Clinical Medical Associate with Externship

The Clinical Medical Associate program, offered by our accredited school partners, is designed to prepare students to function as professionals in many different healthcare settings. Medical associates with a clinical background perform various clinical tasks including assisting with the administration of medications and with minor procedures, performing an EKG electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and assisting physicians. Job opportunities are prevalent with physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities. This program also includes the online study guide, CCMA and CET practice exam, and a voucher to pursue the National Healthcareer Associations (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and Certified EKG Technician Exam. This program also includes an optional clinical externship at a local healthcare provider! Additional fees may apply for a background check, drug test and other externship site testing requirements. Fees will be paid by the student at the time of placement in the optional externship. The purpose of the Clinical Medical Associate program is to prepare students to assist physicians and nurses by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office, included but not limited to EKG duties. This program covers the following key areas and topics: Process and procedures for collecting blood specimens for laboratory analysis All aspects of blood collection and related procedures The order of draw Universal precautions Skills to perform venipunctures completely and safely Terminology and related anatomy and physiology Clinical responsibilities of the medical office – assisting the physician with patient related care Preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing HIPAA, patient confidentiality, legal aspects of healthcare and regulatory patient care issues Recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressure, and other patient care items related to the physician office visit Review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology related items Laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and the proper techniques required to collect specimens for laboratory analysis Cardiology and the proper placement of leads when taking a 12 lead EKG Detailed anatomy and physiology of the heart Medical disease processes and terminology Medical ethics and legal aspects of patient contact Electrocardiography and echocardiography An introduction to the components, function, and proper use of the EKG machine The normal anatomy of the chest wall for proper lead placement 12-lead placement and other practices Enroll through one of our accredited university or college partners today! Clinical Medical Associates serve as an important cog in the elaborate framework that is the modern hospital or clinic.

Module 1: Healthcare Fundamentals • The History of Healthcare • Healthcare Etiquette • Professional Situations and Applications Module 2: Communication in Healthcare • Healthcare Teams • Team Success • Champions Module 3: Medical Documentation and Record Keeping: HIPAA • Use and Disclosure • Real Life Scenarios • HIPAA Laws, Policies, and Requirements Module 4: OSHA Infection Control Compliance • Introduction to Infection Control • Personal Protection • Protection of the Office Environment • Instruments, Specialized Equipment & Laboratory Specimens • Infectious Patients & Healthcare Workers • Waste Management Plan • Chemical Disinfection • Heat Sterilization • Exposure Control • General Safety Standards • Employee Training • OSHA'S Required Records Module 5: Medical Terminology • Word Structure • Prefix, Root Word, and Suffix • Organization of the Body • Diagnostic Testing and Radiology Module 6: Anatomy & Physiology • Anatomy and Physiology Basics • Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Respiratory Systems • Digestive, Reproductive, and Urinary Systems • Blood and the Cardiovascular System • Lymphatic, Immune, and Endocrine Systems • Nervous and Sensory Systems Module 7: Administrative Responsibilities • The Health Record • Reception and Daily Operations Module 8: Billing and Reimbursement • Billing and Reimbursement • Health Insurance Basics • Claims • Accounts, Collections, and Banking Module 9: Basic Clinical Procedures • Vital Signs • Physical Examination • Assisting with Minor Surgery Module 10: Advanced Clinical Procedures • Patient Coaching with Health Promotion • Patient Coaching with Nutrition • Pharmacology Basics • Administering Medication • Cardiopulmonary Procedures • Medical Emergencies Module 11: Medical Laboratory • Assisting in the Clinical Laboratory • Analysis of Urine • Blood Collection • Analysis of Blood • Microbiology and Immunology Module 12: Cardiovascular System • Heart Structure • Blood Flow • Heart's Conduction System • EKG Terminology • EKG Waves and Segments • EKG Intervals Module 13: EKG Supplies and Equipment • Thermal EKG Paper • Electrodes • Electrocardiograph Settings and Calibration • Biopolar Leads • Augmented Leads • Chest Leads Module 14: EKG Procedure • Patient Prep • Applying Electrodes and Lead Wires • Running the EKG Tracing • Troubleshooting Artifact • Evaluating an EKG Tracing • Identifying an Abnormal Rhythm • Finishing the EKG Module 15: EKG Testing • Exercise Stress Test • Nuclear Stress Test • Holter Monitor • Cardiac Event Recorder • Implantable Loop Recorder • Transtelephonic Monitoring • Portable Handheld EKG Monitors Module 16: Venipuncture Equipment and Safety • Personal Protective Equipment • Tourniquets • Antiseptics • Evacuated Collection Tubes • Post-exposure Needle stick Follow-Up Module 17: Needles and Supplies in Phlebotomy • Multisample Needles • Needle Holders • Syringes • Winged Infusion Sets (Butterfly Assembly) Module 18: Venipuncture • Patient Prep • Preparing Venipuncture • Performing Venipuncture • Completing Venipuncture • Complications with Venipuncture Module 19: Capillary Puncture • Equipment • Site Selection • Patient Prep • Collecting the Specimen Module 20: Specimen Handling • Chain of Custody • Capillary Puncture Specimen Handling Clinical Medical Assistant: Live Simulation Scenario 1 Perform an EKG • Patient Interaction • Proper Procedure • Accurate Lead Placement • Decision Making Clinical Medical Assistant: Live Simulation Scenario 2 Clean and Disinfect Wound • Patient History and Information • Correct Process • Supplies • Procedure • Clean Up and Disposal Clinical Medical Assistant: Live Simulation Scenario 3 Collect Vitals and Blood Sample • Patient History • Correct Vitals • Physician Notes • Supplies • Clean up and Disposal Clinical Medical Assistant: Live Simulation Scenario 4 Patient Interaction and Preparation • Patient History and Information • Correct Vitals • Perform EKG • Patient Preparation

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements: Internet Connection • Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless) Hardware Requirements • Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher • Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended Software Requirements • Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher • Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx) • Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended • Cookies MUST be enabled • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled) • Adobe PDF Reader

Students who complete this comprehensive course would be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association's (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam and Certified EKG Technician (CET) certification exam. Each state may have additional licensing requirements, be sure to research your states requirements for employment by visiting your states occupation board.

This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.