Highlands College

Medical Assistant, A.A.S.

• View Catalog Information »

Program

Medical Assistants are trained in both front office administrative skills as well as and back office clinical skills to assist healthcare practitioners with administering to the needs of patients.

Administrative skills include:

• Transcription;
• Patient reception and scheduling;
• Coding;
• Billing

In the back office, medical assistants work under supervision to:

• Take medical histories;
• Administer medications and injections;
• Assist with minor office surgery;
• Draw blood;
• Perform diagnostic tests and office lab procedures;
• Sterilize instruments;
• Maintain medical equipment.

Medical assistants must understand the principles of medical ethics and medical legal issues facing healthcare providers.

Clinical Internship

Clinical internship with this program has specific requirements. Students must:

• Pass a core group of courses with at least a C, including course Essentials of Disease and Conditions, HLTH 202;
• Show proof of freedom of TB annually;
• Complete three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine;
• Update TDaP status;
• Complete BLS for Healthcare Providers and First Aid training.

Additional Requirements

Students are required to purchase scrub uniforms and a stethoscope. Lab and program fees are assessed to cover malpractice insurance, lab supplies and other costs.

Graduation from the medical assistant program requires a C or better in the following courses:

• Clinical Procedures I and II;
• Externships I and II;
• Pharmacology.