Medical Assisting Course Descriptions - Southern State Community College





	MEDICAL ASSISTING - MAST MAST 101 Introduction to Medical Assisting 3 credits Introductory level course that includes an orientation survey of the occupation of medical assisting, educational and certification requirements. Course also includes orientation to the use of the laboratory for practice and competency of skills to be gained throughout the medical assisting program. This course will include the competencies of handwashing and vital signs. MAST 110 Medical Data Collection Prerequisites: MAST 101, MAST 115, BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 3 credits This course includes basic interviewing techniques involved in gathering a reliable and accurate medical history. The course also introduces the student to dealing with patients’ emotional reactions to the processes of illness, aging, and death. Through classroom exercises, group discussion, laboratory sessions, and clinical experience, students develop skills needed to provide a supportive and empathetic relationship with clients and family. MAST 111 Medical Administrative Procedures 4 credits This course is designed to introduce the student to general and administrative duties found in a medical office. These include telephone procedures, appointments scheduling, records management, written communications, preparation of medical records, billing, health insurance and professional reports. The course includes office simulations in all these areas as well as lecture, discussion, and lab sessions using interpersonal skills. MAST 115 Medical Terminology 3 credits This course is designed for the student in allied health technology. Includes the principles of building a medical vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on the use of word parts including prefixes, suffixes, and root words used with a combining form to establish medical terms. Course provides an overview of body systems used in conjunction with terminology. Correct spelling, definition and pronunciation of medical terms is stressed. MAST 118 Human Diseases Prerequisites: MAST 115, BIOL 104 and BIOL 114 or by permission 3 credits This course includes basic information about common medical conditions, human diseases, and the disease process. Emphasis will be placed on case management, including diagnostic tests indicated, treatment indicated, and client teaching required. Course content will include documentation of symptoms, patient assessment, and ways to validate a patients’ understanding of their disease and treatment. MAST 125 Clinical Practicum I Prerequisites: MAST 101, MAST 111 and MAST 115 1-2 credits The Medical Assistant Externship Program is a period of directed practice which consists of practical medical assisting experience in a hospital, clinic, or comprehensive family health care facility. MAST 126 Clinical Practicum II Prerequisites: MAST 125 1-2 credits The Medical Assistant Externship Program is a period of directed practice which consists of practical medical assisting experience in a hospital, clinic, or comprehensive family health care facility. MAST 130 Pharmacology I Prerequisite: MAST 111 and MAST 115 3 credits Describes the scope of pharmacology as it relates to the Medical Assisting Profession. Follows the CAAHEP/AAMA accreditation standards in place for Medical Assistants. Introduces the student to drug therapy and pathophysiologic conditions, patient education regarding medications and researching drugs in a drug reference. Course content includes the use, action, side effects, contraindiction, and routes of administration most commonly administered in the medical office. Knowledge and experience is gained through researching of drugs, both generic and trade name, and recording the information on pharmacology index cards. Students are also required to complete worksheets to record medications administered, dispensed, or prescribed during the practicum experience. MAST 140 Medical Assisting Procedures I Prerequisites: MAST 101, MAST 115, BIOL 104, BIOL 111, BIOL 105 and BIOL 112 4 credits Presents the theory and techniques utilized by the medical assistant to perform fundamental skills in a clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on procedures employed in a general medical examination. Includes universal medical asepsis, vital signs, positioning, draping, measurement of height, weight, and recording of this information on the patient record. Also includes the Snellen exam, review of each body system and the exams associated with each, including the eye and ear, the Snellen exam, use of the otophthalma scope and equipment maintenance. MAST 205 Medical Law and Ethics 3 credits Series of lectures and discussions of medical-legal issues. Includes requirements for licensure, certification and registration of medical professionals. Discussion and class exercises relate to the correlation of medical office employees to the public, litigation in the medical workplace, use of consent forms, patient rights and confidentiality, the medical record, and collection of patient accounts. Course includes lecture and discussion. MAST 209 Computer Applications for the Medical Office Prerequisites: CSCI 101 or permission of instructor 3 credits This course is designed to be an interactive, competencybased approach to learning computerized management of a medical office. The student will develop medical office computer skills through the introduction of theory as well as the application of medical office software through the use of The Medical Manager. It includes using the computer to: 1) managae medical accounts, 2) enter patient and guarantors information, 3) insurance and daysheet management, 4) new patients and daysheet management, 5) appointment scheduling, 6) billing and collections, 7) insurance processing, 8) billing and practice management, 9) report printing. In addition, the student will be introduced to resume preparation using word processing as well as the resume cover letter and interview preparation and skills. MAST 212 Medical Transcription I 4 credits Introductory course in medical transcription including the use of transcription equipment, computer word processing, formatting and use of appropriate medical forms. Includes ethical and legal issues for the medical transcriptionist as well as transcription guidelines for punctuation, capitalization, proofreading and making corrections, and use of references. