Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Required course which fulfills a portion of the curriculum for the Certificate in Medical Assisting.
The extent of transferrability 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 patients 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 therapeutic, respectful, and professional communication techniques.
5. Demonstrate professionalism with patient interviews, and interactions. 
6. Describe the Patient Centered Medical Home model and how it relates to patient-centered interactions. 
7. Apply patient-centered communication techniques during patient interviews.
8. Demonstrate the "teach-back" approach when performing patient education.
9. Demonstrate proper documentation and charting in the patient's medical record.

Course work and activities include: 

• LearnSmart textbook chapter assignments on McGraw Hill Connect
• Exams and weekly quizzes 
• Group activities and small group discussions
• Mock patient interviews and peer evaluations 
• Faculty facilitated discussions 
• Videos and films relevant to course content 

Students will demonstrate by either assignment, in-class activity or exam the following in this course:

Anatomy and Physiology: 

• Describe basic principles of first aid as they pertain to the ambulatory healthcare setting. 
• Incorporate critical thinking skills when performing patient assessment.
• Incorporate critical thinking skills when performing patient care.
• Show awareness of a patient's concerns related to procedure being performed. 

Concepts of Effective Communication:

• Use feedback techniques to obtain patient information including: reflection, restatement, and clarification. 
• Respond to nonverbal communication. 
• Use medical terminology correctly and pronounced accurately to communicate information to providers.
• Demonstrate empathy, active listening, and nonverbal communication.
• Demonstrate the principles of self-boundaries.
• Demonstrate respectful for individual diversity including; gender, race, religion, age, economic status, appearance.
• Explain to a patient the rationale for performance of a procedure. 

Infection Control:

• List major types of infectious agents.
• Describe the injection cycle including
  • Infectious agent
  • Reservoir 
  • Susceptible host
  • Means of transmission
  • Portals of entry
  • Portals of exit
• Define the following as practiced within an ambulatory care setting; medical and surgical asepsis.
• Identify methods of controlling growth of microorganisms.
• Define the principles of standard precautions.
• Define personal protective equipment for; body fluids, secretions, blood, non-intact skin, and mucus membranes.
• Identify Center for Disease Control regulations that impact healthcare practices.
• Recognize the implications for failure to comply with Center of Disease Control regulations in healthcare settings. 

Protective Practices:

• Identify: safety signs, symbols, and labels
• Identify safety techniques that can be used in responding to accidental exposure to blood, bodily fluids, needle sticks, and chemicals 
• Discuss fire safety issues in an ambulatory healthcare environment
• Describe fundamentals principles for evacuation of a healthcare setting
• Discuss protocols for disposal of biological chemical materials
• Describe the purpose of the MSDS sheets in a healthcare setting
• Identify critical elements of an emergency plan for response to a natural disaster 

Nutrition:

• Describe dietary nutrients including; carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, electrolytes, vitamins, fiber, and water.
• Define the function of dietary supplements.
• Identify the special dietary needs for: weight control, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, lactose sensitivity, gluten-free, and food allergies.
• Instruct a patient according to patient's special dietary needs.
• Show awareness of patient's concerns regarding dietary change.

Applied Mathematics:

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic math computations.
• Apply mathematical computations to solve equations.
• Define basic unit of measurement in both metric and household system.
• Convert among measurement systems.
• Identify abbreviations and symbols used in calculating medication dosages.
• Analyze healthcare results as reported in graphs and tables. 

Students completing this course will satisfy core curriculum requirements from the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), meet standards of accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP):
 

Cognitive CAAHEP Core Curriculum

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

I.C.8.            Identify common pathology related to each body system including: a. signs; b. symptoms; c. etiology

I.C.9.            Analyze pathology for each body system including: a. diagnostic measures; b. treatment modalities

I.C.10.          Identify CLIA waived tests associated with common diseases

APPLIED MATHEMATICS

II.C.1.           Demonstrate knowledge of basic math computations

II.C.2.           Apply mathematical computations to solve equations

II.C.3.           Define basic units of measurement in: a. the metric system; b. the household system

II.C.4.           Convert among measurement systems

II.C.5.           Identify abbreviations and symbols used in calculating medication dosages

II.C.6.           Analyze healthcare results as reported in: a. graphs; b. tables

INFECTION CONTROL

III.C.1.          List major types of infectious agents

III.C.2.          Describe the infection cycle including: a. the infectious agent; b. reservoir; c. susceptible host; d. means of transmission; e. portals of entry; f. portals of exit

III.C.3.          Define the following as practiced within an ambulatory care setting; a. medical asepsis, b. surgical microorganisms

III.C.4.          Identify methods of controlling the growth of microorganisms

III.C.5.          Define the principles of standard precautions

III.C.6.          Define personal protective equipment (PPE) for: a. all body fluids, secretions and excretions; b. blood; c. non-intact skin; d. mucous membranes

