Medical Assisting

Program Description

Medical Assistants help physicians examine and treat patients and perform routine tasks to keep offices running smoothly. The duties of Medical Assistants vary depending on the location and size of the practice and the physician's specialty. Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, explaining treatment procedures and educating patients, preparing patients for examination, assisting during the examination, collecting blood and other specimen samples, and performing basic lab procedures on those specimens, assist in minor office surgeries, and complete tests such as electrocardiogram, urinalysis, holter monitor, and spirometry to name a few.

This program takes the students through all specialty areas such as orthopedics, cardiology, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dermatology and gastroenterology. You will be dealing with the public, scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims, bookkeeping, etc. Your duties may also include management responsibilities as assigned by your employer which include a wide variety of clerical tasks. You may be employed by a medical office, multiple specialty clinic, public health agency, Urgent or emergency care clinic or similar setting, medical labs, insurance companies, and medical billing agencies.

Graduates of the Medical Assisting Program are eligible to sit for the AAMA Certifying exam to be awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential. The following chart shows National Exam outcomes from the past five years.

Graduates Employed or Continuing Education Five-Year Average

87%

Average Idaho Income

$36,240 - $45,000

Program Overview

Program accepts students in August and January
Program offers both seated and online options
Typical classroom hours vary dependent on semester
Program admits 20 students each year
Program is located in the Owen Redfield Complex, Building #42, 1151 Red Hlll Rd
The Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org

Degree Options

ISU’s Medical Assisting Program has two paths to choose from. One is an Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC). The other an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. After successfully completing the requirements for the ITC, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to sit for the AAMA National Exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant through the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Graduates of the ITC option will have the opportunity to continue their education in pursuit of the AAS. This degree will segue nicely from the AAS to a bachelor’s in health science, or Bachelor of Applied Science degree. Our program provides lab equipment and supplies that are based on industry standards and is taught by highly experienced instructors.

Many, but not all, of the MA core classes will have both a seated, and an online option. Students who choose the online option for clinical courses will be required to be present in the lab periodically to complete competency check-offs.

Intermediate Technical Certificate: Medical Assisting (1 year)