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, correct spelling, and punctuation of chart notes and letters with an introduction to the history and physical report and hospital discharge summary. MAST 214 Advanced Medical Terminology and Transcription Prerequisites: MAST 115 and 212 3 credits This course is designed for the student in Allied Health Technology at the advanced level. Emphasis is placed on a system of word analysis by building and extending the medical vocabulary and expanding medical transcription skills of the advanced student. Learning activities, including medical transcribing utilizing the computer, will focus on medical reports and dictation that develops a workable knowledge of advanced medical terminology and medical transcription. MAST 215 Medical Laboratory Techniques Prerequisites: MAST 101 or ALTH 101, and MAST 115, BIOL 104/114 5 credits An introduction to diagnostic laboratory procedures performed in the physician’s office. Principles of laboratory procedures will be studied by observation, discussion, and practice in the laboratory sessions with emphasis on collection, proper handling, including blood and body fluid restrictions, and identification of specimens, basic hematology procedures, routine urinalysis, rapid strep, pregnancy tests, and venipuncture. MAST 217 Medical Transcription III Prerequisites: MAST 115, MAST 212, and MAST 214 3 credits This course is designed for the student in Allied Health Technology at the advanced level. Students will be further introduced to medical specialties and medical professionals from various ethnic groups. Emphasis is placed on critical-thinking/decision-making activities presenting situations where decisions have to be made as to the appropriate action to take and in-depth proofreading/editing activities. MAST 218 Medical Insurance Billing and Coding I Prerequisites: MAST 115 3 credits Course provides the fundamentals of initiating, tracking and processing insurance forms for commercial insurance carriers. Basic theory and coding principles utilizing Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases for completion of medical insurance forms are emphasized along with accurate abstracting of information from the office medical record. MAST 219 Medical Insurance Billing and Coding II Prerequisites: MAST 218 4 credits This course continues emphasis on CPT and ICD-9 coding skills and provides fundamentals of initiating, tracking and processing Medicare, Medicaid, Champus/Champva, Workers’ Compensation and Disability Compensation claims. MAST 220 Emergency Medical Procedures Prerequisites: MAST 101 or permission of instructor 4 credits Introduction of theory and techniques employed by the medical assistant in emergency situations. Course includes simulations and laboratory sessions to identify and institute appropriate responses to various emergency incidents. Included with the emergency procedures course is a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With successful completion of the course the student will receive a course completion card in adult, child and infant CPR. MAST 225 Clinical Practicum III Prerequisites: MAST 126 or MAST 214 1-2 credits The Medical Assistant Externship Program is a period of directed practice which consists of practical medical assisting experience in a physician’s private office, hospital, clinic, or comprehensive family health care facility. MAST 226 Clinical Practicum IV Prerequisites: MAST 225 1-2 credits The Medical Assisting Externship Program is a period of directed practice which consists of practical medical assisting experience in a physician’s private office, hospital, clinic, or comprehensive family health care facility. MAST 230 Pharmacology II Prerequisites: MAST 130, MAST 118, MAST 140, MATH 135, BIOL 105/115 3 credits Presentation of the principles of pharmacology, relating to the medical assisting profession. Emphasis is placed on correlation of drug therapy and pathophysiologic conditions, patient education regarding medications and researching drugs in a drug reference. Course content includes the use, action, side effects, contraindication, and routes of administration most commonly administered in the medical office. Knowledge and experience is gained through researching of drugs, both generic and trade name, and recording the information on pharmacology index cards. Students are also required to complete worksheets to record medications administered, dispensed, or prescribed during the practicum experience. MAST 240 Clinical Procedures II Prerequisites: MAST 140 4 credits Theory and technique required by the medical assistant to perform skills at intermediate and advanced level. Procedure skills include those used in the family medical practice, surgical and specialty practices. Emphasis is placed on skills and techniques used in assisting with minor surgical procedures, assisting with technical diagnostic procedures, and technique. MAST 297 Clinical Medical Assisting Review Prerequisites: MAST 111, 205, 209, 212, 214, 219 or permission of the instructor 1 credit This course is designed as a review tool for the Medical Assisting student in preparation for the Certified Medical Assisting examination. The course is designed to aid students in recalling clinical and transdisciplinary medical assisting principles and rules. Methods to improve test-taking skills and relieve test anxiety are included. MAST 298 Administrative Medical Assisting Review Prerequisites: MAST 101, 115, 122, 140, 205, 240 or permission of the instructor 1 credit This course is designed as a review tool for the Medical Assisting student in preparation for the Certified Medical Assisting examination. The course is designed to aid students in recalling administrative and general medical assisting principles and rules. Methods to improve test-taking skills and relieve test anxiety are included.