Transcript Medical Assisting - El Centro College

El Centro College
The Center for Allied Health
and Nursing
MEDICAL ASSISTING
INFORMATION SESSION
Please turn on your speakers.
In order to gain the most knowledge about our program, please download
Medical Assisting information packet from the following website and review
it thoroughly before viewing this online information session. This online
presentation is about 40 minutes in length.
http://www.ElCentroCollege.edu/Programs/Health-Information-Packets
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Helpful hints regarding our online information session.
As you view our information session, you will see links to various webpages
which will be of interest to you. You may click on those links which will open
another window then simply close that window to return to the information
session. The presentation will resume where you left initially.
You may exit this online information session by pressing
the Escape key; however, you are required to view the
entire information session from the beginning and in its
entirety to receive credit for your “attendance.”
You may view this online information session as many times as you desire.
Let’s begin!
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Hello …
… and welcome to the El Centro
College Medical Assisting Program.
I am Sandra Alexander, the
program coordinator, and am
happy that you have an interest in
this allied health career.
This online information session will
provide answers to many of your
questions regarding the profession,
the application process, and the
program curriculum.
Sandra Alexander
M.S., CMA (AAMA)
Program Coordinator
I hope you enjoy it.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What is Medical Assisting?
Medical Assistants are multi-skilled health care professionals specifically
educated for administrative and clinical duties in ambulatory settings such as
physicians offices and clinics.
The administrative or “front office” duties include scheduling appointments,
insurance coding and filing, and maintaining patient records. The clinical or
“back office” duties include assisting the physician with taking patient
histories, vital signs, administering medications, and routine lab procedures
such as blood tests, etc.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Where are Medical Assistants employed?
Medical Assistants are employed primarily
in physician’s offices and out-patient
clinics. Employment opportunities may be
full-time or part-time.
Entry level salaries vary depending upon
the facility and the individual’s experience.
For salary ranges in the DFW area, see this
link for the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov
See these links for professional organizations and more information on the
Medical Assisting profession:
http://www.aama.org www.mytsma.org
MEDICAL ASSISTING
A few facts about our Medical Assisting program:
 Forty credit hour curriculum leading to a Certificate of Completion in
Medical Assisting.
 A class of twenty (20) students is selected from qualified applicants on a
first-come, first-served basis each fall and each spring semester.
 The program is accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Curriculum
Review Board of
the American Association of Medical Assistants
Endowment (CRB-AAMAE).
 Graduates of this Level I Certificate program are eligible to take the
certification exam administered by the AAMA for the Certified Medical
Assistant (CMA) credential.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
As a student in the Medical Assisting program,
what will I learn?
Administrative Skills such as:




Medical Billing and Coding
Insurance filing and processing
Maintaining medical records
HIPPA compliance
Patient Care Skills such as:
 Obtaining patient histories and vital
signs
 Medication administration and
injections
 Collecting and preparing specimens for
laboratory testing
 Documenting physician’s notes and
observations
MEDICAL ASSISTING
When and where are the Medical Assisting
lecture classes and clinical externship?
Program lecture and lab classes are
daytime hours during the week. The
clinical externship is a four-week
clinical in the final semester of the
program and is assigned at an area
physician office or out patient clinic in
the DFW area.
LECTURE CLASS (Paramount Bldg):
 Lecture class: 3-4 days per week
 Lab: 2-3 days per week
EXTERNSHIP:
 5 days per week for 4 weeks
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What is the cost of the Medical Assisting program?
The cost of the Medical Assisting program is primarily based upon your
residency status for tuition purposes. Please see the current tuition
schedule
in
the El Centro College catalog at the following link:
https://www1.dcccd.edu/catalog/tuition/schedule.cfm?loc=ECC
The estimated cost of the Medical Assisting program below includes tuition for
all program courses, textbooks, uniforms, etc.
Dallas County resident
$ 3,294.00
Out of County TX resident
$ 4,704.00
Out of State/Country resident
$ 6,510.00
Please see the Medical Assisting information packet for cost estimates
itemized per semester for the program.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
How do I get started?
First time college student?
 Apply for college admission either online
or in person at the El Centro College
Registrar’s Office or at one of the
Registrar/Admissions Offices at any
Dallas County Community college.
