The Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement is a Career Education program that delivers quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides students with enhanced employment opportunities and/or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and "back office" medical assisting duties. The program prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for obtaining work in the health care field as a Medical Assistant. Graduates of this program are prepared to work with physicians and other team members and facilitate office visits for patients to be seen by the health care provider. Under the direction of the Medical Doctor, graduates assist with many procedures and often assist in health education to support clients’ health and disease management. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all requirements.

Program Learning Objectives

1.      To provide effective instruction and student learning that result in the successful attainment of educational goals through the completion of a certificate of achievement.

2.      To offer a valuable and relevant curriculum that imparts to the student the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for successful entry-level employment as a Clinical Medical Assistant. 

3.      To maintain a process of assessment and improvement to enhance the teaching/learning process and increase opportunities for student success.

 

The main competencies that students will acquire after completion of the program are:

·        An understanding of the role, function, and scope of practice of the Clinical Medical Assistant

·        The capacity to employ cultural sensitivity/humility when working with clients.

·        The capacity to effectively communicate with clients, colleagues, and the healthcare team.

·        The ability to conduct client-centered interviews and assessments for intake and care.

management plans.

·        Competency in measuring and recording vital signs, taking height/weight measurements, conducting visual acuity tests, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients.

for examination and assisting during diagnostic examinations.

·        The ability to: administer injections, collect and preparing laboratory specimens, perform basic laboratory tests to dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilizing medical instruments per Cal-Osha, CDC Protocols, and per facility policies and procedures.

·        The ability to instruct patients about medications and special diets, to prepare and administer medications and to authorize drug refills when directed by supervising Physician.

·        The ability to transport patients for testing, to take EKG's, remove sutures, and change dressings.  

Merritt College’s MEDAS program has a positive track record of graduating students and filling labor market needs for both Clinical and Administrative Medical Assistants. The Peralta Community College Districts office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Research has compiled the following data.

 

Awards Conferred by Merritt College for Medical Assistant Program

 

Merritt College MEDAS Programs        Year 2017-18

 

ADMINISTRATIVEMEDICAL ASSISTING Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)               22                                                                                                                                       

CLINICALMEDICAL ASSISTING    Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)      79                                                                

Total                                                   101                                                             

 

Merritt College MEDAS Programs       Year 2018-19

ADMINISTRATIVEMEDICAL ASSISTING Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)                              21                                                                                                                                       

CLINICALMEDICAL ASSISTING    Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)                                          55                                                           

Total                                                   76               

Enrollment data for one of the courses required in the curriculum (the only course currently offered but may be substituted for HLTOC 101):      

                                   

	2018-2019	2018-2019
CB01: Course Department #	CB02: Course Title	Annual #     Sections	Annual Enrollment Total	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Total
HTLOC 201	Medical Terminology I	14	356	14	351

The Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement program is a Career Education program. Its goal is to provide quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides the student enhanced employment opportunities and/or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and "back office" duties. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all major requirements.  

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1.      Clearly communicate via writing, speaking, listening, and reading.

2.      Acquire Reasoning Skills-to evaluate and interpret information during patient encounter. Students will be able to solve problems relevant to the Medical Assistant Job Duties as outlined by community employers.

3.      Demonstrate Professional Behaviors- timeliness and interpersonal skills, teamwork and embracing cultural diversity whilst performing clinical skills.

4.      Enhance Technical Skills- emphasis on mastery of assistive clinical medical skills and charting. Program offers hands on skills lab supplemented by demonstrating mastery of clinical skills with use of vetted software for medical office simulation.

This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all major requirements.  

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
HLTOC 101 OR HLTOC 201A	Medical Terminology OR Medical Terminology I	3 or 2	Y1 (Fall)
MEDAS 101A	Intro to Medical Assisting	2	Y1 (Fall)
MEDAS 101B	Disorders of the Body Systems in Primary Care	3	Y1 (Fall)
MEDAS 102A	Clinical Medical Assisting I	3	Y1 (Fall)
HLTOC 110 OR HLTED 11	CPR & First Aid for Allied Health Programs  OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation	1 or 0.5	Y1 (Spring)
MEDAS 102B	Clinical Medical Assisting II	3	Y1 (Spring)
HLTOC 260	Emotional Intelligence	2	Y1 (Spring)
MEDAS 102C	Clinical Medical Assisting III	2	Y1 (Summer)
COPED 470F	Occupational Work Experience in Medical Assisting	2	Y1 (Summer)

Creating new Certificate of Achievement (vs old Certificate of Proficiency) to include new updated MEDAS and HLTOC courses

There is only one other college in our service area that offers a similar program. Chabot College of Hayward offers an Associate in Science and a Certificate of Achievement in Medical Assisting. Email sent to Dean Kevin Kramer and Program Director Kristina Perkins.