Medical Assistant Online Program Curriculum

Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal

To provide students with the concepts and skills to gain employment in an outpatient setting. Students will be prepared to perform administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician, mid-level provider, or licensed nurse.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...

Demonstrate a high-level of proficiency in analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrate computer and information literacy
Demonstrate effective written and interpersonal communication skills using correct medical terminology
Discuss elements of the liberal arts and social sciences as they relate to human behavior and expression
Explain the role, responsibilities, scope of practice, standards of care, and credentials of medical assistants
Using correct terminology, differentiate among the structures and their functions within the six levels of structural organization of the human body
Explain the importance of diet and nutrition including the elements of a proper diet, nutrition guidelines, and options for patients that require special diets or diet modifications
Identify etiology, processes, symptoms, and treatments for common diseases
Apply ethical standards and legal responsibilities, including those related to the confidentiality of personal health information, to patient care
Perform clinical and laboratory procedures applicable to the role of medical assistant in medical office and laboratory settings
Perform administrative duties applicable to the role of a medical assistant in medical office and laboratory settings

Semester 1

Basic Skills Assessment

All degree applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required.

Introduction to Allied Health (1 credit)

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program. This course gives an introduction to health care, the health care industry, and the roles that health care workers play in that industry.

Objectives:

Understand how to use your Student Portal
Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers
Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites
Compare the professional roles of health care workers within various health care agencies
Distinguish government (public) and private health insurance plans
Identify methods to communicate within the health care field
Explain the scope of practice as it applies to various roles in the health care field
Identify safe practice as it relates to the role of a health care worker
List methods for including others in patient care
Describe the proper legal and ethical behaviors of a health care worker

Information Literacy (1 credit)

Get better at finding and using information!

Objectives:

Search the Internet more effectively.
Get tips about search engines and reliable websites.
Learn how to search libraries and other information centers for important, useful information.

Computer Applications (3 credits)

This course will allow you to build your computer skills through a combination of reading and hands-on practice. You will navigate popular software tools such as Windows® and Microsoft® Office.

Objectives:

Create, edit, and illustrate Microsoft® Word™ documents.
Apply formulas and functions to large data sets in Microsoft® Excel.®
Incorporate useful charts and graphs to summarize data.
Add, delete, sort, and lay out table data.
Create presentations in Microsoft® PowerPoint® using advanced tools, tables, and charts.

English Composition (3 credits)

Get the skills and techniques you need to develop, draft, and revise college-level essays.

Objectives:

Identify your purpose and audience. Read actively and critically.
Edit for standard written conventions.
Submit three essays (process analysis, classification and division, and argumentation) and a course journal.

Additional Course Material
Textbook: Successful College Writing

Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health (3 credits)

In this course, you’ll learn how law affects medical offices, the origin of law that affects medical professionals, the basics of the process of litigation and its alternatives, the common-law basis for the confidentiality of health-care information, and the laws regulating health-care information collected and maintained by government agencies.

Objectives:

Describe civil and criminal law, sources of law, and the steps of litigation
Distinguish between liability, negligence, and malpractice and explain how they relate to medical professionals
Explain the impact of healthcare legislation changes on medical professionals
Explain defenses against medical malpractice and criminal charges
Identify the various ethical issues that medical professionals face
Explain the uses and content of medical records
Describe the legal significance of confidentiality obligations
Explain the core concepts of HIPAA's final Privacy Rule
Summarize the role of peer review in confidentiality issues
Describe confidentiality and security issues related to electronic medical records

Medical Terminology (3 credits)

This course covers the medical terms that you will encounter as a medical assistant. You will complete a research project at the end of the course.

Objectives:

Identify word parts and write medical terms accurately
Utilize suffixes to build medical terminologies related to surgical procedures, medical conditions, specialists, and specialties
Recognize and use prefixes in writing medical terms
Distinguish and analyze medical terms associated with the digestive system
Identify and be familiar with medical terminologies pertaining to the integumentary system

Textbook: Medical Terminology 8th edition

Proctored Examination

You will be required to complete a proctored exam on selected courses each semester. These assessments will evaluate the knowledge and skills that you learned during the semester. You choose the time, the location, and the qualified exam supervisor.

Semester 2

Nutrition (3 credits)

This course will allow you to develop a healthier lifestyle by making smarter nutritional decisions.

Objectives:

Explain the various components of nutrition as a science.
Describe nutrition from a global viewpoint.
Understand the importance of water and exercise.
Identify the basics of human growth and aging.
Discuss food safety procedures.

Textbook: Nutrition for Life

Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3 credits)

In this course, you’ll begin your study of anatomy and physiology. You’ll learn about general body terms, structures, functions, and processes as well as the skeletal and muscular system. Continue your studies with the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the senses, and the endocrine system.

