Program Overview

Medical Assisting

Biological and Health Sciences Division, Room B213, (847) 543-2042

https://www.clcillinois.edu/programs/biodv/medical-assisting
Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Plan 21MD

The goal of the Medical Assisting Program is To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. The program trains students to work as Medical Assistants in a variety of settings. Medical Assistants provide routine administrative and clinical support to healthcare professionals in various outpatient medical settings. The tasks vary by office and specialty area.

Administrative duties include tasks such as scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining patient medical records, handling telephone calls and written correspondence, submitting insurance claims, and maintaining practice finances. Clinical duties may include asepsis and infection control, taking patient histories and vital signs, performing first aid and CPR, preparing patients for procedures, performing electrocardiograms (ECGs), assisting the physician with examinations and treatments, performing suture removal, collecting and processing specimens, performing selected lab and diagnostic tests, administering medications (injections), and drawing blood (venipuncture). Students interested in Medical Assisting should have a sincere desire to work with patients directly in an outpatient setting, and a sincere interest in wanting to help people maintain and improve their health.

Please note: The certificates and A.A.S. degree in this program are stackable. The Certificate in Healthcare Office Assistant (21 ME) can be completed prior to program enrollment. Students seeking certification as a CMA should complete plan 21MA Certificate in Medical Assisting to be eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) examination through the American Association of Medical Assistants. The certificate takes approximately one year to complete attending full-time. To complete the A.A.S degree students would continue following completion of the Certificate in Medical Assisting (21MA) and complete the remaining credits for the A.A.S. in Medical Assisting (21MD) which takes approximately one additional year to complete attending full-time.

Accreditation and Certification

The certified Medical Assisting program at the College of Lake County in Waukegan, Illinois, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, CAAHEP (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board, MAERB (www.maerb.org).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 355-113th St. N., #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 (727) 210-2350

Graduates of the Associates in Applied Science in Medical Assisting (plan 21MD) are eligible to sit for the AAMA Certification Examination, where, upon passing the examination, the individual earns the Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA) credential.

Program Entrance Requirements

• Attend a Medical Assisting program Information Session within 2 years of program enrollment.

• Apply to the college.

• Submit transcripts to the Records Office at Grayslake Campus: high school or equivalent, technology campus or any college courses completed (or degree). Complete credential evaluation form for college transcript -available in the Office of Admissions

  • Note: Students who attended the Medical Assisting program at Lake County Technical Campus may be eligible for dual and/or articulated credit and should confirm with both advising and the records office to determine eligibility.

• Demonstrate College Reading and Writing Readiness and Basic Algebra Readiness

• Meet Prerequisites: BIO 111 or BIO 244 and BIO 245 or equivalent transfer course with a grade of C or higher.

• Must be at least 18 years old by start of program.

• Must have a valid Social Security Number and be eligible to work in the United States.

• Students are required to complete all program health requirements, a background check and urine drug screen prior to enrollment in phlebotomy courses and MOA-212 Clinical Externship.

  • Results of these screenings could affect program completion and future employment.

• CLC cumulative G.P.A. is 2.0 or above.

It is recommended that students meet with an advisor to create a plan and should also meet the MOA Department Chair Lisa Fasano for course scheduling every semester.

New Cohorts Begin in the Fall and Spring

New cohorts begin in the fall and spring of each semester. Pre-requisite courses can be completed in the summer term for those wishing to begin in the fall semester. Preference is given to residents of CLC’s district, or a community college district which does not offer a Medical Assisting program and is a member of the CAREER consortium. Students who live outside of CLC’s district but are eligible for in-district tuition because they are employed by a district employer are NOT considered residents of the district for purposes of selection into the program.

Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all MOA, HIT, PBT, and BIO courses listed below to continue in and graduate from any of the certificate or degree programs (including the Healthcare Office Assistant.) In addition, students must maintain a CLC GPA of 2.0 or higher.

To complete an A.A.S., students are strongly encouraged to meet with an Academic Success Advisor to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements.

^ CLC 120 is an institutional requirement for graduation.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Students in the College of Lake County’s Medical Assisting Program must demonstrate the ability to perform or learn to perform the following essential skills:

• motor skills sufficient to perform record filing and data input tasks and be able to utilize various computer hardware and software in accomplishing operational functions related to medical assisting activities

• have full range of motion of joints, fine motor movements of the hands, ability to perform repetitive tasks and the ability to stoop, bend, twist, reach and occasionally kneel and squat

• lift and carry objects weighting up to 50 pounds

• push or pull a wheelchair, cart or gurney

• have adequate hearing which permits the individual to communicate in a rational and coherent manner with others in the English language

• examine closely images or other forms of output created by diagnostic equipment; must have color vision; must have good visual acuity for client assessment, medical checking, assisting in medical procedures, and for documentation

• demonstrate critical thinking/cognitive skills needed for problem solving and effective performance of standard medical assisting functions

• adapt effectively to environments with high stress in learning situations

• stand and walk 4 to 8 or more hours per clinical session

• acquire and apply information from classroom instruction, professional practice, independent learning and team projects

• synthesize information regarding healthcare data for formal, verbal and/or written, presentation to healthcare professionals

• follow job related logical thought processes to make judgments

• take initiative and work independently yet recognize self limitations

• demonstrate prolonged concentration skills

• cope in an appropriate manner to common job related stressful situations

• protect the confidentiality and security of health information

• meet the ethical standards of the profession

Upon entrance, students must be able to perform the essential functions of the curriculum and meet the standards described herein for the program.

Note: This program is based at the Lakeshore (Waukegan) Campus. MOA courses may be offered in an online/hybrid format. However, non-MOA courses may be offered only at the Grayslake Campus.

For more information on recommended courses or program specific advising, contact Lisa Fasano Medical Assisting Chair, at lfasano@clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2176 or the Biological and Health Sciences division at (847) 543-2042.