III.C.7.          Identify Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) regulations that impact healthcare practices

NUTRITION

IV.C.1.         Describe dietary nutrients including: a. carbohydrates; b. fat; c. protein; d. minerals; e. electrolytes; f. vitamins; g. fiber; h. water

IV.C.2.         Define the function of dietary supplements

IV.C.3.         Identify the special dietary needs for: a. weight control; b. diabetes; c. cardiovascular disease; d. hypertension; e. cancer; f. lactose sensitivity; g. gluten-free; h. food allergies

PROTECTIVE PRACTICES

XII.C.1.         Identify: a. safety signs; b. symbols; c. labels

XII.C.2.         Identify safety techniques that can be used in responding to accidental exposure to: a. blood; b. other body fluids; c. needle sticks; d. chemicals

XII.C.3.         Discuss fire safety issues in an ambulatory healthcare environment

XII.C.4.         Describe fundamental principles for evacuation of a healthcare setting

XII.C.5.         Describe the purpose of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) in a healthcare setting

XII.C.6.         Discuss protocols for disposal of biological chemical materials

XII.C.8.         Identify critical elements of an emergency plan for response to a natural disaster or other emergency

Psychomotor CAAHEP Core Curriculum

NUTRITION

IV.P.1.          Instruct a patient according to patient’s special dietary needs

Affective CAAHEP Core Curriculum

INFECTION CONTROL

III.A.1.          Recognize the implications for failure to comply with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) regulations in healthcare settings

NUTRITION

IV.A.1.          Show awareness of patient’s concerns regarding a dietary change

SUBJECT MATTER, CONCEPTS, THEMES, ISSUES (broad areas):
The following list outlines the concepts, themes, and skills for this course. 

ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY CONCEPTS

Brief introduction to identifying common pathologies related to each body system including signs, symptoms and etiology, in addition to analyzing pathology for each body system including diagnostic measures and treatment modalities.  Gain knowledge in CLIA-waived tests associated with common diseases including strep throat, urinary tract infection, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and mononucleosis.  Identify risk factors for disease, including socioeconomic status.

APPLIED MATHEMATICS
Demonstrate knowledge of basic math computations to solve equations and calculate medication dosages, in addition to defining basic units of measurement in different measuring systems, conversions, using abbreviations and symbols, and analyzing healthcare results as report in graphs and tables.

INFECTION CONTROL

Gain knowledge of the infection cycle including

• Infectious agent
• Reservoir host
• Portal of exit
• Means of transmission
• Portal of entry
• Susceptible host

Identify methods of controlling the growth of microorganisms using medical asepsis and surgical asepsis (sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization).  Identify OSHA regulations regarding Bloodborne Pathogens Compliance Training, principles of standard precautions, personal protective equipment and exposure control plan, and how concepts are applied in the healthcare environment.  Gain knowledge of sterilization techniques including steam sterilization concepts, autoclave equipment, surgical instruments, packaging for sterilization, and creating and maintaining a sterile field. Identify CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) regulations which impact healthcare practices.

NUTRITION

Gain knowledge of dietary nutrients including carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, electrolytes, vitamins, fiber and water.  Identify the function of dietary supplements.  Brief introduction to identifying the special dietary needs for patients with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, lactose sensitivity, gluten-free and common food allergies.

PROTECTIVE PRACTICES

Develop knowledge of healthcare environment safety concepts regarding body fluid exposure, chemical exposure, fire or natural disaster response, and patient health emergency situations.  Identify safety equipment and supplies and how they relate to the Medical Assistant’s role in a healthcare environment.  Discuss safety data sheets and protocols for disposal of biological chemical materials.  Identify fire safety issues and critical elements of an emergency plan including evacuation principles.

PROCEDURES AND EXAMINATIONS

Develop knowledge and skills of specific examinations and procedures in which Medical Assistants’ perform or assist, including vital signs, anthropometric measurements, visual acuity testing, color vision deficiency screening, pulmonary function tests, electrocardiography, orthopedic and wound care, medication & immunization injections (via intramuscular, subcutaneous or intradermal route).  Develop knowledge regarding providing patient instruction, use of equipment, troubleshooting errors, reducing artifacts, reducing potential complications, and understanding test results.

SPECIALTY CARE

Develop knowledge of clinical functions and concepts in obstetrics, gynecology, cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, orthopedics, wound care.  Identifying common risks, signs and symptoms disease, and common pathologies treated by a variety of specialists.  Develop knowledge regarding clinical skills performed to assist patients and physicians in various care practices, including assisting with minor office surgeries.

IMMUNIZATION TRAINING
Provide students with the knowledge and skills required for properly forecasting immunization schedules, storage and handling, administration, documentation, and patient/parent communication and instruction.