Medical Assistant Program

Medical assistants work side by side with doctors, nurses and others on the health care team, treating patients from newborns to senior citizens. They demonstrate a blend of varied skills including administrative, technical, communication and interpersonal abilities.

Pima Medical Institute’s renowned instructors are both academically and professionally qualified offering years of relevant, hands-on experience to share with students, creating real-world scenarios during your courses in our medical assistant labs.

 WHY LEARN MEDICAL ASSISTING AT PMI®?

• Earn a certificate in medical assisting in just 9 months
• Gain real-world experience before you graduate
• Learn from skilled instructors with years of field experience
• Clinical Externships: What to Expect

 WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS TRAINING?

Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant program will teach you to assist physicians in the examination and treatment of patients, as well as perform routine office tasks.

• Take Medical Histories
• Record Vital Signs
• Explain Treatment Procedures to Patients
• Prepare Patients for Examination

WHAT CLASSES WILL I TAKE?

Here are just a few classes you will take during the Medical Assistant program:

• Examination Techniques
• Clinical Aspects of Coding and Billing
• Surgical Procedures
• Medical Office Laboratory Procedures

Full Course Outline

Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics.

In Demand  |  Medical assisting is one of the nation's careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributing job growth to the following:

• Predicted surge in the number of physicians' offices and outpatient care facilities
• Technological advancements
• Growing number of elderly Americans who need medical treatment

Job Responsibilities  |  Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties.

Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law):

Administrative Duties (may include, but not limited to):

• Using computer applications
• Answering telephones
• Greeting 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

Clinical Duties (may include, but not limited to):

• Taking medical histories
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients
• Preparing patients for examination
• Assisting the physician during exams
• Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
• Performing basic laboratory tests
• Instructing patients about medication and special diets
• Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
• Authorizing prescription refills as directed
• Drawing blood
• Taking electrocardiograms
• Removing sutures and changing dressings

Patient Liaison  |  Medical assistants are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and often explain the physician's instructions.

PCMH Team Member  |  Medical assistants are essential members of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team. According to a survey by the Healthcare Intelligence Network, medical assistants ranked as one of the top five professionals necessary to the PCMH team.

CMA (AAMA) Certification  |  Many employers of allied health personnel prefer, or even insist, that their medical assistants are CMA (AAMA) certified.