Medical Assistant

Your program consists of four semesters and is designed to provide the knowledge and skills you’ll need for your new career. You will receive credit for previous college work if you meet Penn Foster College standards. If you wish to receive credit for previous coursework, contact the college you attended and ask that your official transcripts be forwarded to Penn Foster College for evaluation. There is a non-refundable transcript processing fee of $30. All previous college work must have been completed with a grade of “C” or better, and up to 50% of the required credits may be transferred. We will also credit your tuition for all the courses that are acceptable.

We’ll send your first course materials immediately after your enrollment for the first semester has been accepted. Courses will follow one at a time as you complete your required assignments, so you’ll always have learning materials to work with. You can earn your Associate Degree in as little as 14 months with appropriate transfer credit, or take longer if you wish. As you complete each semester, an enrollment application for the next semester will be sent to you.

System Requirements
You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later, capable of running Microsoft® Office 2007. You'll also need Internet access to complete portions of this program.

Online Library and Librarian
Students at Penn Foster College have access to an online library during their college studies. Students can use the library to do the required course research or for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and will assist students in research activities.

SEMESTER ONE

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. HIT100 — Introduction to Allied Health (1 credit) This course is an introduction to health care, health information management, and the role of health information technicians in the world of allied health. The course provides an overview of the history of medicine and documentation, health-care reimbursement, technology applications in health care, professional skills, and professional organizations. ENG103 — Information Literacy (1 credit) Teaches students to become effective in finding and utilizing information at libraries and other information centers, and through electronic resources available in libraries and on the Web. HIT105 — Law and Ethics in Medicine (3 credits) Legal and ethical issues in the delivery of health care are presented. A grounding in the parts of tort and contract law that affect health-care delivery is set forth along with broad ideas concerning the functioning of the legal system. Special attention is given to confidentiality, privileged communications, informed consent, the elements of and defenses against malpractice, legal and practical issues commonly encountered by medical assistants, end-of-life and beginning-of-life legal and ethical issues, and the effect of managed care on ethical issues faced by health-care practitioners. (Required textbook provided with the course.) MAT106 — Mathematics for Business and Finance (3 credits) Percentages; discounts; interest; present worth; sinking funds; installment buying; pricing; depreciation; investments; insurance; use of symbols and their applications; equations and formulas; importance of statistics. (Required textbook provided with the course.) SSC130 — Essentials of Psychology (3 credits) Biology and behavior; consciousness; memory; thought and language; intelligence; personality and gender; stress; community influences. CSC104 — Computer Applications (3 credits) Computer and Internet Basics; computer hardware and software; digital electronics and file management; introduction to Windows®; PC applications in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Proctored Examination*

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SEMESTER TWO

ENG100 — English Composition (3 credits)
Writing difficulties; grammar review (sentences, parts of speech, punctuation marks, and paragraphs); defining unfamiliar terms; finding ideas through freewriting and brainstorming; organizing ideas; principles of revising and editing; figures of speech; writing for the senses; getting the reader's attention; descriptive writing; first-person narratives; reflective and persuasive essays; thesis statements. (Required textbook provided with the course.)

HIT107 — Medical Terminology (3 credits)
The development of a vocabulary used in medicine by acquiring skills to pronounce, define, and spell terms. Students will analyze and interpret medical reports related to specific body systems. (Required textbook provided with the course.)

SCI125 — Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3 credits)
The anatomy and physiology of the human body is presented as an integrated science. Each major body system is described and analyzed to illustrate normal function as well as pathology. Topics include basic biochemical elements, skin, bone, muscles, the nervous system, the senses, and the endocrine system.

General Education Elective (choose one)

HUM102 — Art Appreciation (3 credits)
Artistic media; historical periods and artistic movements; roles of the artist and the viewer; art criticism.

HUM104 — Music Appreciation (3 credits)
Appreciating music; roles of composer and listener; principles of music theory and instrumentation; historical periods; varying styles of music.

