Pima Medical Institute - Mesa

The duties of a dental assistant include assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures, helping patients feel comfortable and easing their anxieties and teaching patients the skills needed to maintain and improve oral health.

In addition to directly assisting the dentist in oral care, the dental assistant takes on office management responsibilities such as scheduling, billing, answering phone calls and communicating with vendors and suppliers.

Pima Medical Institute prepares its students to be effective, qualified dental assistants by teaching them the following skills:
Preparing patients for examination and treatment
Taking X-ray examinations (radiography)
Sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and equipment
Preparing tray setups for dental procedures
Providing postoperative instruction
Educating patients in proper oral healthcare
Preparing materials for making impressions and restorations
Performing clerical, laboratory and other duties

Health care administrative assistants are key members of the front-office medical office staff. You will greet patients, manage electronic health records and ensure the office operates efficiently while also fostering a friendly and positive patient experience. These entry-level professionals in the field of health care administration do not interface directly with patient care, rather they greet patients, triage appointments and provide other assistance.

Through our courses, you will gain hands-on experience and upon graduation be prepared to:
work within electronic health records with current software technologies
verify medical insurance
perform medical billing and coding tasks
prepare correspondence
assist physicians with reports, articles and conference proceedings
triage appointments

A medical assistant works alongside physicians, nurses and others in healthcare teams, typically in outpatient settings such as clinics and medical offices. A medical assistant tends to both clinical and administrative tasks that increase quality of patient care and improve office efficiency.

The specific duties of a medical assistant vary by practice type, specialty and applicable state and local laws. Generally, however, a medical assistant serves as a liaison between a doctor and their patients. They help receive these patients, answer their questions, ensure they’re comfortable and perform a range of clinical duties.

Here are just some of the common tasks that a medical assistant might perform:
Medical assistant clinical duties:
Prepare patients for examinations
Take patients’ medical histories
Go over treatment procedures with patients
Assist physicians or nurses during exams
Collect/prepare lab specimens
Perform basic lab tests
Facilitate prescription refills
Inform patients about medications
Remove sutures
Change dressings

The Nursing program at Pima Medical Institute prepares you with the soft and hard skills necessary to begin your career in healthcare as an entry-level registered nurse. In school, you will take accelerated courses in anatomy and physiology, growth and development, pharmacology, nutrition, nursing theory and skills for patient care across the life span: from newborns to seniors.

At Pima Medical Institute, you will gain hands-on experience during the very first semester. Through work in our skills lab with simulation mannequins and similar equipment found in hospitals students learn how to:
record patients’ medical histories and symptoms
administer patients’ medicines and treatments
set up plans for patients’ care or contribute to existing plans
observe patients and record the observations
consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
explain what to do at home after treatment

Occupational therapy assistants provide treatments that will assist people with disabilities to function independently in their homes and their communities. They are patient, reliable and compassionate individuals. Under the supervision of an occupational therapist, this healthcare professional helps people regain skills lost due to injury, rebuild their health, independence and self-esteem.

At Pima Medical, students will take courses in anatomy and physiology, growth and development, kinesiology and occupational therapy for mental and physical health. In our real-world labs, you will learn to:
-provide treatment interventions to infants, children, adults and geriatric patients
-help and encourage patients to complete therapeutic activities, stretches and other exercises
-lead children who have developmental disabilities in play activities that promote coordination and socialization
-record patients’ progress and manage treatment plans under the supervision of an occupational therapist

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in preparing and providing medications to people. They also assist in providing other healthcare products and perform various other duties that a pharmacist may need help with. The pharmacy technician’s skills and responsibilities enable them to improve patient experiences and ensure optimal efficiency in a pharmacy setting.

Pharmacy technicians are the liaisons between medical professionals, doctors, pharmacists, insurance companies and patients. They’re crucial in pharmacy settings because they have the knowledge needed to work with patients regarding their medications while also performing administrative tasks when needed. Their job involves:
Mixing intravenous solutions
Counting tablets and labeling bottles
Receiving electronic prescriptions from medical offices
Handling computer order entry of prescriptions
Receiving written prescriptions and requests for patient refills
Verifying complete and accurate prescriptions
Taking inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications
Completing patient purchase transactions using point-of-sale systems

Physical therapist assistants provide physical therapy treatments under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. As a physical therapist assistant, you may work with athletes who are recovering from a sports-related injury, an infant who is struggling to reach developmental milestones, or help a patient who is learning to walk again after back surgery.

As a physical therapist assistant student at Pima Medical Institute, you will take courses in specialized techniques that will help improve a patient’s mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. The program offers a large amount of hands-on experience and knowledgeable instructors have years of experience in the industry. You will learn to:
-treat patients through exercise, gait and balance training, and other therapeutic interventions as directed within the physical therapist plan of care
-observe and monitor patients before, during and after therapy, noting the patient’s status and reporting it to a physical therapist
-utilize equipment to help improve patient mobility and function with daily activities

As a radiologic technologist, you will adjust and maintain imaging equipment, prepare patients for procedures, take medical histories and answer questions about procedures. Radiographers also work with physicians to evaluate images and to determine whether additional images need to be taken.

At Pima Medical Institute, you will take courses on anatomy, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care, gaining the hard and soft skills often required to be successful in the workplace. Pima Medical Institute uses the same industry equipment found in hospitals and clinics and students will receive skills including:
-accurately positioning patients, ensuring that a quality diagnostic image is produced
-administering examination and equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care
-performing imaging techniques such as bone densitometry, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, computed tomography, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, quality management, sonography or general diagnostic radiography

Respiratory therapists are healthcare practitioners who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation of patients who have breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. They’re also trained to provide critical care to patients in emergency situations related to respiratory issues.

A respiratory therapist applies their skills in different environments and situations depending on their employer, adapting as needed to the level of care required of them.

After completing their training and receiving their certification, a respiratory therapist can use their knowledge in multiple ways — so their day-to-day responsibilities vary, depending on where they chose to work.
For instance, a respiratory therapist may work in an emergency room, intensive care unit or hospital floor. In this case, they’ll often work with patients to offer care related to issues such as blocked passageways, intense asthma attacks or other life-threatening respiratory problems.
On the other hand, they might also find themselves working with patients who need more long-term solutions, such as those with chronic conditions like COPD or cystic fibrosis. In this case, places like specialty clinics, pulmonologist offices or even sleep labs are possible work settings

Paramedics provide rescue, basic and advanced life support level care in pre-hospital environments. They help extricate victims from entrapment or hazardous environments, care for sick or injured patients in the field including medical administration.

Training at Pima Medical will prepare you to further your career as a first-responder. The courses you will take include information on anatomy and physiology, airway management, patient assessment, traumatic injuries and cardiology. You’ll learn to:
-respond to 911 calls for emergency medical assistance, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or traumatic injury
-assess a patient’s condition and determine a course of treatment
-provide first-aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured patients
-transport patients safely in an ambulance
-report observations and treatment to physicians, nurses, or other healthcare facility staff
-document medical care given to patients
-maintenance and stocking of emergency apparatus