Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Required course which fulfills a portion of the curriculum for the Certificate in Medical Assisting.
The extent of transferability or credit allowed for the course would be dependent upon the institution and the program to which the student is transferring.
Students must also enroll in Medical Office Clinical Procedures Lab (MA 124) concurrently for laboratory practice of materials covered in this course.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Apply techniques that ensure sterility and quality control in a medical setting.
2. Prepare the patient for physical examinations and procedures, including surgical and diagnostic procedures and assist the medical provider.
3. Use general knowledge of vital signs, documentation, medications, medication administration, phlebotomy, specimen collection, spirometry, immunizations and EKGs in a medical setting.
4. Apply communication techniques and behaviors in the clinical setting that are therapeutic, respectful, and professional.
5. Apply professionalism in patient interview skills and interactions with health care professionals and the general public.

6. Apply the Patient Centered Medical Home model to the patient interactions and care.

Students will be able to perform clinical duties as related to the medical office. Students will also be able to communicate effectively with during patient encounters.  Students will be able to apply effective communication strategies when providing patient education.  
 

SUBJECT MATTER, CONCEPTS, THEMES, ISSUES (broad areas):
The following list outlines the concepts, themes, and issues you need to understand and be able to use appropriately. You will have the opportunity
to demonstrate your understanding in written and oral form, individually and in groups.

1.0  GENERAL PREPARATION FOR EXAM
Develop knowledge and skill to prepare patients for, and assist physicians
in the examination of patients; and to perform basic diagnostic tests. Perform vital signs. Perform correct handwashing, sanitation, and chemical disinfection. Prepare items for autoclaving, scrubbing, gowning, gloving, and surgical assisting . Dispose of biohazardous materials. Practice standard precautions. Perform visual acuity testing with the snellen chart. Perform screening test for color blindness. Perform screening test for audio perceptions. Practice positioning and draping patients for examination. Prepare examination trays and assist the physician as requested.

2.0  DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS
Develop knowledge and skill to prepare for and assist physicians in specified examinations, as performed in various specialties. Practice using and performing spirometry, nebulizer, peak flow meters, and pulse oximeter. Understand how to interpret basic results of the respiratory exam. Present the physician with a clean, accuarate, professional and legible report.

3.0  MINOR SURGERY AND OTHER MINOR OFFICE PROCEDURES
Develop knowledge and skills to prepare patients, and equipment for minor surgery and assist physicians in the operating room, maintaining asepsis, infection and quality control. Understand the importance of cleanliness and asepsis in a medical office. Develop proficiency in hand washing. Gain proficiency in putting on and removing sterile gloves.

4.0  ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
Develop knowledge and skills to perform electrocardiography from the
preparation of the patient to the mounting of a diagnostic tracing. Understand the electrocardiograph, its operation and relationship to the patient. Develpment of proper technique in obtaining electrocardiograms. Develop and understanding of artifacts, how they relate to the electrocardiograph and how to identify and avoid them. Practice recordings of the ECG's so as to present them to the physician in a legible, professional, standardized form and to preserve them in good condition for quick reference in the future.

5.0  EMERGENCIES
Enable the student to identify and treat emergencies in the office and
practice safety in prevention of office emergencies. Understand different policies and procedures, the legal implication and the proper documentation. Students will be able to identify and respond to bleeding/pressure joints, burns, choking, diabetic coma/insulin shock, fractures, poisoning, seizures, shock, stroke, syncope, and multiple types of wounds.

6.0  THERAPY AND PATIENT INSTRUCTION
Develop skills and knowledge to enable students to administer basic physical
therapy modalities and instruct patients as directed by medical providers. Apply sterile dressings. Apply appropriate bandages to finger, hand, foot, arm and leg neatly and with enough tension they will remain in place. Understand the application of ultrasound and application of hydrocollator packs. Understand the administration of immediate care for soft tissue injury. Perform crutch fittings and demonstrate a three-point gait.

7.0   EAR LAVAGE
Provide knowledge so that the student understands the process of a proper ear lavage; including ear anatomy, proper ear position, proper temperature of cleaning substance, potential side effects and damage if done improperly.

8.0  SUPPLIES: ORGANIZATION AND CARE
Provide knowledge and skill so that the student understands the basic concepts of establishing and maintaining a supply inventory of all expendable supplies and equipment in a medical office.

9.0 INJECTIONS and MEDICAL DOSING CALCULATIONS
Provide knowledge and skill to enable students to prepare patients for injections. Provide knowledge and skills to receive a medication order and translate that into correct doses using proper mathematical applications. Identify correct units of measurement and proper documentation. Understand a medical providers order to administer an injection and calculate the proper dose based on what is available and the patients needs. Prepare an injection from an ampule, and single or multiple dose vial. Identify the correct route and site of administration. Administer medication by subcutaneous, intradermal, or intramuscular routes.

10. PATIENT HISTORY INTERVIEW
Provide knowledge to the student to properly communicate and document personal data, chief complaint, past-present-family-social histories, medications and allergies, and review of systems. 

11. PROCESSING SPECIMENS
Provide knowledge to understand Centers for Disease Control Prevention Guidelines, proper labeling, contamination, specimen preservation, and record keeping-documentation.

12. NUTRITION
Provide knowledge on basic principles regarding dietary guidelines, food nutrients, special dietary needs and restrictions.

13.  IMMUNIZATION TRAINING
Provide knowledge on proper forecasting immunization schedules, storage and handling, administration, documentation, and patient/parent communication and instruction.