 Speak with an academic advisor in
regard to any assessment testing needed
for placement and registration into your
basic courses such as English and
speech, or any developmental courses as
needed to prepare you for college level
coursework.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Are you new to El Centro but have coursework from colleges
(other than Dallas County Community colleges)?
 Apply for college admission either online or in person at the El Centro
College Registrar’s Office or at one of the Registrar/Admissions Offices at
any Dallas County Community college.
 Submit
all
official
transcripts
to
the
El
Centro
College
Registrar/Admissions Office or at another Dallas County Community
college.
 Consult an academic advisor in regard to any assessment testing you may
need for registration.
 Request an Educational Plan from the Health Occupations Admissions
Office to evaluate your previous coursework for possible transfer toward a
health occupations program.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What is an Educational Plan?
The educational plan is an unofficial degree plan listing
the courses you have completed (including transferred
courses) toward the program.
Educational plans are not necessary if you have attended
only Dallas County Community colleges.
The educational plan is usually processed within 2-3
weeks of submission; however, during peak times the
process may take up to one month to complete.
We suggest that you request an educational plan at least
one semester prior to an application deadline.
The Educational Plan Request form is found on the
blue “Resources for Potential Applicants” link at:
www.ElCentroCollege.edu/HealthOccAdmissions.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Are there prerequisite courses
for the Medical Assisting program?
Currently, there are no prerequisite courses which must be completed in
order to apply to the Medical Assisting program.
However, a potential applicant who has not completed the courses below
with a minimum grade of “C” in each must be eligible to take those courses
with the first semester of the Medical Assisting curriculum in order to
apply for admission to the program:
ENGL 1301 – Composition I
SPCH 1311 – Intro to Speech Communications or
SPCH 1321 – Business & Professional Communication
MEDICAL ASSISTING
How do I know if I’m eligible to enroll
in English and Speech?
Consult an academic advisor regarding the Accuplacer test. After you have
completed the tests, the advisor will review your scores with you to
determine whether you are eligible to enroll in English and speech, or
whether you need developmental courses in reading or writing or both.
Applicants to the Medical Assisting program must also meet a minimum
score in a math assessment test as well. The Accuplacer Math assessment
tests can be used or other math assessment tests are also acceptable. The
minimum scores which are accepted for the various math assessment tests
are shown here:
Accuplacer Math 1 – 66 or higher
Accuplacer Math 2 – 63 or higher
HESI A2 Math – 70 or higher
THEA Math – 206 or higher
SAT Math – 500 or higher
ACT Math – 19 or higher
NOTE: Previous math coursework does not substitute for math assessment testing.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
My assessment scores indicate that I must enroll in
developmental coursework.
If your reading, writing, or math assessment scores indicate that you need
development courses in one or more of those areas, the academic advisor
will assist you in enrolling in the correct level of developmental courses. You
may be required to complete more than one level of developmental courses
in any of the three areas (reading, writing, or math).
Please work closely with the academic advisor while completing your
developmental courses to determine when you are eligible to enroll in the
English and speech classes. You do not have to complete the English and
speech before you apply to the Medical Assisting program.
If developmental math courses were required, you must retest after
completing the developmental courses and meet the required minimum
score in order to apply to the Medical Assisting program.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What else will I need before I apply to the program?
PHYSICAL EXAM
All applicants must obtain a
basic physical exam dated no
more than one year before the
program application deadline.
The physical exam can be
performed by their personal
physician or at an immediate
care clinic.
The physical exam form is
available for download and
print at the blue “Resources
for Potential Applicants” link
on the following website:
www.ElCentroCollege.edu/HealthOccAdmissions
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What about immunizations?
Applicants are required to present documentation of a current tuberculosis
screening with their application materials.
The date of the tuberculosis screening (“PPD” skin test) must be less than one
year before the anticipated program entry date.
A chest x-ray exam is required if:
 The TB screen shows a positive result
 The applicant has had a history of
positive TB screens
 The applicant has received the BCG
inoculation
MEDICAL ASSISTING
In addition, the following immunizations are also required:
 Two doses of measles (rubeola) and one dose each of mumps and rubella
(two doses of the “MMR” measles/mumps/rubella combination received at
least one month apart will also meet this requirement)
 One dose of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (“Tdap”) within the last 10 years
(NOTE: A T/d booster without Pertussis is NOT accepted.)
