What is Medical Assisting?
A key member of a health care team who works in the administrative office, examining room, and laboratory. You are a vital liaison between doctor and patient and play an important role in diagnosis and treatment.
NOTE: The Medical Assisting Program is pending approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What are my career options?
Doctors offices, outpatient clinics, and other ambulatory health care facilities. As health care expands, the demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations.
What will I do on the job?
Schedule and monitor appointments, arrange hospital and outpatient admissions, manage medical records, process insurance claims, and manage office financial records. What medical and technical tasks would I perform? In the clinical area, you:
- Prepare patients for exams, procedures, and treatments
- Assist with physical examinations
- Record medical histories
- Take vital signs
- Chart patient information
- Administer medications and injections
- Perform electrocardiograms
- Assist with minor office surgeries
- Perform venipuncture
- Collect and prepare specimens
- Perform basic laboratory tests
- With additional education, perform some radiography
What are my career choices?
| Medical Assisting Career | Median Annual
SalaryⓘBased on research conducted by the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics
(KCEWS) in 2016 for the state of Kentucky.
|
|---|---|
| Phlebotomist | $29,500 |
| Electrocardiograph Technician | $43,496 |
| Medical Office Insurance Billing and Coding | $29,469 |
| Medical Office Administrative Assistant | $29,522 |
| Medical Office Limited Radiography | $29,522 |
| Medical Assisting | $29,469 |
What about accreditation?
The Hazard Community & Technical College, Technical and Lees College Campuses, Medical Assisting Associate of Applied Science Degree Program is pending the approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The program will be seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
What will I study?
Anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical procedures, laboratory procedures, and administrative procedures.
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
You can earn a degree and diploma in medical assisting as well as specialty certificates. You'll be prepared to take the certification exam of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). We also offer the following certificates under Medical Assisting:
Degree
- Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assisting (60-67 credit hours)
Diploma
- Medical Assisting (50-59 credit hours)
Certificates
- Medical Office Administrative Assistant (17-20 credit hours)
- Medical Office Insurance Billing and Coding (18-20 credit hours)
- Electrocardiograph Technician (11-18 credit hours)
Admission Requirements (for Medical Assisting Program)
Student must meet the minimum Placement Test or ACT score requirements. It is preferred,
but not required, that general education and support courses be completed prior to
program admission. A grade of "C" or higher must be achieved on all program required
courses.
The Medical Assisting Degree, Diploma, and Certificates are offered on the Technical
Campus.
Students must attend a Pre-Admissions Conference to be considered for the program. The last two conferences are scheduled for Thursday May 17, 2018 at 1:00 pm in room 114 in the Devert Owens building on the Technical Campus and Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 4:00 pm in room 213 in the Jolly Classroom Center on the Hazard campus.
Applications are due June 15th, 2018, for the program tentatively expected to start in Fall 2018.
Additional Information
Medical Assisting Program Information Sheet
Length of Program
You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
