Program Description
The Clinical Medical Assistant program provides training for those who wish to work in the clinical areas of health care and enables students to gain knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level employment in a healthcare setting. Medical Assistants play an important role in performing clinical and administrative tasks that support the work of physicians and other healthcare professionals. With changes in the healthcare industry and government policies and regulations, the need for well-trained Medical Assistants has grown significantly.
Students will develop skills that focus on direct patient care and typical clinical and laboratory skills, such as:
- Minor clinical procedures
- ECG
- Phlebotomy
- Injections
- Lab screenings
- Universal Precautions
- OSHA regulations
- HIPAA requirements
- Confidentiality
- Legal aspects applicable to any allied health environment
Duties of medical assistants vary from office to office depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, medical assistants are usually “generalists,” handling both administrative and clinical duties. They report directly to an office manager, physician, or other healthcare practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of a department administrator/practice manager.
Job Outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm
Program Details
This program typically lasts 6 months. Upon successful completion of this course, each student will have the knowledge and training to enter the field of Clinical Medical Assistant at the entry level. This program includes courses in patient care, ECG, Phlebotomy, assisting with physical examinations, first aid and emergency procedures. Successful completion will allow the student to take an important role in the clinical operations of a doctor’s office, ambulatory care center, nursing home, clinic, or other medical facility.
Length: 760 Clock Hours; 36 Instructional Weeks
Credential Awarded: Certificate
Mode of Delivery: Residential
Our Medical Assistant Program program utilizes both didactic and laboratory teaching methods followed by clinical experiences. All classes are taught on-site, by instructors who are highly qualified in their areas. The use of medical equipment gives students both the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for success.
Some of the resources and equipment available for students:
- Library, including Textbooks, Reference Books, Medical Journals
- Stress Test Machine
- ECG Machines
- Spirometers
- Specimen collection kits
- Venipuncture Training Simulation Kit
- Vital Sign Monitors
- Clinical Centrifuge
- Patient Lifts and other Assistance Equipment
An externship course is included in this program to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations in healthcare setting. Students are required to complete the required externship hours and other related learning activities prior to graduation.
Graduates are eligible to take National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.
Norcross Institute offers a variety of personalized career services to current students and graduates. We work directly with employers to help provide exposure to our highly qualified students and graduates. Our goal is to align current students and graduates with employers and open positions that match their qualifications through our Employer Partnership Program.
We offer a range of job search strategies such as:
- Interview tips & techniques
- Information about career fields and employment outlook
- Resumé and cover letter assistance
- Individual career coaching targeted specifically to the student and his or her goals
- Assist graduates in job placement with various hospitals
We also offer help on how to utilize various online employment websites for students and graduates, including E-Hire, which can send students job leads within a 50-mile radius of their zip code, specific to their certification. Although NIAH is devoted to helping students in job placement, the school cannot guarantee jobs to graduates upon program completion or upon graduation.