Course Outline for Medical Assisting 71A
Administrative Skills I

Effective: Fall 2024
SLO Rev:

Catalog Description:

MEDA 71A - Administrative Skills I

2.00 Units

Administrative Medical Assisting skills and theory to include the healthcare industry, the medical assisting profession, interpersonal skills and human behavior, law and ethics, computer concepts, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, patient reception and processing, office/clinic environment and daily operations, written communication and mail processing, medical record management.
Prerequisite: HLTH 51A (same as APHC 9701A) Must pass with a "C" or better, MEDA 60 Must pass with a "C" or better, .
CB03: TOP Code 1208.00 - Medical Assisting*
CIP Code 51.0801 - Medical/Clinical Assistant.
Course Grading: Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 1.50 27.00 54.00 81.00
Laboratory 0.50 27.00 0.00 27.00
Total 2.00 54.00 54.00 108.00

Measurable Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. apply critical thinking skills in performing patient assessment and care;
  2. effectively utilize communication techniques with patients, providers, coworkers and other entities;
  3. use medical terminology, pronouncing medical terms correctly, to communicate information, patient history, data and observations;
  4. explain general office policies;
  5. demonstrate telephone techniques;
  6. compose professional/business letters;
  7. apply active listening skills;
  8. demonstrate respect for individual diversity, incorporating awareness of one’s own biases in areas including gender, race, religion, age and economic status;
  9. manage appointment schedule, using established priorities;
  10. schedule patient admissions and/or procedures;
  11. organize a patient’s medical record;
  12. file medical records;
  13. use office hardware and software to maintain office systems;
  14. perform an office inventory;
  15. implement time management principles to maintain effective office function;
  16. respond to issues of confidentiality;
  17. perform within scope of practice;
  18. apply HIPAA rules in regard to privacy/release of information;
  19. demonstrate sensitivity to patient rights;
  20. complete an incident report;
  21. document accurately in the patient record;
  22. apply ethical behaviors, including honesty/integrity in performance of medical assisting practice;
  23. examine the impact personal ethics and morals may have on the individual’s practice;
  24. comply with safety signs, symbols and labels;
  25. evaluate the work environment to identify safe vs. unsafe working condition.

Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture)
  1. The healthcare industry
  2. The medical assisting profession
  3. Professional behavior in the workplace
  4. Interpersonal skills and human behavior
  5. Medicine and ethics
    1. Bioethics
    2. Ethic committees
  6. Medicine and the law
    1. Civil law
    2. Criminal law
    3. Torts
  7. Computer concepts
    1. Electronic health records
    2. Basic computer skills
    3. Equipment
    4. Meaningful use
  8. Telephone techniques
  9. Scheduling appointments
    1. Timed 
    2. Waved 
    3. Cluster
    4. Open
  10. Patient reception and processing
    1. Forms
    2. Waiting room
    3. Insurance 
  11. Office/clinic environment and daily operations
  12. Written communication and mail processing
    1. Letter
    2. Reports 
    3. Annotating
  13. Medical records management
  14. Filing systems
    1. Alphabetizing
    2. Terminal Digit

Course Content (Lab)

  1. Communication techniques
    1. Verbal and nonverbal communication
    2. Written communication
    3. Electronic Communication
    4. HIPAA
    5. Dealing with an angry patient
    6. Dealing with an anxious patient
  2. Telephone techniques
    1. Answering the telephone
    2. Handling multiple lines
    3. Telephone etiquette
  3. Medical Records
    1. Documentation
    2. Filing 
    3. Setting up patient chart
    4. Medical History
  4. Electronic Health Records
    1. Documentation
    2. Navigation
    3. Entering patient data
  5. Patient education
  6. Appointment scheduling 
    1. Matrix
    2. Timed 
    3. Waved
    4. Cluster
  7. Public health, community resources and communicable diseases
  8. Reports
    1. Laboratory
    2. Diagnostic 
    3. Morbidity and Mortality
    4. Practice management

Methods of Instruction:

  1. Audio-visual materials
  2. Lecture/Discussion
  3. Demonstration/Exercise
  4. Group Activities
  5. Class and group discussions
  6. Activity play
  7. Distance Education
  8. Problem Solving
  9. Case Study
  10. Research Report
  11. Presentation
  12. Performance
  13. Individual Performance
  14. Practice/Demonstration
  15. Laboratory exercises
  16. Lectures
  17. Textbook reading assignments
  18. Presentation of audio-visual materials
  19. Research project
  20. Hands-on Activities
  21. Online Assignments
  22. Computer-based interactive curriculum
  23. Simulations
  24. Resources speakers
  25. Student presentations related to office practices

Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

1. Typical Assignments
  1. Complete a research on a person that has contributed to the advancement of medicine. Present the information to the class.
  2. Using patient scenarios, role play telephone technique skills in small groups. Evaluate peers and self-reflect on own performance.
  3. Read Chapter on patient scheduling, complete workbook exercises and turn in for grading. Be prepared to discuss critical thinking scenarios within chapter in class.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
  1. Lab Activities
  2. Quizzes
  3. Midterm Examination
  4. Final Examination
  5. Skills competencies
  6. Critical thinking exercises
3. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. prepare appointment pages by matrixing and manage appointments;
  2. perform administrative medical assisting tasks.

Textbooks (Typical):

  1. Booth, K.A., Whicker, L.G., & Wyman, T.D. (2023). Medical Assisting: Administrative and Clinical Procedures (6th). McGraw-Hill Education.
Additional Materials:
  • Laboratory dress code as stated in the Medical Assisting Student Handbook

Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:

Introduction to the administrative role of the Medical Assistant. Includes basic and advanced administrative skills which are utilized when working in a medical office.
Prerequisite: HLTH 51A (same as APHC 9701A) Must pass with a "C" or better, MEDA 60 Must pass with a "C" or better, .

Discipline:
Health Care Ancillaries, or Health Information Technology