Medical Assistants (MAs) are healthcare professionals who help medical providers. Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative duties in healthcare settings, including: Assisting with patient examinations, taking medical histories and recording vital signs, performing basic medical procedures and treatments, scheduling appointments and managing electronic health records, and handling billing and administrative tasks.
Skills Developed
MAs gain skills in patient care, such as assisting with daily activities, obtaining vital signs, providing medical support, patient interaction, phlebotomy, EKG’s, basic medical coding and billing, knowledge of HIPAA and patient privacy, appointment scheduling and coordination, medical record-keeping and documentation, sterilization and infection control, administering injections and immunizations, patient preparation and assisting with exams, basic wound care, and empathy and compassion.
Careers
Medical Clinical Assistant Average Salary $47K
Medical Office Assistant Average Salary $42K
EKG Technician Average Salary $67K
Phlebotomy Technician Average Salary $48K
Registered Nurse Average Salary $90K
"Success isn't about the money you make, it is about the difference you make in people's lives" Michelle Obama
Clinical Medical Assistant is the first semester of a one-year program. Students will develop knowledge and skills that combine the medical and clerical fields. Students will learn skills such as patient exam preparation, assessment of vital signs, routine lab procedures, medical transcription, financial accounting, patient and insurance company billing, and record-keeping. Students will learn Medical Terminology, knowledge of blood-borne pathogens/OSHA regulations, medical asepsis, procedural gloving, patient gowning, positions, measurement of vital signs, and rooming of patients.
Pharmacology for Medical Assisting provides an overview of pharmacology language, abbreviations, systems of measurement and conversions. The Controlled Substances Act, prescriptions, forms of medications, patient care applications, drug classifications/interactions, and safety in drug therapy and patient care are presented. Information regarding the measurement of medications, dosage calculations, routes of administration, and commonly prescribed drugs in the medical office is provided.
Grades: 11-12
Length: 1 Year
Credits: 1.0 CTE/1.0 A&P Science
Concurrent Enrollment: Intro to Medical Terminology (HPR 1038, 2 Credits), Medical Office Administration (MAP 1010, 4 Credits), Pharmacology for Medical Assisting (MAP 1050, 3 Credits), Disease Process and Treatment (HPR 1032, 5 Credits), Pharmacology for Medical Assistants
Advanced Clinical Medical Assistant introduces students to basic routine laboratory skills and techniques for the collection, handling, and examination of laboratory specimens often encountered in the ambulatory care setting. The course also provides hands-on experience with clinical skills required in medical offices, delivering theory and skill presentations that allow students to properly demonstrate techniques for a variety of medical needs. Through guided practice, students apply infection control standards, precision in specimen management, and clinical judgment while preparing for real-world patient care scenarios. This advanced course builds on foundational medical assisting skills and emphasizes accuracy, professionalism, and clinical readiness for the healthcare environment.
Grades: 12
Length: 1 Year
Credit: 1.0 CTE/1.0 A&P Science
Concurrent Enrollment: Medical Assisting Laboratory (MAP 2038, 4 Credits), Medical Assisting Clinical Skills (MAP 2040, 4 Credits), Review for Medical Assistant National Exam (MAP 2069, 2 Credits)
Provides supervised placement in a contracted facility for guided experience in the application of knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom. The student assists with a variety of business and clinical procedures. Students must have permission from the program coordinator to begin the internship, and be 18 years of age before they begin. Positions are non-paid, 180 hours of clinical experience, and may require students to utilize private transportation, as well as complete clinical hours post-graduation.
**Must be 18 years old
Grades: 12
Length: Summer
Credits: 1.0 CTE
Concurrent Enrollment: Medical Assisting Internship (MAP 1083, 4 Credits)
Related Higher Education in Colorado
Regis University: Jesuit-influenced nursing education Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Front Range Community College: Practical nursing certificate, an AAS degree, an LPN to ADN program, and an online RN to BSN option
University of Colorado: Nursing programs, including a BSN & DNP
Metropolitan State University of Denver: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
