Medical Assisting

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession. The increased demand on physicians and hospitals for more detailed and better health care has increased the need for qualified medical assistants.

Students in our Medical Assisting program will gain both administrative and clinical skills that will prepare them to play a pivotal role within the healthcare team. The modern role of a certified/registered medical assistant demands exceptional organizational skills. They must efficiently coordinate both the front office administrative duties as well as the back office clinical environments. Students will gain the administrative knowledge to preform duties such as scheduling procedures and appointments, obtaining insurance authorizations, e-scribing prescriptions, and patient education. Clinical skills include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting the physician with in-office procedures
• Sterilizing exam rooms and instruments
• Suture removal
• Venipuncture
•  Injections
• CLIA waved tests
• Obtaining vitals

Medical Assisting graduates will be eligible to site for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) test through the American Medical Technologists (AMT) accrediting body. Medical Assisting graduates of Belmont College’s 2019 cohort had a 100% pass rate on their RMA exam.

Career Possibilities

Required coursework includes 160-hours of supervised practical experience in various local health facilities. Trained medical assistants will be able to choose from a variety of opportunities such as physician offices, medical clinics, health departments, nursing homes, dentist offices, medical insurance companies, and hospitals.

Graduates of the Medical Assisting program can pursue a position in:

• Physicians’ offices
• Medical clinics
• Health departments
• Nursing homes
• Dentist offices
• Medical insurance companies
• Hospitals

This  program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.  Graduates are eligible to take the certification examination to become a Certified Medical Assistant.

Program Outcomes

1. Apply general knowledge of anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, psychology, and sociology in the care of patients.
2. Implement good human relations skills including effective communication, confidentiality, accuracy, and dependability.
3. Demonstrate competence in clinical procedures including patient histories, vital signs, preparing patients for exams, administering medications, performing point of care testing, and assisting doctors with physicals and minor surgery.
4. Apply quality control measures in following health and safety policies and procedures to prevent illness and injury.
5. Analyze, test, troubleshoot and repair-components of basic computers and diagnostic equipment for point of care testing.
6. Demonstrate basic knowledge of medical business practices including medical coding and billing procedures.