MEDICAL ASSISTING

Are you looking to pursue a career in a growing field that allows you to assist others in need? Our  medical assisting program offers both clinical and administrative training to help prepare you for entry into the rewarding career of health care.

Medical assistants aid physicians by performing administrative and clinical tasks. They are employed in doctor’s offices, hospitals and medical clinics. The job description of a medical assistant varies from office. Medical assistants typically help doctors examine and treat patients, check the height, weight, temperature, respiration and  blood pressure of patients. Assistants also take patient medical histories, run simple laboratory tests and answer patient questions.  They may also be responsible for giving injections, drawing blood, taking electrocardiograms, applying bandages and taking X-rays. Administrative responsibilities involve varied degrees of managing the medical office.

According to the Maine Department of Labor the employment outlook for medical assistants is excellent. The medium wage earned for medical assisting positions in 2009 was $13.96 per hour with an annual salary of $29,040. Medical Assistants do not need to be certified for employment; you will be qualified to apply for these positions after successful completion of this year long, four credit, college preparatory program. 

Not sure what you want to do in the medical field? This is still a great class for you. Students are eligible to choose from an area of interest in the medical field to do a clinical actually working in the field*. Additionally, numerous speakers (medical assistants, nurses, surgical technicians, radiology techs, CNAs, emergency medical technicians, office managers, vet techs etc.) are invited to class to help facilitate other career exploration. Tours of Southern Maine Medical Hospital will show students a variety of future employment possibilities. Articulation agreements with local colleges are in place; whereas, students may be eligible to obtain college credits for testing out of aspects of this program. A business education certificate for Medical Studies and four credits will be issued upon successful completion of this program.   

Instructors: Ms. Redmond & Mrs. Pasquarello

*subject to business availability

Course Outline

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Diagnostic Clinical Testing
• Vital Signs
• First Aid, AED & CPR Certifications
• Medical Record Keeping
• Medical Report Processing
• Patient Care
• Employment Skills
• Microsoft Word & Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Computerized Scheduling & Billing
• Computerized Patient Intake
• Computerized Patient information
• Medical Office Practices and Procedures