About Our Program
The Medical Assistant Program was initially established in 1974 and over the years has served to train hundreds of school graduates. It encompasses 625 hours of classroom instruction, 100 hours of internship experience, and 200 practicum work hours spent at an approved externship site, such as a doctor’s office or medical clinic. The combined total of 925 hours is considered the equivalent of 38 semester-based academic credits. The program is offered in both day and evening classes and structured to be taken in seven consecutive five-week academic phases which usually takes nine months to complete. The day program offers classes Monday through Friday and amounts to 25 days for each of the seven phases. The evening program offers classes from Monday through Thursday nights, in which classes are longer so as to be equivalent in requisite hours. The curriculum is designed to cover both the administrative and clinical responsibilities of the medical assistant field as it is practiced in both large and small offices. More specifically, at the successful passing of the program, a student is expected to demonstrate competencies in the following procedures.
- Clinical Procedures: Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, Medical Law, Medical Ethics, Human Relations, Patient Education, Asepsis, Sterilization, Instruments, Vital Signs, Physical Examinations, Clinical Pharmacology, and Minor Surgery.
- Administrative Procedures: Insurance, Finance Bookkeeping, Medical Secretary Skills.
Is Medical Assisting the Career for Me?
The Medical Assistant Program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to qualify for entry-level positions as Medical Assistants.
The program provides essential training in both administrative and clinical procedures. Graduates from this program will be capable of filling a variety of entry-level positions in nursing homes, home health agencies, physician's offices, hospitals, and health care related volunteer agencies.
At the completion of this program, the Med-Assist School of Hawaii graduate will be qualified to sit for national certification as a Registered Medical Assistant through testing offered by the American Medical Technologists.
Do Clinical Skills Interest You?
Medical Assistants typically work hands-on with patients. Back-office skills include taking vital signs, drawing blood, and doing urinalysis in the labs.
Does Medical Assisting Interest You?
Medical Assistants learn the skills needed to work in a doctor's office or clinic. This may include billing, coding, admitting patients, and keeping medical records.
The American Medical Association suggests you may have the personality to be a good Medical Assistant if you can answer yes to some of the following questions.
- Are you a good listener?
- Can you stay calm in an emergency?
- Do you enjoy helping people?
- Are you cheerful?
- Are you friendly?
- Are you polite?
- Do you try to be tactful in every situation?
- Are you kind and sympathetic?