MEDICAL ASSISTING CERTIFICATE
Educational
Objectives
The Mission of Southwest Health Career Institute is to
provide quality Medical Assisting education in a hands-on environment that will
enable graduates to obtain entry-level employment as a medical assistant in a
medical office, medical clinic, hospital or other healthcare facilities.
Our goal is to partner with the student and the medical community in
developing ongoing communications towards productive and rewarding careers.
Professional Duties
A Medical Assistant performs routine administrative and
clinical tasks to keep health care delivery settings running efficiently and
smoothly. The educationally
qualified assistant is a highly competent individual possessing valuable skills
and knowledge in patient care.
Medical Assistants perform many
administrative and clinical duties. Administrative
duties may include answering telephones, greeting patients, appointment
scheduling, among many others. Clinical duties vary according to state law, and include
taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment
procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting the
physician during examinations. Medical
Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory
tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical
instruments. They instruct patients
about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as
directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone
prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for X-rays, take
electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.
Career Opportunities
Settings offering career opportunities for medical
assistants include: private medical
practices, community health clinics, state and federal health facilities,
nursing homes, as well as the offices of various other health practitioners such
as chiropractors, optometrists, and podiatrists.
Program Specifics
Program Length:
46 weeks
Total Credit Units:
44 quarter credit hours
Total Hours:
736 hours
Credential Earned:
Certificate of Completion
