Medical Assisting A.A.S.

Jacki Elam, MA, RMA Program Director

Students in Medical Assisting are cross-trained with skills and knowledge in front office administrative, clinical, and limited laboratory procedures that are designed to assist healthcare practitioners in administering to the needs of patients. Selected administrative skills include scheduling, medical office accounting systems, medical coding and billing, and electronic medical records. Some of the clinical skills the student will learn include assisting with medical examinations, vital signs, administering medications and injections (under supervision), sterilizing instruments and electrocardiography. Laboratory skills will include venipuncture (under supervision), and performing selected CLIA-waived laboratory tests. Additionally, Medical Assisting students will become acquainted with the laws and regulations governing medicine in the ambulatory setting, as well as ethical issues being confronted in the health care arena. The program is designed to prepare the student for an entry-level position in Medical Assisting.

Students may apply for admission by meeting with the program director. Prior to entry, the student must be able to show competency in computers. Each Spring students will have to provide documentation of vaccines, background check, etc. as posted on the program’s web page. Because some classes are only offered in a specific semester, and some courses have pre-requisites or co-requisites, meeting with the Program Director before each semester is necessary to ensure students adequately progress through the program.

Students must earn a “C” or better in all courses in order to progress and complete the program. This includes passing 100% of psychomotor and affective competencies required in AHMA 260 & 262 Laboratory courses. A course may be attempted a maximum of two times. At the end of the program the student will perform a 200-hour, unpaid externship/practicum in an ambulatory facility, such as a clinic or licensed healthcare provider's office. The site must be approved by the Program Director. This provides the student with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in a real world setting. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Assisting

Missoula College

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 60

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: A minimum of a C in each Medical Assisting core course is required for graduation. Medical Assisting core courses must be completed with no more than 2 attempts. Total credits for the AAS Medical Assisting degree are 60. The student must show competence in computers to enter the Medical Assisting program.

Core Courses

Rule: Must complete all of the following courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ACTG 101 - Accounting Procedures I
Offered autumn and spring.  Basic double-entry accounting.  Emphasis on analyzing, journalizing, and posting transactions; trial balance, worksheet, financial statements, and adjusting/closing procedures, accounting systems, and cash control.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHMA 201 - Med Asst Clinical Prcdrs I
Offered autumn. Prereq., M 105, BIOH 112, BIOH 113. Skill development necessary to assist health care practitioners in all aspects of patient care in the medical office clinical setting. Includes achieving competency in prepping patients for a physical examination, charting, medication administration, basic medical laboratory skills.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHMA 203 - Med Asst Clinical Prcdrs II
Offered spring semester. Prereq., AHMA 201. This course builds on skills learned in AHMA 201 and includes body systems and pathophysiology review, and development of skills in the following areas: immunization administration, specimen collection, CLIA waived lab testing, care of lab equipment, spirometry, electrocardiogram, and phlebotomy.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHMA 260 - Med Assist Lab 1
Co-req., AHMA 201. This course introduces the student to basic skills of medical assisting. Included in this course are standard procedures, aseptic and sterilization procedures, vital signs, assisting with general exams, urinalysis, and drug administration.
2 Credits
Show Description AHMA 262 - MA Lab 2
Prereq., AHMA 201 and 260. Corereq., AHMA 203. This course builds on skills learned in AHMA 260 and moves into areas of greater specialization. Included in this course are CLIA-waived and hematological testing, ECG, venipuncture, assisting with surgical procedures, wound care, and specialty exams.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHMA 298 - Medical Assisting Externship
Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instructor. Placement in a medical office for a guided experience providing the student with a practical application of learned medical office administrative skills. Direct supervision will be the responsibility of a designated person at the site. The students will spend six hours per week to total 90 hours in assigned clinical rotations.
 5 Credits
Show Description AHMS 144 - Medical Terminology
Offered every term. Introduction to a medical word building system using Greek and Latin word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 156 - Medical Billing Fundamentals
Offered every term. Prereq. or coreq., AHMS 220 or consent of instr. An introduction to insurance claim processing for the major medical insurance programs. Students will be provided with a basic knowledge of CPT and ICD-9 procedural and diagnostic coding. Emphasis on completing universal insurance forms to maximize reimbursement as well as trouble shoot denied or underpaid claims.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 175 - Medical Law & Ethics
This course will introduce students to the common laws, regulations, and agencies affecting ambulatory medical facilities. Current issues of ethics and bioethics will also be discussed. This is a blended class.
 2 Credits
Show Description AHMS 216 - Pharmaceutical Products
Offered autumn. Fundamental principles of pharmacology and the implications of medication use. Includes the law as it pertains to drug use, dosage forms, routes of administration as well as the pharmacologic actions and uses of drugs.
 3 Credits
Show Description AHMS 220 - Medical Office Procedures
Offered autumn. An introduction to the necessary skills and qualities required to function successfully in the medical arena. Emphasis on medico-legal and ethical responsibilities, records management and financial management of the medical practice, and interpersonal communications to include patient reception, telephone techniques and appointment scheduling.
 4 Credits
Show Description AHMS 252 - Computerized Medical Billing
Offered spring, Prereq., AHMS 156; prereq. or coreq. AHMS 220; or consent of instr. A medical package is used to enter and update patient data, enter charges, payments and adjustments, and generate management reports, insurance forms, and patient statements.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOH 112 - Human Form and Function I
Offered autumn. Explores the fundamentals of structure and function at basic cellular and tissue levels, in addition to the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOH 113 - Human Form and Function II
Offered spring. Explores the fundamental structures and functions of the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.
 3 Credits
Show Description CAPP 154 - MS Word
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., CAPP 120 or basic computer experience and consent of instr. Preparation of business forms, correspondence, mail merges, columnar projects, and reports using up-to-date software.  Business related application projects, graphics, and printer operation are included.
 3 Credits
Show Description COMX 115S - Intro to Interpersonal Communc
Offered autumn and spring. An overview of the process of human communication with special emphasis on analyzing communication patterns and improving interpersonal communication skills. Credit not allowed for both COMM 110S and COM 150S.
 3 Credits
Show Description M 105 - Contemporary Mathematics
Offered every term. Prereq. M 090 with a grade of B- or better, or M 095, or ALEKS placement >= 3, or ACT score of 22, or SAT score of 520. An introduction to mathematical ideas and their impact on society. Intended for students wishing to satisfy the general education mathematics requirement.
 3 Credits
Show Description PSYX 100S - Intro to Psychology
Offered every term. Introduction to the scientific study of behavior in humans and other animals. Credit not allowed for both PSY 100S and PSYC 100S.
 4 Credits
Show Description WRIT 121 - Intro to Technical Writing
Offered every term. Introduction to technical writing situations that integrate text, design, and graphics. Emphasis is on evidence-based, informative writing that uses design and graphics to visually represent logic and organization. Course focuses on writing as a process and includes student self-assessment. Major assignments include a pure technical document, exploration of credibility, and public science writing. Students are expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage and to have basic computer literacy.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C