MA 180 - Medical Office Clinical Procedures

Credits: 4
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Lab Contact Hours: 3
Description: This course is designed to introduce the student to all clinical aspects of working in an ambulatory healthcare setting. The following is a short list of what students will learn in this course: examination techniques including vital signs, ECG, spirometry, medication administration, minor surgery procedures, injections, sterilization procedures, how to perform medical tests, first aid, and special dietary needs. Students will spend an additional three hours per week in a lab setting. Students practice live testing on each other in this course.

Note: Students must begin MA 196  within six months of completing MA 175  and MA 180.

Prerequisites: HIT 104  with a minimum grade of 2.0. MA 140  with a minimum grade of 2.0. MA 115 with a minimum grade of 2.0. CIS 120  with a minimum grade of 2.0. MATH 045   with a minimum grade of 2.0, or overall high school GPA of 1.8 or higher, a minimum score of 16 ACT Math, 22 SAT Math, 60 CPT Math, or 220 NGA Quantitative Reasoning Algebra and Statistics. ENG 050  with a minimum grade of 2.0, or an overall high school GPA of 1.8 or higher, or a minimum score of 15 ACT English, 22 SAT Writing and Language, 51 CPT Sentence Skills, or 237 NGA Writing. COLLS 050  with a minimum grade of 2.0, or overall high school GPA of 1.8 or higher, or a minimum score of 15 ACT English, 22 SAT Writing and Language, 57 CPT Sentence Skills, or 237 NGA Writing.
Corequisites: HIT 114  if not taken previously. MA 155  if not taken previously. MA 175 .
Recommended: None.

Course Category: Occupational
This Course is Typically Offered: Fall, Winter
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Course Competencies

Perform patient screening following established protocols.
Accurately measure vital signs.
Document measurements on a growth chart.
Prepare items for autoclave.
Participate in a telehealth interaction with a patient.
Document all patient encounters.
Educate patients on identified special dietary needs.
Simulate various medical tests, e.g., ECG’s, and pulmonary function test.
Perform First Aid procedures.
Identify the rules of medication administration.
Convert among measurement systems.
Calculate proper dosages for medication administration.
Select proper sites for medication administration.
Administer medications, all routes, excluding IV.
Perform sterilization procedures.
Incorporate critical thinking skills when interacting with patients.
Apply effective communication skills in all interactions.
Support patients and providers before, during, and after treatment.
Complete an incident report related to an error in patient care.
Identify the structure and function of each body system.

Note: Educational Competencies, mandated for Medical Assistants by the accrediting body MAERB, will be supplied in class.