 Two doses of varicella (chickenpox) at least one month apart
(NOTE: A statement of “disease history” of chickenpox is NOT accepted.)
 Three doses of Hepatitis B on this recommended schedule:
1st Dose
2nd Dose one month after the 1st dose
3rd Dose five months after the 2nd dose
Detailed guidelines for immunization requirements and the Physical Exam form found on the blue
“Resources for Potential Applicants” link at: www.ElCentroCollege.edu/HealthOccAdmissions.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
If your doctor is administering these immunizations, the date of the injection
and the doctor’s signature must be indicated on that specific line on the
immunization section of the physical exam form.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
A statement of immune by
history of disease, dates of
illness such as measles,
chickenpox, mumps, etc.,
or a general statement of
“immune” is not acceptable
documentation
for
the
immunizations required for
application to the program.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
You may have separate records for some of your immunizations on a printout
from a clinic or a card with childhood immunizations. You may submit a
photocopy of that documentation attached with your physical exam form.
These documents do not necessarily need a signature. See examples below.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What if I can’t find any of my immunization records?
 We can accept documentation of a blood tests known as a “titers” in lieu of
these immunizations: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox)
and Hepatitis B. Titer results are not accepted for Tdap.
 Titer documentation must show positive immunity and/or numeric lab
values .
 IMPORTANT! If a titer result does not indicate immunity, you must
complete that specific immunization as required before submitting your
application packet. Therefore, titers should be ordered at least six weeks
prior to an application filing deadline. This would allow you to receive
two injections at least one month apart for MMR’s, or varicella’s, or the
first two Hepatitis B injections prior to the application deadline.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Examples of titer reports indicating positive immunity/lab values are:
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What CPR training do I need?
CPR CERTIFICATION AT THE “HEALTHCARE PROVIDER” level
(sometimes known as BLS-Healthcare Provider) is also required
for our programs. This training includes a hands-on check off
procedure for one-man and two-man CPR for adults, children,
and infants in addition to choking and the AED (portable
defibrillator). This training also includes a written test, either
online or with the hands-on check off. CPR classes are available
through the El Centro College Continuing Education Division.
NOTE:
Online CPR training is not accepted for health
occupations programs.
A photocopy of your current CPR card must be submitted
with your application materials and must not expire before
the first day of program classes.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What do I submit as my application packet?
Compile these materials for your envelope:
 The
completed
Medical
Assisting
Application and signed Statement of
Students’ Responsibility form
 Photocopy of your assessment scores
 Photocopy of your high school diploma or
transcript
A Checklist to help you gather
your materials in found in the
information packet.
 The completed physical exam form and
immunization documentation
 Photocopy of your Healthcare Provider level
CPR card
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Remember……
All official transcripts from
colleges other than El Centro
College and
Dallas County
Community colleges must be on
file at the Registrar’s Office
before
you
submit
your
application materials!
MEDICAL ASSISTING
When do I submit my application packet?
The official application filing periods for
the Medical Assisting class is found below:
Fall entry: January 1 – May 31
Spring entry: August 1 – October 31
Applications may be submitted at any time
during a specific filing period.
Late application filing (if necessary):
Fall:
June 1 – July 15
Spring: November 1 – December 15
It should not be assumed that late applications will be considered for every Medical Assisting class.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Where do I submit my application packet?
You may submit your application packet in person or by mail:
In person:
By mail:
Medical Assisting Admissions
Health Occupations Admissions
Paramount Building, Room P-101
301 North Market Street
Dallas, TX
Medical Assisting Admissions
Health Occupations Admissions
El Centro College/Paramount
801 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75202-3604
BE SURE YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE COMPLETE AND RECEIVED IN
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ADMISSIONS IN PERSON OR POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN
THE APPLICATION FILING DEADLINE.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATION MATERIALS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
How are applicants selected for the program?
Selection for the Medical Assisting program is on a first-come, first-served
basis for each fall and each spring class.
Applicants who submit complete application materials during the official
filing period will be prioritized according to the date their application
materials were received.
If any spaces remain for the class, applications received during the late
application filing period will be also be prioritized according to the date their
application materials received.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
How are students notified of acceptance?
