Medical Assisting

Overview

Medical assistants assist physicians in private medical offices, clinics, and hospital outpatient clinics. They assist with patient care and perform routine office laboratory and diagnostic tests (clinical medical assisting), as well as business procedures (administrative medical assisting). Duties often overlap with those performed by medical secretaries, physician assistants, and nurses.

Certification
Graduates of either the certificate or the degree program are eligible to take the national certification examination of the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Qualities Needed
Aptitudes and interests that may be helpful include an interest in health care and helping people. Personableness, manual dexterity, compassion, sensitivity, ability to follow instructions and work neatly and accurately are equally important.

The MEDAS Program
The Medical Assisting program provides instruction in both clinical and administrative medical assisting, offering both the Certificate of Achievement and the Associate of Science degree. The curriculum consists of didactic studies (most major courses are now delivered over the internet), on-campus lab practice, and supervised practice in affiliated offices and clinics. New students are accepted in both fall and spring semesters.