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Medical Assisting (A.S.)

Programs and Classes

Medical Assisting Program Overview

Note: Medical Assisting Studies (AHS-170) is offered only at McCann Technical School.

Medical assistants work in a physician’s office or healthcare facility performing both business administrative and clinical medical office skills. Business aspects include correspondence, medical records management, insurance billing, and appointment scheduling and medical transcription. Clinical aspects include preparing the patient for, and assisting with, physical examinations and treatment, assessment of vital signs, patient education, preparation and administration of medications, and routine laboratory procedures, including drawing blood and performing electrocardiography.

Medical assisting offers many opportunities for advancement. Certified medical assistants can advance to office manager, clinical supervisor, or a variety of administrative positions.

The McCann Medical Assisting program, established in 1962, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL, 33763. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Those who pass the examination may use the designation of Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA).

Students already enrolled in the McCann program may begin taking BCC courses concurrent with their medical assisting coursework and then continue either as full- or part-time students to complete required BCC courses for the associate degree. Other students may wish to pursue some or all of the associate degree requirements at BCC before applying to McCann for the medical assisting program. Previous graduates of the McCann program are encouraged to contact BCC for specific advising regarding the courses necessary to qualify for the associate degree.

Degree

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Visit the College Catalog for Admission and Course Details

Contact Us

Lori Moon, Dean of Nursing
lmoon@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4720

Terry LeClair, McCann Program Advisor
tleclair@mccanntech.org
413-663-5383, ext. 182

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  • Expected Outcomes

    Graduates of this program should be able to:

    • Information Literacy:
      • Navigate rapidly growing information environment through use of digital technology, purpose-driven inquiry, and research.
      • Locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from a broad range of discipline-appropriate sources.
    • Scientific Literacy:
      • Comprehend, interpret, and present scientific data, and draw conclusions based on scientific reasoning and evidence.
      • Engage in lab to understand experimental design and analyze and interpret data.
    • Critical, Creative, and Strategic Thinking:
      • Form relevant, focused, grounded, and challenging questions that guide academic inquiry.
      • Consider, analyze, synthesize, and respond to diverse viewpoints in a variety of academic settings.
      • Develop innovative strategies for problem solving using original and predictive thinking.
      • Work independently and collaboratively to solve problems.
      • Extrapolate from known material to predict outcomes and create scenarios.
    • Quantitative Reasoning:
      • Use and develop formulas to analyze data in a variety of fields and real-world situations.
      • Translate English into mathematical expressions, equations, and inequalities.
      • Solve equations for an unknown quantity in order to understand complex situations.
      • Analyze and interpret the relationships among data sets via graphs, tables, and equations.
    • Written and Oral Communication:
      • Write with clarity and purpose, demonstrating an awareness for rhetorical context and audience.
      • Present clearly reasoned and persuasive academic arguments with effective use of evidence in a variety of discipline specific formats.
      • Effectively and constructively communicate ideas in individual, small, and large group settings.
    • Global Awareness and Historical Context:
      • Demonstrate knowledge of world cultures and histories.
      • Cultivate familiarity with major artistic, philosophical, and literary movements throughout history.
      • Develop a sense of personal awareness in the context of historical movements and structures and their influence on contemporary live.
      • Develop a foundational understanding of physical, emotional, psychological, and intellectual wellness.