Medical Assisting

(George County Center)

Fall Entry

Medical Assisting is a multi-skilled allied health profession whose practitioners work primarily in ambulatory settings such as medical offices and clinics. Medical assistants function as members of the health-care delivery team and perform many administrative and clinical procedures. The business administrative duties include scheduling and receiving patients; obtaining patients’ data; maintaining medical records; handling telephone calls, correspondence, reports, and manuscripts; assuming responsibility for office care; and handling insurance matters, office accounts, fees, and collections. The clinical duties vary according to state law and may include preparing patients for examination, obtaining vital signs, taking medical histories, assisting with examinations and treatments, performing routine office laboratory procedures and electrocardiograms, preparing and administering medications and immunizations, sterilizing instruments and equipment for office procedures, and instructing patients in preparation for x-ray and laboratory examinations. Both administrative and clinical duties involve purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment. A medical assistant may also be responsible for personnel and office management.

Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and will earn the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credentialed upon successful completion of the exam.

Program Goals

The goals of the Medical Assisting program include;

To develop a multi-skilled allied health professional who will:

• Work primarily in ambulatory settings, such as medical offices and clinics.
• Perform a variety of business and administrative duties, including but not limited to: scheduling and receiving patients; obtaining and reporting patient data; maintaining medical records; directing various communication methods, such as, (email/phone/fax correspondence, reports, and manuscripts); assuming responsibility for office care; and managing insurance matters, office accounts, fees, and collections.
• Perform clinical duties, such as preparing for patient examinations, obtaining vital signs, documenting medical histories, assisting with examinations and treatments, and performing various laboratory/phlebotomy procedures, based on state laws.
• Perform additional duties involving purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment.
• Develop soft skills such as punctuality, positive attitude, flexibility, initiative, empathy, compassion, professionalism, willingness to learn, adaptability, competence, integrity, confidence, and self-motivation.
• Develop occupational-specific skills, such as dosage calculation, medical terminology, proper techniques for administering medications and injections, proper documentation, communication, computer skills, and multitasking.
• Develop safety practices which adhere to ergonomic principles and standard universal precautions that follow OSHA and HIPPA guidelines.
• Successfully pass the American Association of Medical Assistant (AAMA) Certification to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

Admission Procedure

1. Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Application can be completed online.
2. Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits.
3. Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
4. After successful completion of all academic and entry requirements, the student may submit an Allied Health Application for Program Admission beginning April 15^th of each year. Please meet with a counselor at the George County Center to submit and complete your Medical Assisting program Application Packet.

Application deadline for Fall Entry programs is July 1^st. All test scores, transcripts and required documentation must be received by this date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Late applications may be considered depending upon the availability of program openings.

Academic and Entry Requirements

• Achieve a minimum ACT Reading sub-score of 16 (or COMPASS equivalent = 74 Reading)
• Achieve a minimum ACT Mathematics sub-score of 16 (or COMPASS equivalent = 34 Pre-Algebra or 22 Algebra)
• Attend a Mandatory Pre-Allied Health Orientation Session (Check http://www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/ for current dates & times)
• Hold a current American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers certification

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the Medical Assisting program is based on a point system. Students are awarded points for their required ACT sub-scores (or COMPASS equivalent) and given bonus points for successful completion of BIO 2514  and BIO 2524  based on their achieved grade. Points will also be awarded for successful completion of any other college credit courses which could be used to complete degree requirements for the AAS option. Program enrollment is a floating number which can fluctuate each year based on availability of clinical rotation slots. Students who are selected are also held to the following program policies.

Medical Assisting Program Policies

• Once a program opening has been awarded, the student will be required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police at JD, JC, Perkinston or the George County Campus/Center. MGCCC’s Criminal Background Check Policy can be viewed on-line at www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/
• All Nursing and Allied Health students must submit to substance testing in accordance with the Substance Testing Policy and Procedures for Associate Degree Nursing and Allied Health Programs. The Nursing and Allied Health Program’s substance testing policy can be viewed on-line at www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/.
• A student must be deemed physically and emotionally able to meet the requirements for the Medical Assisting program. A physical examination, immunization records and completed health form, signed by a Medical Physician, is required prior to the first meeting of the program.
• Upon admission to the Medical Assisting Program, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPPA training, CPR certification).