What Makes Us Different
Our Program
Medical Assisting
Program Overview
The LRMAI medical assisting program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as medical assistants in a variety of health care settings. Students study the structure and function of the major body systems, medical terminology, procedures that help health care providers diagnose and treat health issues, computer skills, administrative services and the processing of medical insurance forms and claims.
In recent years, the medical assisting profession has become essential to the health care field. Health care providers have become more reliant on medical assistants for their front- and back-office skills, and their services are being sought by a variety of different health care organizations.
What You'll Learn
Course Outline
The program is made up of seven modules for a total of 710 clock hours. Program length* depends on if the student chooses a full-time (six-hour class days) or part-time (four-hour class days) track. It includes content on both administrative and clinical medical assisting and is taught in the classroom, skills lab and extern site settings.
The clinical externship is eight weeks long and gives the students the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice. After completion of the program, students take a certification exam and graduates are well-prepared to fill entry-level positions as clinical or administrative medical assistants.
Schedule Options
Full-Time (six-hour class days, eight-hour externship days):
710 clock hours, 21 weeks
Part-Time (four-hour class days, eight-hour externship days):
710 clock hours, 27.5 weeks
*The recommended externship schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday (eight-hour days) for eight weeks. We realize this may be difficult for individuals that are working or have other obligations. Evening and weekend externship hours are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. The maximum timeframe for program completion is 150% of the program length as outlined in the course catalog.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 60 clock hours, 2 weeks
- Part-time: 60 clock hours, 3 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Not applicable
Course Description:
This module introduces students to a successful career in medical assisting. It covers requirements for licensure, certification and scopes of practice of medical professionals, as well as the professional, legal and ethical aspects of practicing as a medical assistant. Communication is introduced to encompass verbal and nonverbal communication, customer service excellence and factors that lead to communication challenges. At the end of the course, students learn the essential skills necessary for gaining employment, including resume writing and interviewing.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 70 clock hours, 2.5 weeks
- Part-time: 70 clock hours, 3.5 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
Course Description:
This module introduces normal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and medical terminology. Course topics cover the major body systems, their normal structures and functions and medical terminology. Common disorders will be reviewed by body system and an emphasis will be placed on documentation of symptoms, patient assessment, diagnostics, treatments and patient education.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 60 clock hours, 2 weeks
- Part-time: 60 clock hours, 3 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Module 120: Applied Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology
Course Description:
This module covers administrative duties performed by medical assistants including electronic and telephone correspondence, customer service excellence, scheduling, documentation, medical office finances, reimbursement and coding.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 80 clock hours, 2.5 weeks
- Part-time: 80 clock hours, 4 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Module 120: Applied Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology
- Module 130: Administrative Medical Assisting Duties
Course Description:
This module covers fundamental skills used in clinical settings to facilitate ambulatory patient care including environmental safety, vital signs, infection prevention practices, emergency response, wound care and trauma-informed practices.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 60 clock hours, 2 weeks
- Part-time: 60 clock hours, 3 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Module 120: Applied Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology
- Module 130: Administrative Medical Assisting Duties
- Module 140: Clinical Medical Assisting Fundamentals
Course Description:
This module covers diagnostics that are performed or assisted by medical assistants including electrocardiography, phlebotomy and specimen collection.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 60 clock hours, 2 weeks
- Part-time: 60 clock hours, 3 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Module 120: Applied Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology
- Module 130: Administrative Medical Assisting Duties
- Module 140: Clinical Medical Assisting Fundamentals
- Module 150: Assisting with Diagnostics
Course Description:
This module covers therapeutics within the scope of medical assisting practice which includes medication administration, vaccinations, nutrition and applied mathematics.
Course Hours:
- Full-time: 320 clock hours, 8 weeks
- Part-time: 320 clock hours, 8 weeks
Prerequisites:
- Module 110: Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Module 120: Applied Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology
- Module 130: Administrative Medical Assisting Duties
- Module 140: Clinical Medical Assisting Fundamentals
- Module 150: Assisting with Diagnostics
- Module 160: Assisting with Therapeutics
Course Description:
Upon successful completion of Modules 110 through 160, medical assisting students participate in an externship at an ambulatory care facility. The externship provides students opportunities to apply principles and practices learned in the program and utilize entry level clinical medical assisting skills. Medical assistant externs work under the direct supervision of qualified personnel at participating externship sites and under general supervision of the program staff. Students must successfully complete their externship experience in order to fulfill requirements for graduation.