MWCC College Catalog — Medical Assisting

MAS101 MEDICAL SECRETARIAL PROCEDURES I (MSP I)

3 credits
This is the first semester of a comprehensive two-semester course sequence (MAS101 and MAS203 Medical Secretarial Procedures I and II) designed to provide the student with the skill, knowledge, and attitude necessary to manage a medical office. These tasks include interacting with patients, using the telephone, scheduling appointments, processing information, managing medical records, word processing medical correspondence, completing accounting transactions, understanding insurance, billing patients, and understanding medical ethics and confidentiality. In MAS101 the student learns the “manual” method of completing the tasks listed above, and in MAS203 the student learns the “computerized” method of completing the tasks listed above. Prerequisites: RDG100 or placement, CIS101 or placement (or co-requisite). Fall.

MAS102 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

3 credits
This course provides students with a clear understanding of medical vocabulary. A workbook-text format is used to develop word-building activities that guide the student through exercises that teach and reinforce medical terminology. Numerous and varied activities challenge the student to understand and remember the significant concepts of medical word building. Audiocassettes provide reinforcement of pronunciation, definition of medical words, and spelling practice. Prerequisite: RDG100 or placement. Fall.

MAS201 MEDICAL MACHINE TRANSCRIPTION I

3 credits
This is a beginning medical transcription course designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the transcription of medical reports. Medical reports will be transcribed from ten individual case studies, each of which concerns a specific system of the body. The case studies have been taken from hospital medical records. The medical reports included are history and physical examinations, radiology reports, operative reports, pathology reports, requests for consultation, discharge summaries, and death summaries. Prerequisites: CIS101 or placement, MAS102. Spring.

MAS202 MEDICAL INSURANCE CODING AND BILLING

3 credits
This course is designed to introduce the students interested in working in health care providers’ offices to the major nationwide medical insurance programs, to give students a basic knowledge of the national diagnostic and procedural coding systems using the ICD-9 CM and the CPT coding books, and to assist students in understanding the importance of processing and filing claim forms correctly, efficiently, and in a timely manner. Prerequisites: CIS101 or placement and MAS102. Spring.

MAS203 MEDICAL SECRETARIAL PROCEDURES II (MSP II)

3 credits
This is the second semester of a comprehensive two-semester course sequence (MAS101 and MAS203) designed to provide the student with the skill, knowledge, and attitude necessary to manage a medical office. These tasks include interacting with patients, using the telephone, scheduling appointments, processing information, managing medical records, word processing medical correspondence, completing accounting transactions, understanding insurance, billing patients, and understanding medical ethics and confidentiality. In MAS203 the student learns the “computerized” methods of completing the tasks listed above by completing simulations. Prerequisite: MAS101. Spring.

MAS210 EXTERNSHIP I

1 credit
In this course, students will apply knowledge, perform administrative procedures, and develop professional attitudes for interacting with other professionals and health care consumers in the actual medical office and/or clinic. This will involve a two-week, 80-hour unpaid experience at an MWCC approved clinical site. Prerequisite: Completion of first two semesters of Medical Assisting degree program. May-June.

MAS306 MEDICAL ASSISTING LAB PROCEDURES

4 credits
Students are introduced to clinical laboratory aspects of medical assisting and learn to perform the following: use quality control principles during patient specimen collection and instrument and reagent preparation; prepare and maintain quality control records; perform routine urinalysis; perform and record results for basic hematologic, chemistry, serologic, and microbiologic tests; collect and label biological specimens including blood, urine, stool, sputum, throat, and vaginal; process, prepare, store, deliver and dispose of specimens along with collection equipment; use universal precautions and laboratory safety protocols. Three hours lecture and two hours lab per week. Prerequisites: BIO115 and MAS102. Must be taken concurrently with MAS307. Fall.

MAS307 MEDICAL ASSISTING CLINICAL PROCEDURES

4 credits
Students will learn to perform clinical duties such as apply aseptic technique with infection control, perform selected tests that aid with diagnosis and treatment, prepare and administer medications, take vital signs, recognize emergencies, prepare/maintain treatment areas, interview and take patient history, prepare patient for procedures, run electrocardiograms and record results, assist with exams and treatments, screen and follow-up test results, and maintain records. Three hours lecture and two hours lab per week. Prerequisites: BIO115 and MAS102. Fall. Must be taken concurrently with MAS306.

MAS308 PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY

3 credits
This course reflects current and commonly used practices, procedures, medications, and drug preparations. Emphasis is placed in four areas: mathematics and dosage calculations; introduction to pharmacology; drugs, vitamins and minerals, and substance abuse; and effects of medications on the body systems. This course provides essential information about mathematics and pharmacology to any health care professional. Prerequisites: BIO115 or higher, MAT126 or higher. Fall.

MAS309 MEDICAL LEGAL CONCEPTS, PRACTICES, AND ETHICS

3 credits
This course prepares students to work in a medical office. All aspects of medical employment are explored from new laws relevant to the medical office to the OSHA, DEA, and CDC requirements most important to medical office workers. Prerequisites: MAS101 and MAS102. Spring.

MAS310 EXTERNSHIP II

4 credits
This course is a continuation of MAS210 Externship I involving 160 hours of unpaid experience at an MWCC-approved clinical site. Application of all coursework in the Medical Assisting degree program will be performed. This is considered the capstone course of the medical assisting program. Prerequisites: completion of first three semesters of Medical Assisting degree program and MAS210. Spring.