Medical Assistant
Associate of Arts
Students pursuing programs in the medical office laboratory area are required to complete an Essential Functions form prior to registering for courses
Occupational Major
This major is primarily designed for job preparedness. Students who are considering transferring to a four-year college should be aware that decisions on transferability of courses are made by the four-year colleges and differ from school to school. Students should contact the Transfer Services Office early in their academic program to determine which courses will transfer to the college of their choice.
Health Sciences
Founders Hall 112 • Phone 215-968-8353 (option 3)
Curriculum Code No. 2131
Medical Assistants work in medical practices, clinics, and hospitals. Medical Assistants have cross-training for both administrative and clinical responsibilities. Their administrative duties include keeping patient records, managing financial matters, handling insurance arrangements, processing correspondence, and managing an office. In the clinical setting, the medical assistant prepares and assists in patient examination, records laboratory data, and obtains patients' vital signs.
Prospective students with inadequate preparation should be aware that they may need additional time to acquire the necessary academic background. Prerequisites and co-requisites for the required courses must be followed.
Graduates of this program are able to
- perform basic administrative medical assisting functions including scheduling appointments, coding, managing accounts receivables and payables, and maintaining accounting records;
- perform basic clinical medical assisting functions including preparing and maintaining examination treatment areas, assisting with examinations, procedures and immunizations, collecting and processing specimens, performing diagnostic testing, and applying proper aseptic techniques;
- perform within legal and ethical boundaries; and
- demonstrate effective communication strategies in clinical settings.
MEDA 220-the clinical externship- is scheduled Monday through Friday during the day. There are no weekend or evening clinical site hours. Students must complete a total of 160 hours, with a minimum three-day-a-week availability recommended.
Prior to Externship placement, students must submit (at their own expense):
- Requests for federal and state background checks
- Child Abuse History Clearance Form
- Certification of Health Status
- Certification in CPR: Health Care Provider (AHA-BLS)
- A mandatory 10-panel expanded opiates drug screen to be completed no sooner than 30 days before the start of the externship.
Degree Course Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| ACCT103 Introductory Accounting | 3 |
| BIOL115 Basic Human Anatomy A,C,7 | 3 |
| COLL101 Orientation to College | 1 |
| COMM105 Interpersonal Communication 2,3 | 3 |
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,C,4,5 | 3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,C,2,10 | 3 |
| HITT297 Medical Coding C | 3 |
| HLTH110 Responding to Emergencies 2 | 3 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology D | 3 |
| MEDA140 College Keyboarding/Typing D,9 | 3 |
| MEDA200 Clinical Procedures I C | 3 |
| MEDA201 Clinical Procedures II C | 3 |
| MEDA203 Laboratory Procedures C | 3 |
| MEDA205 Medical Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MEDA215 Medical Administrative Procedures C | 3 |
| MEDA216 Medical Insurance, Billing & Reimbursement C | 3 |
| MEDA220 Medical Assistant Externship C | 4 |
| MGMT120 Business Math A,C,6 | 3 |
| MGMT135 Business Communication A,C,2,4,10 | 3 |
| PSYC110 Introduction to Psychology 2A,C,2,3,8 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities B,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 62 |
Recommended Semester Sequence
The recommended course sequence is designed for full-time students who average 15 credit hours per semester. Students may need more time to complete major requirements based on placement testing. This additional time will entail some adjustments to the sequence recommended.
Fall First Year
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL115 Basic Human Anatomy A,C,7 | 3 |
| COLL101 Orientation to College | 1 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology D | 3 |
| MEDA140 College Keyboarding and Document Processing D,9 | 3 |
| MGMT120 Business Math A,C,6 | 3 |
| PSYC110 Introduction to Psychology A,C,2,3,8 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring First Year
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,C,4,5 | 3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,C,2,10 | 3 |
| MEDA215 Medical Administrative Procedures C | 3 |
| HITT297 Medical Coding C | 3 |
| MGMT135 Business Communication A,C,2,4,10 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Fall Second Year
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM105 Interpersonal Communication 2,3 | 3 |
| HLTH110 Responding to Emergencies 2 | 3 |
| MEDA200 Clinical Procedures I C | 3 |
| MEDA205 Medical Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MEDA216 Medical Insurance, Billing & Reimbursement C | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring Second Year
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| ACCT103 Introductory Accounting | 3 |
| MEDA201 Clinical Procedures II C | 3 |
| MEDA203 Laboratory Procedures C | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities B,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
Summer Second Year
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| MEDA220 Medical Assistant Externship C | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 4 |
A Placement testing required.
B Consult the list of courses approved for this subcategory.
C Course requires prerequisite.
D Open to Credit by Examination.
1 Satisfies Arts/Humanities.
2 Satisfies Critical Thinking.
3 Satisfies Diversity.
4 Satisfies Information Literacy.
5 Satisfies Oral Communication.
6 Satisfies Quantitative Literacy.
7 Satisfies Scientific Literacy.
8 Satisfies Social Sciences.
9 Satisfies Technological Competence.
10 Satisfies Writing.