Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) (Voucher Included)

Clinical medical assistants are skilled multitaskers who help maximize the healthcare team's productivity. Medical assistants enable a healthcare facility to operate more efficiently, which increases revenue and provides a positive experience for patients. For physicians, clinical medical assistants help manage the increasing complexities of practice management and patient care. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for medical assistants will grow 16% through 2031,...

12 Months / 540 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Externship offered

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

George Mason University

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Learning method

Instructor-led

$2,895

Self-paced. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: GES180

What you will learn

You will learn the necessary skills to function as a vital member of the healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
The course will emphasize ethical behavior, therapeutic communication, protecting the privacy of patient information, the importance of a first impression, maintaining a safe office environment, medical terminology, and clinical procedures.
Identify the professional traits that a medical assistant must possess
Discuss the various administrative and clinical job duties of a medical assistant
Recognize the importance of professional certification

How you will benefit

Summarize the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule
Demonstrate basic medical terminology knowledge
Discuss government and private insurance
Identify the functions of the major body systems
Demonstrate how to write a chief complaint and obtain a patient history
Discuss the importance of medical and surgical asepsis
Explain the information contained in different types of medical records.
Identify the three methods used to perform venipuncture
Professionalism represents the types of behavior that demonstrate your moral, ethical, and respectful attributes when interacting with patients and coworkers
The medical assistant has a critical role in the ambulatory care setting, performing both administrative and clinical tasks under the direction of the provider
An increasing number of employers now require that their medical assistants be certified. Certification shows that the medical assistant has met certain educational requirements and has committed to continuing their education going forward

How the course is taught

Self-paced, online course
12 Months to complete
Open enrollment, begin anytime
540 course hours

Outline

Medical Terminology
1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
2. The Musculoskeletal System
3. The Cardiovascular System
4. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
5. The Respiratory System
6. The Digestive System
7. The Urinary System
8. The Nervous System
9. The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
10. The Integumentary System
11. The Endocrine System
12. The Reproductive System
13. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

Medical Assisting Foundations
Professional Behavior
Legal and Ethical Issues
The Art of Communicating
Telecommunications, Telephone Professionalism, and Telephone Techniques
Written Communications
Medical Office Environment
Patient Scheduling
Managing Medical Records
Introduction to Health Insurance
Medical Coding: An Overview
Patient Accounts
Insurance Claims, Patient Billing, and Collections
Daily Financial Practices
Managing the Office
Pharmacology
Pathophysiology
Infection Control and Medical Asepsis
The Chief Complaint and Patient History
Body Measurements and Vital Signs
Preparing for Examinations
The Complete Physical Examination (CPE)
Specialty Examinations and Procedures
The Physician's Office Laboratory (POL)
Specimen Collection and Processing
Introduction to Phlebotomy
Diagnostic Testing
Minor Office Surgeries
Medication Dosage Calculations
Administering Medications
Emergencies in the Medical Office
First Aid Procedures and Mental Health Issues
Rehabilitation
Nutrition and Special Diets
Certification
Preparing for Your Career

Instructors & Support

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Sharon L. Blackford

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master's degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.

Stacey O'Brien

Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take these courses.

Certification Requirements:

In order to sit for the national certification exam, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

While you'll learn everything you need to know to pass the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA), you'll still need to ensure that the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course will meet your state's requirements. Please visit your state's Medical Board site for more information.Students intending to work in Washington state may be required to provide or request an official transcript from the school they are enrolled with to qualify for employment as a Medical Assistant – Certified. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the US.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Microsoft Word Online
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary
Medical Assisting: Administrative & Clinical Competencies, by Michelle Blesi
Workbook to Accompany Medical Assisting: Administrative & Clinical Competencies, by Michelle Blesi

The following digital textbooks for the course are accessed via links in the lessons:

Medical Terminology for Health Professions (eBook)

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

FAQ

Clinical medical assistants can make an above-average salary and enjoy a rewarding medical career. Based on data from Indeed.com, the average salary for a certified medical assistant is $43,464 per year in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also states that the job market for medical assistants will grow 16% through 2031, which is much faster than the average job.

According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), medical assistants, otherwise known as clinical medical assistants, typically work alongside physicians in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. As a clinical medical assistant, you will interact directly with patients daily. You will likely be the first person a patient encounters after passing reception and the last person they see before exiting the facility. It will be your job to put them at ease, assure them they will be properly cared for, and leave them with a good impression. To be successful in this job, you will need to learn Electronic Health Record (EHR) software.

You will be responsible for taking the medical histories and recording patients' vital signs. Exact duties will vary by location, healthcare specialty, and practice size, but you will also likely complete clerical and administrative tasks within physician's offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. You will also need to understand how and what information can be shared and adhere to confidentiality laws, like HIPAA, in patient treatment.

Duties can include administrative and clinical tasks such as the following:

Taking medical histories
Explaining treatment procedures to patients
Preparing patients for examinations
Assisting the physician during examinations
Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
Performing basic laboratory tests
Instructing patients about medication and special diets
Preparing and administering medications, including by intramuscular, intradermal, and subcutaneous injections—including vaccinations/immunizations, as directed by a physician or other licensed provider (e.g., a nurse practitioner or physician assistant)
Transmitting prescription refills as directed
Phlebotomy
Taking electrocardiograms
Wound care and changing dressings
Using computer applications
Answering telephones
Welcoming patients
Updating and filing patient medical records
Coding and filling out insurance forms
Scheduling appointments
Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping

Disclaimer: To qualify for the clinical experience applications process, students must successfully complete the online course content and have account balances up to date (at a minimum). Going through the clinical experience application process does not guarantee a placement. COVID may be affecting the clinical experience process or site availability in your area. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process 2 weeks prior to completing courses.

Although the exact amount of time can vary, it typically takes nine months to two years to become a medical assistant, depending upon the program and time you have to commit. For example, this course allows you up to 12 months of access to complete the required training.

The demand for medical assistants is high, making it an excellent time for students to begin their career training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that demand will increase by 18% over the next ten years for this profession, much faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S.

The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) is a national certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), the largest allied health certification organization in the U.S., with over one million certifications awarded over more than 30 years. This exam serves to validate the skills of medical assistants and demonstrates their dedication to the profession. According to the 2020 Industry Outlook produced by the NHA, 89% of employers require or encourage certification for medical assistants, and 63% increase pay when certification is obtained. This course includes a voucher for the cost of the CCMA certification exam at no additional cost to you.

System requirements for NHA certification exam proctoring are:

Operating system supported: Windows 7 and later; 32bit (x86) and 64bit (x64); macOS and later
Browsers supported: PSI Secure Lock-Down Browser
Browser settings: The browser must accept third-party cookies for the duration of the exam ONLY
Webcam/microphone: Minimum VGA 640 x 480 resolution, enabled built-in or external microphone
Bandwidth: Minimum 400 kb/s download and upload
Hardware requirements: 2GB RAM Memory; 1 GB free disk space, minimum 1368x768 screen resolution

You can check the compatibility of your device at: https://home.psiexams.com/static/#/bcheck

Yes. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The registration fee for the exam is included with this course.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.

After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."

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Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) (Voucher Included)

George Mason University