Medical Assistant
ALL MEDICAL ASSISTANT PROGRAMS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
At Cabarrus College, our affiliation with Atrium Health – one of the largest, most innovative
healthcare systems in the country – offers advantages you won’t find elsewhere. You’ll learn using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, in high-tech simulation labs right on campus. Practice the skills you learn in class in real-life clinical settings, every single week. Receive individualized instruction from a top-notch faculty. And make all the connections you need to launch your career as a certified medical assistant.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Degree options:
- One-year diploma provides quick route to a rewarding career; includes a family medicine practicum
- Two-year associate degree prepares you for leadership or management in medical assisting; includes a family medicine practicum and specialty practice internship
- Many job opportunities; one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare
- Innovative, advanced curriculum
- Hands-on clinical experience every week; practice the skills you learn in class right away
- Flexible: full-time or part-time with hybrid (online and on-campus) and weekend/evening options available as needed
- Affiliation with Atrium Health:
- Preferred access to Atrium Health clinical sites
- Access to leading-edge technology
- Learn alongside the some of the regions most experienced healthcare professionals
- Pipeline to jobs at one of the country’s largest healthcare systems
- Start in fall or spring.
Mission
The Mission of the Medical Assistant Program at Cabarrus College is to provide an atmosphere for qualified students to develop, enhance, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and professionalism required to function as an entry-level medical assistant in the ambulatory care setting.
Program Student Learning Outcomes - Associate of Science Degree
Students who graduate with the associate's degree in Medical Assistant will be able to:
- Analyze the patient experience to provide optimum patient care.
- Apply knowledge of MAERB Core Curriculum by completing and passing the core competencies and AAMA certification examination.
- Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and advocacy when providing care to individuals of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
- Summarize the advanced practices of medical assistants as related to the scope o practice for the state of residence.
- Execute data management within practice management software in the ambulatory setting.
- Analyze the interrelationships of body systems in health maintenance and disease prevention.
- Apply principles of mathematics and pharmacology with consistency and accuracy.
Program Student Learning Outcomes - Diploma Program
- Perform the clinical and clerical skills of an entry-level medical assistant.
- Apply knowledge of MAERB Core Curriculum by completing and passing the core competencies and AAMA certification examination.
- Demonstrate professional and effective therapeutic communication skills with all patients and teammates.
- Define legal and ethical considerations pertaining to the medical assistant’s scope of practice.
- Manage medical records in the physician’s office by effectively navigating medical record software.
Testimonial quote
“Medical assistants make a difference in the healthcare setting no matter where they are placed. We are always there standing amongst the healthcare professionals getting ‘dirty’ right beside them. We are an influential part of the healthcare team and truly are the ‘heart of healthcare.’ As an alumna of Cabarrus College, I always felt prepared in my clinicals, and I had students from other programs come to me for questions because I was more knowledgeable.”
Medical Assistant Student Organization (MASO)
Getting involved with MASO will support and enhance your academic experience at Cabarrus College. Membership in MASO is open to all medical assisting students. MASO promotes the profession of medical assistant and seeks to continually improve the knowledge and skills of its members.
Club Highlights: MASO holds regularly scheduled monthly meetings during the academic year. The members' biggest focus is fundraising. In the fall semester, fundraising is done to raise money to participate in the College Angel Tree Project and various other benefits to the community. In the spring semester, fundraising is done through multiple efforts such as bake sales, silent auctions, Little Caesar Pizza Kit sales, etc. These fundraising efforts help the MASO members attend the State Medical Assisting Conference held in April each year. At each state conference, the MASO members participate in the College Quiz Bowl. We were champions in 2010. MASO also looks to give back to the community by participating in various volunteer opportunities such as the hospital health fairs, dermatology office skin checks, blood drives, etc.
Certification Eligibility
The Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Medical Assistant Diploma Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP accredits educational programs that prepare health professionals in a variety of disciplinary areas. Programs are accredited when it is determined that they meet the educational Standards and Guidelines established by the profession. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences was initially accredited in April 2000, was grated continued accreditation in May 2009, and most recently in September 2017. All graduates are eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants Certification Examination after successful completion of the diploma portion of the program.
Medical Assistant Resources
- American Association of Medical Assistants
- NC State Society of Medical Assistants
- Medical Assistant Student Organization (MASO)
Outcome Reporting
The Medical Assistant Diploma Program reports a five year weighted average on various outcomes from our accreditation Annual Report Form