Cuyahoga Community CollegeMedical Assisting
Area of Study: Medical Assisting
Degree/Certificate:
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assisting
Certificate of Proficiency in Medical Assisting
About Medical Assisting
Medical assistants (MA) perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep physicians’ offices and clinics running smoothly.
Administrative Duties
- Coordinate billing
- Greet patients
- Handle correspondence
- Schedule appointments
- Update medical records
Clinical Duties
- Assist doctor during appointments
- Perform basic laboratory tests
- Prepare patients for examination
- Take patient medical history
- Other responsibilities as assigned
This multi-skilled professional is in high demand, as there is a predicted surge in the number of physicians' offices and outpatient care facilities due to technological advancements and the growing number of elderly Americans needing medical treatment. Trends also show a shift in health care toward a more ambulatory environment, and it is in this type of environment that the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) will be needed.
OUTCOME: The five-year weighted average for Retention/Graduation of the Certificate of Proficiency in the Medical Assisting Program at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH is 91%, based on the most recent Annual Report FOrm submitted to the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Upon successful completion of the program a student will complete 210 hours of a supervised, non-paid practicum.
Medical Assisting (MA) Program
The MA program at Cuyahoga Community College was the first such program to be accredited in Ohio and one of the first five to receive accreditation in the United States. The program includes courses that range from communication skills to ethical and legal standards of medical practice. Students are required to complete a supervised, non-paid practicum which provides hands-on experience that will prove valuable in the workplace. Graduates are eligible to take the national CMA examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Program Highlights
- Transferable skills to enter health care profession
- Eligibility to receive prestigious CMA (AAMA) gold-standard credential offered by the AAMA
- Nationally recognized and accredited program
- Full- or part-time course scheduling
- Enrollment openings and scholarships for eligible students
- Preparation to make a difference in the lives of others
Program Topics
| Administrative procedures | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation | Clinical medical assisting | Human biology |
| Medical office laboratory procedures | Medical terminology | Nutrition | Phlebotomy/blood collection |
| Physician office coding | Reimbursement for physician services |
Job Titles/Categories
| Certified medical assistant | Medical assistant – ambulatory care facility office |
Medical assistant – medical office |
Medical assistant – outpatient care facility |
|
Medical assistant – physician office |
Patient liaison | Patient-centered medical home team member |