Medical Assisting

Program Goals

To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Assist physicians with the examination of patients by taking and recording vital signs and obtaining medical histories.
2. Explain procedures to patients; prepare patients for examination; assist during the examinations and office surgeries.
3. Help patients in healthy choices in their healthcare; help with resources available in their community.
4. Draw blood for collection and prepare laboratory specimen transport or perform basic CLIA-Waived laboratory tests done in the clinic.
5. Efficiently start, maintain, and discontinue Intravenous Therapy for hydration.
6. Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician orally and parenterally, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy.
7. Perform EKG’s, spirometry, remove sutures, and change dressings.
8. Perform clerical duties such as answer telephones, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, code procedures and office visits, fill out insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handle billing and bookkeeping.
9. Work proficiently with electronic health records and practice management.

Retention, Placement, Graduate/Employer Outcomes, and National Exam Passage

The medical assisting program at Idaho State University has a five-year average of 92% for job placement for the years 2018-2022.

*Student Retention statistics are based on admission cohorts, and Job Placement, Exam Participation/Passage are based on graduate year.