Medical Assistant Skills Guide
Recommended High School Level Background Courses
- *Biology (program prerequisite)
- Speech
- Recordkeeping
- *Anatomy
- *Psychology
- Keyboarding (program prerequisite)
- *Physiology
- *Sociology
- *Composition
* Courses available in the Academic Achievement Center or High School Completion Center
Basic Skills in the Program and on the Job
Reading
Textbooks in this program are used as supplements, with tests based primarily on material covered in lectures. The readability of first-semester texts is college level.
Besides texts, students read operating manuals for equipment and directions for using laboratory test kits. Additional reading material in the workplace includes Medicare newsletters, insurance company literature, physicians' correspondence, patient charts, and information on medications.
View more information on reading skills in the Medical Assistant program.
Language
The required English course for this program is Communication Skills (COM 703). In their other coursework, students can expect frequent one-on-one speaking assignments. Although they may be required to deliver a few oral reports, much more emphasis is placed on role-playing for interaction with patients. On the job, medical assistants speak in person to both patients and physicians. They also have extensive telephone contacts with patients, insurance companies, pharmacies, and hospitals.
Writing assignments in the program are usually brief. Students learn to enter information on patient charts; correct spelling is important in this task, as the charts are legal documents. Other writing activities include a report of an interview with a practicing professional and short-answer essay responses on tests.
In addition to charting and writing occasional memos, medical assistants who reach the management level will also compose business letters.
View more information on language skills in the Medical Assistant program.
Math
A general math background is sufficient for students entering the program. No separate math course is required; instead, math activities are integrated into the regular coursework, where the necessary skills are reviewed. Students use both metric and English units when measuring weight, head circumference of babies, and temperature. Fractions are used in labs and dosage calculations. Per cents are used in a management course to figure interest on an account and to determine the collection ratio for a specific period. Students learn and apply the concept of standard deviations when they plot line graphs of expected and actual lab results. In their radiography course, they solve simple algebraic formulas. With the exception of formula-solving, these activities will be continued on the job.
View more information on math skills in the Medical Assistant program
Learning
High motivation, the ability to handle stress, and excellent time management skills are essential to success in this program. Medical assistants use sequencing skills not only to follow directions for completing lab work but also to determine the most efficient order for completing multiple tasks. Students learn to observe patient symptoms accurately and make logical inferences about the level of attention needed at the time. In their lab work, they must make judgments about which results are consistent with the clinical picture and which should be rechecked; they must also use cause-effect reasoning to troubleshoot errors in the results.
View more information on learning skills in the Medical Assistant program.
Computer
Keyboarding skills are a prerequisite to program entry. In their coursework, students learn word processing. They are also taught to work with a medical manager program which is used to run a medical office; this program includes a data base of patient information, a scheduling component, and a financial recordkeeping component. Computerized lab equipment simply requires data input.
View more information on computer skills in the Medical Assistant program.
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