Applicants to the Fall 2013 Medical Assisting program
receive a notification letter postmarked by July 1, 2013
informing them of their status.
Students who receive an acceptance letter must return a
confirmation form to the Health Occupations Admissions
Office by a specified date to confirm their space in the class.
If late applications are considered, those students, if
selected, will receive a notification letter postmarked by
July 30th.
Applicants who are not offered acceptance to the program
may re-apply during the next application filing period.
There is no waiting list for our health occupations
programs.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
New Medical Assisting Student
Registration/Orientation
Prior to the start date of the Medical
Assisting classes in August, newly accepted
students to the program will meet for an
orientation with the Program Coordinator at
the Paramount Building.
Health Occupations Admissions personnel
will register the students for their Medical
Assisting courses during the orientation.
Health Occupations Admissions personnel
will also formally assign the students to their
Medical Assisting degree plans.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
What will a sample class schedule look like?
Semester I – Fall
Lecture
Semester II - Spring
Lecture
Lab
MWR
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
M
T
F
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.
M
R
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. OR
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Semester III – Summer
Lecture
M
W
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Lab
12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
T/W/F
Semester IV – Fall (4 weeks)
Lecture
selected Mondays
Externship (4 weeks) MTWRF
TBA
MEDICAL ASSISTING
At what clinics would I do my externship?
Externships will vary among selected
Metroplex area clinics and physician’s
offices.
Students are assigned to their specific
externships and may be required to
wear the scrub uniforms for their
particular clinics or physician’s office.
Students are usually at only one
externship location for the full four
weeks.
It is important to have reliable
transportation to your externship site as
not all are on the DART system.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Criminal Background Checks / Drug Screen
After acceptance to the program and before their externship, students will
undergo a criminal background check and drug screen as required by our
hospital affiliates for all health occupations programs.
Students will be responsible for this charge (approximately $86.00). All
results of these screenings will become the property of the Health and Legal
Studies Division and will not be released to the student or another third party.
More information on the background check/drug screen requirement is
available at the blue “Resources of Potential Students” link on our website at
www.ElCentroCollege.edu/HealthOccAdmissions.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Criminal Background Checks / Drug Screen
IMPORTANT NOTE
Students with a previous felony or misdemeanor are not prohibited from
applying to a health occupations program.
However, the result of the background check and drug screen after
acceptance may prevent the student from attending their externship,
resulting in the student being dismissed from the program.
Therefore, potential applicants should contact the American Association of
Medical Assistants (AAMA) prior to applying to the program to determine
their eligibility to take the CMA exam. See more information at the following
links:
http://www.aama-ntl.org/resources/library/CMA-Exam-request-waiver.pdf
http://www.aama-nlt.org
MEDICAL ASSISTING
A Few Frequently Asked Questions….
I have a full-time job. Can I work while I’m in the Medical Assisting program?
Currently, the Medical Assisting program courses are held during daytime hours
Monday through Friday. However, an evening option may be available.
Many Medical Assisting students do work while in the program if their work schedules
are flexible. Most students who do choose to work while in the program do so part-time
on the weekends.
Students in the Medical Assisting program are not paid while doing their externship.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
A Few Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
I am going to apply for financial aid. May I use it for the Medical Assisting
program?
Yes! To apply for financial aid, please see the guidelines on the
El Centro website at http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/payingcollege.
Students should apply for financial aid well in advance of
program application.
See the Health & Legal Studies Division Office in Room P-713 at
the Paramount Building for available scholarship information.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
A Few Frequently Asked Questions….
Are there advancement opportunities after completing the El Centro College
Medical Assisting program?
Yes!
El Centro College collaborates with Dallas Baptist
University in offering an articulation from our Medical
Assisting program to DBU’s bachelor degree in Health Care
Management. See this link for more information:
http://www3.dbu.edu/professional/health_care_management_cr.html
Graduates may also continue their education in healthcare
programs such as:




Nursing
Radiography
Respiratory Care
and a variety of other allied health fields
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
I earned a “C” in my English course several years ago. I would like to repeat it
to earn a higher grade. Which grade will be used for my grade point average
and will repeating the course count against my application?
You may certainly repeat a course; the last grade earned
will be the grade of record. (“W’s” or withdrawals from
the course do not count in grade point average
calculation.)