Objectives:

Define terms referring to location, position, direction, body planes, and sections.
Identify and describe the basic anatomical structures and major cavities of the human body.
Discuss the process and mechanics of homeostasis.
Explain how human anatomy and physiology are related.
List and discuss the organizational levels of the human body in order of increasing complexity and explain how these levels are related to each other.
Explain the structures, functions, and diseases of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems in humans.

Textbook: Body Structures and Functions (with accompanying CD-ROM)

Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3 credits)

This course will cover the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system, immunity, infection control, respiration, digestion, nutrition, the urinary system, the reproductive system, and genetics.

Objectives:

Identify and describe the components, functions, and disorders of blood, the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the urinary system, the reproductive system, and genetics.
Describe the processes of inflammation and coagulation.
Explain the disease mechanisms involved in the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Describe different types of microorganisms.
Discuss the body’s defense mechanisms against infection.
Identify and describe the functions of water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, trace elements, and vitamins.
Explain the principles of healthy nutrition and describe nutritional disorders.
Identify and explain the functions of the reproductive system.
Describe the disorders of both male and female reproductive systems.
Define genetics, mutation, and lethal genes.
Describe selected genetic disorders.
Explain the potential of genetic engineering.

Arts and Humanities Elective (3 credits)

(Choose one) ...

HUM102-Art Appreciation

This course will provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to critique a variety of artwork.

Objectives:

Understand artistic media.
Identify historical periods and artistic movements.
Explain the roles of the artist and the viewer

HUM-104-Music Appreciation

This course will allow you to understand and appreciate the art of music.

Explain the roles of the composer and the listener.
Describe music theory, instrumentation, and historical periods.
Distinguish various styles of music.

ENG115-Introduction to Literature

This course will allow you to develop your critical thinking skills and broaden your knowledge of the main genres of literature — fiction, poetry, and drama.

Objectives:

Explain how to effectively read fiction for both knowledge and enjoyment
Identify different styles and forms of poetry
Use what you've learned in this course to discuss, write about, and understand literature
Prepare a critical interpretation of fiction or poetry based on what you've learned in this course
Discuss how literary dramas differ from fiction and poetry
Identify different strategies of critical literary analysis

Business and Technical Writing (3 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the various methods of organizing material for a professional setting. Students will compose business documents using the ABC method. These include memos, emails, outlines, reports and proposals, descriptions, and organizing materials. Students also work on honing their grammar skills.

Objectives:

Describe the basics of the writing process and the ABC method of organizing material for a document
Identify the parts of speech in a sentence
Demonstrate correct pronoun use
Choose proper and effective words for writing documents
Identify the elements of a well-written sentence
Demonstrate how to use length, directness, emphasis, and variety to craft impactful sentences
Explain how to construct a coherent paragraph
Describe how to write an effective cover letter and resume
Format and write an interoffice memorandum, a routine business letter, and an effective email
Identify the different ways to write for blogs, the Internet, and social media
Describe how to create an organized formal outline
Identify the types of research and methods of documentation used in business and technical writing
Explain how to create visual interest and clarity in reports with illustrations, tables, graphs, charts, and overall design
Explain the purpose and importance of various types of informal reports
Describe the nature of formal reports and identify their components
Differentiate among external, internal, informal, and formal proposals
Describe an object or a process and prepare a set of instructions
Describe the preparation and submission of professional and technical articles and manuals

Interpersonal Communication (1 credit)

Learn how to improve your use of words, gestures, tone of voice, facial expressions, listening skills, and overall physical appearance to better communicate your message. This course is designed to help you develop professional relationships in the workplace.

Objectives:

Understand and explain the components of communication, both verbal and nonverbal.
Develop effective listening and observation skills.
Recognize prejudice in interpersonal relations.
Describe personal traits essential for successful interpersonal relations.

Proctored Examination

Semester 3

Reimbursement Methodologies (3 credits)

In this course, you'll learn about the different insurance types, what rules govern the submission of claims to each type of insurance, and how to manage outgoing claims and incoming reimbursements.

Objectives:

Define job descriptions pertaining to a position and options for certification
Understand managed care, insurance coverage, key elements of contracts, ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS coding
Describe government billing guidelines, Medicaid benefits, and TRICARE eligibility
Explain what filing a medical claim entails as well as reimbursement follow-up and workers’compensation

Textbook: Comprehensive Health Insurance

Medical Coding (3 credits)

The course begins with an overview of coding concepts, terms, and procedures. It explores the system that replaced the ICD-9 in October 2015, the ICD-10. Students will code diagnoses using ICD-10-CM and will code procedures uisng ICD-10-PCS. Students will also learn about general coding guidelines for inpatient and outpatient procedures and physician office coding using ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level I, and HCPCS Level II procedure coding.

