or health maintenance organizations. As members of an allied health care profession, the medical assistant’s role is to assist with care and treatment of patients through administrative and clinical procedures.

Students must demonstrate proficiency by passing all courses and competencies required in the program, including successful completion of CPR and first aid certification, before placement in a practicum site and graduation from the program.

Students complete a 200-hour unpaid practicum at a primary health care facility. Students must return all practicum evaluations and hours (records) properly signed by practicum supervisor and student to the practicum coordinator of the Allied Health Medical Assistant Program. Only upon successful completion of the program and practicum with a C (74%) or better and receipt of all practicum evaluations will the student receive the Certificate of Certification.

Career Opportunities
Medical Assistant Program graduates possess entry-level skills in all administrative and clinical practices. Students also receive extensive training in advanced competencies of the multi-skilled practitioner. As a result, graduates are of immediate value to the physician/employer. Emphasis is placed on development and understanding of personal and professional relationships.


Program Entry Requirements

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

  1. Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student. See: http://www.slcc.edu/apply/index.aspx
  2. High School Graduate or equivalent.
  3. For transfer credit, please see Transfer and Articulation Information.
  4. Complete placement exam, or submit current SAT/ACT test scores, if MATH and ENGL course work have not been transferred to SLCC (required before you are able to register for classes that have MATH and ENGL courses as prerequisites). See: www.slcc.edu/testing
  5. Complete program prerequisites courses with a C or better:

NOTE: Students are encouraged to take an ENGL 1010  section that teaches APA referencing. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to submitting application for the Medical Assistant program. It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of prerequisite classes. Prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated class is taken.

PROGRAM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
See the Medical Assistant webpage for essential information regarding completion of program application and additional application requirements at http://www.slcc.edu/medicalassistant/index.aspx. 

  1. Complete online application. Go to mySLCC> Registration> Program Admissions> Health Sciences Program Admissions.
  2. Submit proof of immunizations online. See Medical Assistant Admissions webpage.
  3. Complete background check through SLCC’s authorized vendor. In addition, it will be the responsibility of the student to contact the certification board (AAMA) and seek advice regarding eligibility for certification and requirements needed to progress in this profession if the criminal background check discloses issues of concern.

Estimated Cost for Students
See tuition table at www.slcc.edu/students-future/tuition-fees

See www.slcc.edu/medicalassistant/ for course fees

Estimated Time to Completion
Three semesters; not including pre-requisite courses.

Specialized Accreditation
The Salt Lake Community College, Allied Health Medical Assistant Program, Certificate of Completion is accredited by 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
25400 US Highway 19, North Ste. 158
Clearwater, FL 33763

MAERB (Medical Assisting Education Review Board) has established thresholds for outcome assessments in medical assistant programs accredited by CAAHEP, one of which is successfully passing the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) exam with an overall score of 70% or better. All program graduates will be required to take this exam within five years of completion of the program as mandated by the AAMA for program accreditation.

Program Student Learning Outcomes Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
  1 - Acquire substantive knowledge
2 - Communicate effectively
3 - Develop quantitative literacies
4 - Think critically & creatively
5 - Become a community engaged learner
6 - Work in professional & constructive manner
7 - Develop computer & information literacy
Demonstrate critical thinking based on knowledge and understanding of the Professional Medical Assistant. Apply this knowledge in a healthcare setting by demonstrating competences required cognitively and affectively in anatomy & physiology, applied mathematics, applied microbiology/infection control, effective communications, administrative functions, medical finance, managed care/insurance, procedural and diagnostic coding, healthcare legal issues, protective practices and medical ethical benchmarks as delineated by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Apply and take the national CMA examination within one-year of graduation. 1 - Acquire Substantive Knowledge
Demonstrate critical-reading, writing, speaking, listening, visual understanding common to the healthcare settings: Organizing and presenting ideas and information visually, orally, and in writing according to standard usage; Understanding and using the elements of effective communication in interpersonal, small group, and mass settings. Students will also demonstrate knowledge of cultural differences and diversity and its impact on a patient’s medical care and his/ her compliance with a physician’s instructions. 2 - Communicate Effectively
Applying mathematical theory, concepts, and methods as they pertain to the medical assistant profession program. All students will successfully pass all math competencies and/or tests in the program at 74% or better. The student will be proficient in all competencies required by the AAMA for program accreditation. 3 - Develop Quantitative Literacy
Demonstrate reasoned critical thinking effectively based on available evidence in healthcare settings; Demonstrating effective problem solving; Engaging in creative thinking, expression, and application. Exiting students will perform administrative and clinical skills at or above the stated career entry level minimums. Students are required to pass courses with a 74% or better for all theory courses and 80% or better for practical courses. 4 - Think Critically and Creatively
Engaging in service-learning in the medical assistant 200 hour unpaid practicum. 5 - Civic Engagement
Engaging with others to produce a professional work environment; Interacting with different cultures to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of human differences and medical ethical considerations; Evaluate and act congruent with the standards of professionalism in healthcare to align with the medical assistant profession and the medical profession. 6 - Work Professionally and Constructively
Employ contemporary computer hardware and software to effectively complete college-level assignments; Understand and act upon ethical and security principles with respect to HIPAA and electronic health records and data; Demonstrate entry level proficiency with electronic technology used in the healthcare setting. 7 - Develop Computer and Information Literacy

Advising Notes:


The MA program starts a new cohort of 20 students every Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Students will take MA courses full-time. Students must complete the planned curriculum in sequential order without interruption. Attendance is mandatory for both theory and clinical sections. All MA clinical classes must be successfully completed at 80% or better and MA lecture classes must be successfully completed at 74% or better. Students are allowed two attempts for successful completion of the courses. All students in the MA program must complete a 200 hour practicum without pay after successful completion of all MA courses.

Additional Program Notes


Classes are integrated theory and practical. Students are required to pass both components to receive a grade for medical assistant classes.

The student must complete all course competencies within the required time frame and at a specific degree of accuracy. If the student cannot pass all competencies required by the department, they will be asked to withdraw from the program. 

Students are allowed to take a course two times before they are asked to withdraw from the MA program. 

Students are required to successfully complete all courses before placement into the student’s practicum site.