Please note, however, that if you earn a grade of “D” or “F”
in your second attempt in the course, THAT will be the
grade of record and we will not honor the “C” you earned
in your first attempt.
Repeating a course to earn a higher grade does not count
against your application as long as you complete the
course with a “C” or higher on your last attempt.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
Where do I park at El Centro and the Paramount Building?
Although El Centro College does not have reserved parking for students, staff, or
visitors, parking is available at meters and various lots adjacent to the Paramount
Building. The average cost of parking per day is $3 - $5. We are conveniently located
near the West End DART Rail Station and the West Bus Transfer Center.
Students who are enrolled in at least six (6) credit
hours in Fall or Spring semesters, or 3 credit hours in
Summer are eligible for a FREE DART PASS for that
semester! The pass is valid on DART trains and buses.
See the guidelines on the El Centro College website at
http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/students/free-dartpasses.
DART schedules and route maps can be found at
http://www.dart.org.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
I don’t have a Social Security Number.
Assisting program?
Can I still apply to the Medical
A Social Security Number (SSN) is not required to apply to the Medical Assisting
program. However, some of our clinics and physician’s offices require students to have
an SSN in order to perform their externship assignments at that facility. Therefore,
clinical opportunities may be limited for students without an SSN.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Should a externship opportunity not be
available for a student who has no SSN, the student may not be
eligible to continue in the Medical Assisting program.
Although an SSN is not required to apply to the program, an SSN is
required to take the CMA examination. Therefore, students who
are accepted to the Medical Assisting program are strongly
encouraged to contact the El Centro College International Center
for information on obtaining an SSN well in advance of graduation
from the program.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
Do I need healthcare insurance to apply to the Medical Assisting program?
Proof of coverage is not required to apply to the Medical Assisting program. However,
if you are currently covered by a personal health care insurance policy, we encourage
you to include a photocopy of that documentation with your application materials.
If you are accepted to the Medical Assisting program and did not include your insurance
documentation with your application materials, you must
submit proof of personal health insurance coverage prior
to registration in your externship.
Please note that personal healthcare insurance is not the
same as the fee for student liability insurance coverage
which is paid in conjunction with your tuition.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
For additional assistance….
… and one-on-one advisement for El Centro College’s health occupations
programs, you may wish to make an appointment with one or our academic
advisors, Mr. Tolentino and Mr. Peschka. Their email addresses and
telephone numbers are found in the back of the General Information section
of the Medical Assisting information packet.
You may be interested in health care and would like more information on the
different health care career opportunities. We suggest that you visit the
Health Careers Resource Center. Their counselors will provide you with
information on the variety of health care programs at El Centro College and
other colleges in our area.
The Health Careers Resource Center is located on the 7th floor of R Building.
Telephone: 214-860-2283 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dcccd.edu/hcrc
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Q & A Session
We trust that this online session has answered most of your basic questions
about our Medical Assisting program and application requirements.
However, if you still need additional clarification about what we have
already covered in this presentation, we will hold general Q & A sessions at
the Paramount Building which will be open only to individuals who have
previously viewed our online information sessions.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Q & A sessions are not intended to replace the
online information sessions.
For Q & A session dates and times, please email us at [email protected]
and type Q&A (no spaces) in the subject line of your email.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
THANK YOU
for viewing our online information session!
We hope that it has been an enlightening and pleasant experience for you.
You will now be asked to record your “attendance” by completing a brief
questionnaire as verification.
Once you have completed the questionnaire, you may expect to receive the
Medical Assisting Application and Students’ Statement of Responsibility
Forms via email in 1-2 business days.
MEDICAL ASSISTING
Please click on the link below to access, complete, and submit the
questionnaire. You may then return to this slide and press the Escape key to
exit the online information session.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bOWlr5UE4LKSLI5b5DhbFX5WybqfofRC
xiOS4Gb_F6U/viewform
“Imagine possibilities…..”
The Health Occupations Admissions Office
The Center for Allied Health and Nursing
El Centro College
Educational opportunities are offered by El Centro College without regard to race, color, age,
National origin, religion, sex, disability, or sexual orientation.
Copyright 2013
Health Occupations Admissions Office
El Centro College