Medical Assisting General Information

What is a medical assistant?   Medical assistants work mainly in a physician’s office.  The duties of the medical assistant vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty.  Under the direction of the physician or other licensed health care professionals medical assistants may work in the front office, back office or both.  For additional information the following web sites will be helpful:

www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm 

www.medicalassisting.com

Is the medical assistant licensed by the State?  No, medical assistants are unlicensed multiskilled healthcare workers.  Medical assistants may become certified or registered through examinations offered at the State or national level.  For additional information the following web sites will be helpful:

 www.cmaa-ca.org

 www.amt1.com

 What is the starting salary for a medical assistant?  Salaries vary according to experience, type of office and duties.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey searched on 5/29/2002 for the San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, and Paso Robles, CA areas the starting hourly wage ranges from $8.70 to $15.79 with the median hourly salary at $11.06.  For additional information the following web sites will be helpful:

 www.acinet.org

 What classes does the medical assisting program include?  The Cuesta College medical assisting program is one semester in length and includes MEDAST 10 - Medical Assisting Basics and MEDAST 11 - Medical Assisting Fast Track.  Students must successfully complete the 2 week MEDAST 10 course with a minimum grade of C prior to progressing to the MEDAST 11 course.

 Helpful information for student success in the medical assisting program.

 ·        Attendance is extremely important due to the fast-paced nature of the program. 

·        Adequate study time is important.  Reading assignments may include 1 to 4 chapters per week.

·        Students need math skills to calculate medication dosages.  The following web site will be helpful:

www.math.com

·        Students will learn to give injections and collect blood specimens first by practicing on mannequins and then on each other.  Each student will perform a minimum of 30 injections and 20 blood collection procedures during the course. 

Additional requirements and expenses for the MEDAST 11 course:

 ·        Skills Kit: purchased when registering for MEDAST 11 from the Cuesta College cashier.  The cost of the skills kit is nonrefundable.  Students must provide the instructor with the receipt of purchase at the first class meeting of MEDAST 11. Skills kit supplies are provided during class as each skill is being learned.

 The following information is provided at this time to help prepare the student for expenses that occur during MEDAST 11.  It is important that the student wait until the first class meeting of MEDAST 10 before proceeding with these requirements.

 ·        Current health care provider CPR card: The requirements for CPR are very specific.  The CPR card must be from either the American Heart Association – Health Care Provider card or American Red Cross – Professional Rescuer card.  Be very clear when registering for CPR classes that you specify the health care provider level of training. See CPR Resource List on web page.

·        Current standard first aid card:  Can be done through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.

·        Uniform:  Do not purchase uniforms until attending the first class meeting of MEDAST 10. Specific requirements for appropriate dress are included in the MEDAST 11 course syllabus.  Typically students purchase scrubs, lab coat and shoes.    Please note that medical assisting students may not wear artificial nails or visible body piercing other than a limited number of earrings. 

·        Wrist watch with a sweep second hand.

·        Cuesta College ID badge: the instructor will arrange an appointment with Public Safety during MEDAST 11.

·        Physical examination: each student must have a current physical examination completed on the Cuesta College forms included in the MEDAST 11 syllabus. 

·        Proof of Rubella immunization: form included in the MEDAST 11 syllabus.

·        Proof of Hepatitis B immunization: form included in the MEDAST 11 syllabus.

·        TB skin test: form included in the MEDAST 11 syllabus.