Medical Assistant Programs
Educational Objective
The Medical Assistant Program prepares healthcare professionals in the skills needed to perform administrative and clinical duties and laboratory procedures in a medical clinic or office. The program will be taught through lectures, laboratory and externship training at clinical sites.
Our goal is to provide the highest quality of education and training so that we may meet the following objectives:
· To provide an environment that encourages student success in the classroom, the externship site and the job site.
· To help students to develop skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving, leading to accurate decision-making.
· To teach students to think critically so that they will recognize, analyze and solve problems related to administrative, clinical and laboratory procedures.
· To give students a comprehensive understanding of policies and regulations related to carrying out administrative, clinical and laboratory duties.
· To enable students to demonstrate competency in the knowledge and skills required for entry-level positions in the practice of Medical Assisting.
· To thoroughly prepare students to work in a variety of settings such as physician offices, clinics, hospitals, public agencies, and volunteer agencies.
· To produce students with a strong ethical foundation in order to ensure that they will practice in a legal and ethical manner.
· To develop student professionalism by encouraging a positive attitude, good relational skills, responsibility and initiative.
Career Opportunities
A graduate of the Medical Assistant Program may find employment as a medical assistant health care institution, clinics, both large or small, medical offices or health maintenance organizations. Job titles for the medical clerical worker include medical secretary (SOC Code 43-6013), administrative services manager (SOC Code 11-3011), receptionist or information clerk (SOC Code 43-4171), medical records and health information technician (SOC Code 29-2071), and billing and posting clerk (SOC Code: 43-3021).
Ability to Benefit
Students who do not have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent may still be admitted if they are at least 18 years old and pass the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test. The Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) is an ability to benefit test approved by the US Department of Education that is used to determine whether an application without a high school diploma or recognized equivalent has the ability to benefit from our program. The following forms of the test are used: Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2, Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2.
The approved passing scores on this test are as follows: Verbal (200) and Quantitative (210). Ability-to-benefit students must achieve a passing score on both skill assessments in a single testing session to pass the test and be eligible for admission. The student will be required to have the test administered by a third party and the results delivered to us prior to admission as a student at American West.