ENG115 — Introduction to Literature

SCI136 — Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3 credits)
A continuation of Anatomy and Physiology 1. Topics include the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system, immunity and infection control, respiration, digestion, nutrition, the urinary system, reproduction, and genetics.

HIT115 — Reimbursement Methodologies (1 credit)
This course is designed to introduce the health information technology student to major reimbursement systems in the United States. Focus is on prospective payment system, third party payers, and billing and insurance procedures. The course also covers additional information including prepaid health plans, fee-for-service methodologies, chargemasters, fee schedules, and managed care.

Proctored Examination*

SEMESTER THREE

ALH201 — Pharmacology (3 credits)
Introduces the students to the essentials of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The course covers drug classifications, dosage calculations, mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions of drugs commonly used in medical offices.

ALH210 — Clinical Procedures (3 credits)
The role of pathogenic organisms in disease; how to control and prevent infection; assessing patients; the three components of patient examination; assessing vital signs; diagnostic tests; treatment procedures, major drug and medication categories.

ENG121 — Business and Technical Writing (3 credits)
Writing styles; ABC method of organizing material; grammar (parts of speech, active and passive voice, complete sentences vs. sentence fragments; parallel construction); using action verbs; constructing paragraphs; writing memos, business letters, and emails; organizing material; conducting research; documenting sources; outlining; providing illustrations; writing reports, proposals, descriptions, instructions, articles, and manuals.

HIT207 — Medical Transcription 1 (3 credits)
An introduction to the technical and legal aspects of medical transcription, as well as career opportunities available in the field. The student will begin to transcribe and format various types of medical records.

HIT203 — Medical Coding 1 (3 credits)
The basics of coding, exploration of the ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals, examination of specialty areas such as cardiology and obstetrics/gynecology, radiology, pathology, and laboratory work.

Proctored Examination*

SEMESTER FOUR

Students must show proof of active health-care provider CPR prior to beginning the fourth semester.

HIT113 — Medical Information Management and Office Practice (3 credits)
The development of organization, record storage, information management, and office administration skills.

MAS205 — Clinical Procedures Lab (1 credit)
Students will take the Clinical Procedures Lab at any Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredited school or any Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited school. Students who cannot complete the lab course at a school in their vicinity will be required to attend an outside lab course conducted at a Penn Foster Partner School (the school will be identified at the time of your scheduled course). The Penn Foster faculty will work with you to assure the appropriate clinical experience is completed. Cost of this course is not included in your tuition.

Core Elective (choose two)

HIT109 — The Confidentiality of Health Information (3 credits)
Ethical and legal rules concerning the confidentiality of health information is presented with particular emphasis on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Background material will include operation of the legal system and principles of legal liability.

SCI140 — Nutrition (3 credits)
Personal decision-making about nutrition; nutrition science; water; exercise; human growth and aging; safety of the food supply; the global view.

HIT204 — Medical Coding 2 (3 credits)
The Medical Coding 2 course utilizes the application of the CPT and ICD-9-CM classification systems to code diagnoses and procedures.

HUM106 — Interpersonal Communications (1 credit)
Developing more effective personal communication skills to increase chances for professional success; increasing skills levels involving the use and selection of words, gestures, tone of voice, facial expressions, listening skills, as well as overall physical appearance.

MAS220 — Externship (4 credits)
When students complete all the academic courses and the clinical procedures lab, they'll complete an externship in a health-care setting, either a family practice or in a clinic. The externship requirement is 200 hours. Students will be required to obtain professional liability insurance and complete a health-verification form prior to the start of their externship.

Proctored Examination*

*This program requires the student to enroll in a practicum in Semester Four.

* As a degree candidate, you will take a proctored examination at the end of each semester. We make it easy because you pick the location and the person you want to supervise the examination, as long as Penn Foster College established policy and qualifications are met. Complete information packets, with procedures, will be provided well in advance, before completion of final semester coursework.We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

Note: Advanced standing student shipments may vary from the above schedule.

A High School Diploma or GED is required to enroll in this degree program. Although this outline covers all four semesters of the Medical Assistant Degree Program, you receive lesson materials for each semester as you enroll.

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