Medical Assisting

Medical assisting is a versatile health care profession that prepares an individual to perform various clinical and administrative functions in a health care facility. These functions, performed under the direction of a licensed physician and/or licensed physicians assistant, are completed while examining and treating patients. Medical assistants are responsible for performing a variety of the tasks that enable a health care facility to properly treat its patients. These tasks include, but are not limited to: preparing treatment rooms for patients’ examinations; scheduling appointments and maintaining medical records; interviewing patients, measuring vital signs, weight and height, and then recording the information; administering injections, performing venipuncture, electrocardiograph (EKG), and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests; and completing insurance forms. The exact duties that a medical assistant performs are unique to the setting in which she or he is employed. Industries that employ medical assistants include doctors’ offices/clinics, urgent care centers, ambulatory care facilities, and osteopathic offices/clinics.

The medical assisting certificate is a three-semester program. The final semester includes both a review course in order to prepare for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certified Medical Assistant Exam and a clinical/externship. Many clinical facilities will require students to successfully pass a background check. The clinical allows the student to work in a health care setting to apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities that she or he has learned and to gain practical experience as well.