Becoming Connecticut State Community College

STUDENTS: The Community Colleges are undergoing a merger with a plan to become Connecticut State Community College in fall 2023; please work closely with your advisor/program coordinator to select your courses accordingly. Click here for more details about this merger.

Mission

The mission of the NCCC Medical Assisting certificate is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants who are knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate individuals cross-trained to perform many administrative and clinical duties used in the variety of outpatient healthcare facilities.

Faculty

Melissa Bettigole, mbettigole@nwcc.edu, 860.738.6393

Outcomes

1. Perform all medical assisting skills at entry level competency.
2. Demonstrate and utilize the principles of medical asepsis and standard precautions, as well as other safety precautions.
3.  Recognize emergency situations and respond appropriately to emergency care techniques in various life-threatening situations.
4. Obtain and effectively chart all pertinent patient data.
5. Apply knowledge and skills of various clinical procedures such as vitals, laboratory testing, and other diagnostic and medical procedures.
6. Utilize and interpret medical terminology.
7.  Demonstrate basic pharmacology, dosage calculations, and routes for administration of medications.
8. Provide education to patients, families, and other care givers on various healthcare including preventative and treatment regimes.
9. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the human body including structure, function and basic pathologies.
10. Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate and effective application of legal and ethical standards of practice.

Coursework

SEMESTER 1

MED* 125 Medical Terminology – 3 credits
MED* 133 Clinical Medical Assisting – 4 credits
MED* 242 Clinical Lab Procedures/Practices II – 4 credits
PHL* 112 Medical Ethics – 3 credits

SEMESTER 2

MED* 111 Administrative Medical Assisting – 3 credits
MED* 112 Medical Insurance & Billing – 3 credits
MED* 245 Clinical Laboratory Procedures & Practices w/Lab – 4 credits
MED* 250 Principles of Pharmacology – 3 credits
MED*250L  Principles of Pharmacology  Lab  1 Credit

SEMESTER 3

HIM* 203 Pathophysiology – 3 credits
MED* 281 Medical Assisting Externship – 4 credits ♦

TOTAL CREDITS 35

 

♦ All coursework for MED*, BIO* and PHL* 112 must be completed prior to Externship. Students must have current Professional CPR and First Aid Certification during the entire externship experience. There is a mandatory preexternship meeting in the semester prior to enrollment in MED* 281.

Federal Regulation, 34 CFR 668.43-Institutional Information for Disclosure for Licensure Program requires the institution to disclose whether completion of a covered licensure program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation.

Disclosure is not applicable to this program.  Professional licensure, certification and/or education are not state requirements to work in Medical Assisting.

However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule states that only “credentialed medical assistants” (as well as licensed health care professionals) are permitted to enter medication, laboratory, and radiology orders into the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and have such entry count toward meeting the meaningful use requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

Our program(s) lead to eligibility for nationally recognized professional certification(s) that are preferred by employers but not required by the state for employment in the field.