Objectives:

Describe the purpose of coding and the documentation used in coding
Assign the equivalent ICD-10 codes using the ICD-10 coding manual
Assign ICD-10-PCS codes in appropriate coding situations
Assign codes for services and procedures using CPT and HCPCS Level II
Describe the relationship between HCPCS Level I and HCPCS Level II
Outline the types of services and procedures described in the CPT
Describe the types of patients seen in the outpatient setting

Textbooks:

Step-By-Step Medical Coding
ICD-10-CM
CPT
HCPCS Level II

Learning Aid: Certification Test Prep

Electronic Medical Records (3 credits)

In this course, you’ll be introduced to billing cycles and how health information technology is used in medical offices. You’ll also learn about basic accounting transaction terminology and apply this information to enter patient charges and payments.

Objectives:

Discuss the history of electronic health records
Perform administrative health information management functions
Build an electronic health record
Enter information into an electronic health record
Utilize templates to increase productivity

Textbook: The Electronic Health Record for the Physician's Office with SimChart for the Medical Office

Simulation: SimChart for the Medical Office

Learning Aid: Certification Test Prep

Essentials of Psychology (3 credits)

This course will introduce you to the relationship between biology and behavior. You will learn about the human development throughout the life span.

Objectives:

Identify major psychological theories.
Discuss consciousness, memory, thought, and language.
Define intelligence, personality, and stress.
Analyze the role of gender in psychology.
Explain how community influences behavior.

Textbook: Psychology and Your Life

Intermediate Algebra (3 credits)

This course introduces basic algebraic concepts that you’ll need to be successful in your career.

Objectives:

Understand the systems of equations, polynomials, and radicals.
Factor polynomial expressions.
Simplify rational expressions.

Textbook: Intermediate Algebra

Proctored Examination

Semester 4

Pharmacology (3 credits)

This course offers important information that’s essential for your health-care career. You’ll cover drug classifications, dosage calculations, mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions of drugs commonly used in medical offices.

Objectives:

Apply pharmacological and mathematical principles in medication calculations
Explain drug classifications and the effects of each
Describe drug therapies used to treat endocrine, circulatory, and cardiac problems
Explain drug therapies used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal systems problems
Describe drug therapies used to treat nervous system and psychiatric problems
Explain drug therapies used to treat the musculoskeletal and reproductive systems problems

Textbook: Pharmacology: Principles and Applications; PDR Nurse’s Drug Handbook

Clinical Procedures Theory (3 credits)

In this course, you'll learn about the theoretical principles and clinical skills that are essential to working as a medical assistant. These tasks range from such things as greeting patients and getting information from them to administering injectable medication to patient teaching on various specialty procedures and their plan of care.

Objectives:

Identify the essential skills used in medical assisting
Explain therapeutic communication, vital signs, and other skills needed for successful patient interactions
Describe the procedures used when assisting with medication
Identify essential diagnostic procedures and the skills needed to do them
Explain the procedures used when analyzing blood and urine

Textbook: Kinn's: The Clincal Medical Assistant

Medical Surgical Procedures (3 credits)

In this course, you'll learn about assisting doctors and other healthcare professionals within an ambulatory care setting. You'll examine the role of a medical assistant within the major specialty areas and while helping with minor surgical procedures.

Objectives:

Describe the procedures used when assisting in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dermatology, and gastroenterology
Describe the procedures used when assisting in urology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and orthopedic medicine
Describe the procedures used when assisting in neurology, endocrinology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, and geriatrics
Describe the instruments and procedures used when assisting with minor surgeries

Textbook: Kinn's: The Clincal Medical Assistant

Clinical Procedures Labs (3 credits)

In this course, you’ll gain simulated and practical experience to develop the skills that you’ll need for your clinical externship as a medical assistant. You’ll receive a clinical skills kit that will allow you to perform the hands-on training for required skill sets. You will demonstrate competencies in each clinical skill by recording yourself performing the skill, or by performing the skill under the supervision of an approved proctor. Each skill must be successfully demonstrated and approved by a Penn Foster instructor in order to earn credit for the course and advance to the externship. All costs associated with this course are the responsibility of the student. These costs are not included in the tuition.

Objectives:

Measure blood pressure, a radial and apical pulse, and respiratory rate, as well as an oral temperature using a digital thermometer
Identify and locate pulse sites
Don and remove sterile gloves and personal protective equipment
Demonstrate aseptic hand washing
Withdraw medications from a vial
Identify and locate intramuscular and subcutaneous injection sites
Administer oral medications
Sterilize and disinfest surfaces and equipment
Recognize appropriate site placement for EKG leads
Identify veins for venipuncture
Collect a sputum specimen
Understand the regulations of OSHA and CLIA
Provide patient education for a mid-stream urine specimens and metered dose inhalers
Perform pediatric mensuration

Textbook: Kinn's: The Clincal Medical Assistant

Externship (3 credits)

This is the final course of your Medical Assistant program. You will complete 160 unpaid hours to develop and apply the skills you have learned to a real life setting. You’ll be required to complete a daily journal of your experiences and document how you are meeting the course objectives. All costs associated with this course are the responsibility of the student. These costs are not included in the tuition.

Objectives: