Medical Office Clinical Procedures Lab

Course Number:
MA 124
Transcript Title:
Med Office Clinical Proc (Lab)
Created:
Aug 15, 2022
Updated:
Aug 15, 2022
Total Credits:
2
Lecture Hours:
0
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
60
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F, P/NP
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0
Prerequisites

MA 123

Course Description

Practice and demonstrate proficiency in the procedures listed under MA123. Examination room techniques, assisting the physician with examination, treatment and minor surgery.  Covers methods of asepsis and sterilization and the proper care of equipment and supplies. Corequisite MA 123.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Perform clinical competencies as required by the accrediting agency in a medical setting.
  2. Apply techniques that ensure sterility and quality control in a medical setting.
  3. Prepare the patient for physical examinations and procedures, including surgical and diagnostic procedures and assist the physician.
  4. Perform clinical procedures including vital signs, documentation, medications, medication administration, specimen collection, EKG and spirometry in the medical setting
  5. Use communication techniques and behaviors in the clinical setting that are therapeutic, respectful and proficient.
  6. Exhibit professionalism in patient interview skills and interactions with health care professionals and the general public.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will demonstrate these learning outcomes by these tasks conducted individually and in cooperation with other students. 

  • Develop skills in the actual performance of medical assistant clinical tasks in accordance with the theoretical knowledge taught in the clinical procedures course.
  • Answer theoretical and application questions in modules after viewing demonstrations and reading modules and text.
  • Individual proficiency testing will take place after modules have been graded and returned; reading has been assigned, lab demonstrations, and supervised lab practice.

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content

The following list outlines the concepts, themes, and issues students need to understand and be able to use appropriately. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate understanding in written and oral form, individually and in groups.

  1. GENERAL PROTECTIVE PRACTICES
    • Perform correct hand washing.
    • Identify safety signs, symbols and labels
    • Identify safety techniques in responding to an accidental exposure
    • Utilize Safety Data Sheets and know when to use them
    • Demonstrate proper use of eyewash, fire extinguishers and sharps disposal containers
    • Use principles of body mechanics and ergonomics
    • Recognize the implication for failure to comply with CDC regulations
  2. INFECTION CONTROL AND OSHA
    • Participate in bloodborne pathogen training
    • Perform handwashing
    • Comply with safety signs, symbols, labels and safety techniques used to respond to accidental exposure to blood, body fluids, needle sticks and chemical agents
    • Utilize SDS and understand their use
    • Practice standard precautions and proper disposal of biohazardous materials
    • Select the correct PPE and use PPE correctly and appropriately  
  3. GENERAL PREPARATION FOR EXAM
    • Recognize the role ethics and morals have in the delivery of health care
    • Utilize the correct medical terminology with conversing with patients and staff
    • Prepare patients for, and assist physicians in the examination of patients; and to place the patient in the correct body position for the exam while demonstrating sensitivity to patient rights
    • Acquire chief complaint from patients differentiating between objective and subjective information
    • Prepare examination trays and assist the physician as requested.
    • Perform quality control measures such as normal and abnormal control values, westgard rules, and instrument calibrations
    • Incorporate critical thinking skills when performing patient assessment and patient care.
    • Explain the rationale for performing a procedure on a patient and be aware of a patient’s concerns related to the procedure being performed.
    • Reassure a patient of the accuracy of test results
    • Document accurately in and protect the integrity of the patient medical record
    • Learn how to complete an incident report related to an error in patient care
    • Use proper body mechanics in all the activities performed in the medical office
  4. PERFORM PATIENT PROCEDURES
    • Perform patient screenings using established protocols
    • Perform vital signs.
    • Perform visual acuity testing with the Snellen chart.
    • Perform screening test for color blindness.
    • Perform screening test for audio perceptions.
    • Perform ear and eye instillations and irrigations
    • Practice positioning and draping patients for examination.
    • Document infant and child measurements on a growth chart
    • Explain to a patient the rationale for performance of a procedure
    • Prepare specimens for transport to a reference laboratory
    • Reassure patients of the accuracy of test results
    • Demonstrate sensitivity to patient rights
    • Document patient results in graphs or tables for ease of use
    • Protect at all times the integrity of the medical record
  5. MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AND CALCULATIONS
    • Verify the rules of medication administration which includes the six rights
    • Translate a medication order to determine correct doses using proper mathematical applications and an understanding of both the metric system and the household system of measurement and the conversions between the two
    • Use correct units of measurement and proper documentation.
    • Understand a physician's order to administer an injection
    • Prepare an injection from an ampule, single or multiple dose vial utilizing the rules of medication administration
    • Identify the correct dose of medication, the right route and site of administration.
    • Prepare patients for injections
    • Administer medication by oral, subcutaneous, intradermal, or intramuscular routes.
  6. ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
    • Perform electrocardiography including the preparation of the patient, correctly applying electrodes, and running the tracing.
    • Understand the electrocardiograph, its operation and maintenance
    • Know how to avoid or identify artifacts, how they relate to the electrocardiograph
    • Mount the recordings of the ECG's so as to present them to the physician in a legible, professional, standardized form and to preserve them in good condition
  7. DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS
    • Perform spirometry.
    • Understand how to interpret basic results of the respiratory exam.
    • Present the physician with a clean, professional and legible report.
  8. MINOR SURGERY AND OTHER MINOR OFFICE PROCEDURES
    • Prepare items for autoclaving and perform sterilization techniques.
    • Prepare a sterile field and perform within a sterile field
    • Prepare patients, and equipment for minor surgery and assist physicians in the operating room, maintaining both medical and surgical asepsis, infection and quality control.
    • Understand the importance of cleanliness and asepsis in a medical office.
    • Put on sterile gloves after a surgical scrub.
  9. THERAPY AND PATIENT INSTRUCTION
    • Perform some basic physical therapy modalities such as hot and cold packs and instruct patients as directed by physician employers.
    • Perform wound care and apply sterile dressings.
    • Correctly apply bandages to finger, hand, foot, arm and leg  
    • Perform crutch fittings and demonstrate the most commonly used crutch gaits
  10. SUPPLIES: ORGANIZATION AND CARE
    • Understand the basic concepts of establishing and maintaining a supply inventory of all expendable supplies and equipment in a physician's office.
    • Understand the purpose of routine maintenance of clinical equipment

Department Notes

This is a required course which fulfills a portion of the curriculum for the certificate in Medical Assisting. The extent of transferability or credit allowed for the course would be dependent upon the institution and the program to which the student is transferring.

Related Instruction

Computation

Hours: 25

Outcomes:

  • Perform clinical procedures including vital signs, documentation, medications, medication administration, specimen collection, EKG and spirometry in the medical office

Skills/Activity Detail

Hours and Instruction Method

RI Hours
Perform vital signs      6 hour lab

    6
Perform visual acuity      1 hour lab     1
Perform spirometry      5 hour lab     5
Perform electrocardiography      5 hour lab     5
Prepare and administer medications                   8 hour lab     8

 

     Total

   25