MEDICAL ASSISTANT

The Chattanooga State Technical Community College Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants' Endowment (AAMA)

Applications for the 2008-09 class are currently being accepted. Click on application process for more information.

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled practitioners who are qualified to provide support health care services under the supervision of a physician. This versatile member of the health care team assists the physician in executing administrative and clinical procedures in the office setting, from scheduling appointments, managing the telephone, and maintaining office records to preparing patients for the physician's examination, taking vital signs, obtaining a medical history, and assisting the physician while the patient is examined.

Application process

Chattanooga State's Medical Assistant Program is three semesters in length. The students receive a combination of classroom study, practice in the campus laboratory, and clinical and administrative practice in local physician's offices.

New classes are accepted each fall semester. Applications are available January through May of each year.

Medical Assistants have to learn
how to deal with all kinds of patients,
even the difficult ones

Program of Study:

First Semester: Administrative and clinical procedures are taught. They include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic medical typing, business communication, professional orientation and exam room procedures.

Second Semester: Instruction includes pharmacology and administration of medication, administrative medical practices, psychology, laboratory procedures, first aid and CPR.

Students acquire venipuncture skills
under the watchful eye of an
instructor.

Third Semester: Clinical procedures and laboratory procedures are reviewed. Students obtain administrative and clinical experience through an externship in an area physician's office.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the
American Association of Medical Assistants
Certification Examination.

For more information, contact Alexis Jenkins, program director, by e-mail at Alexis.Jenkins@chattanoogastate.edu or by calling (423)697-4438.  Lucy Hampton, Department Head (Lucy.Hampton@chattanoogastate.edu) or Dixie Ball,(Vira.Ball@chattanoogastate.edu) Department Secretary, at (423) 697-4447. 

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