Course Syllabus

 

 

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

 

Course Prefix/Number:                                               ALMA  180                                                                       

Course Title:                                                                Medical Assisting Externship                                                                                   

Division:                                                                      Outreach and Workforce Development                                                                                      

Program:                                                                      Medical Assistant                                                                   

Credit Hours:                                                              4.0                                                                              

Initiation/Revised Date:                                              Fall 2005                                                                         

 

Assessment Goal per Outcome(s):                             70%

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION

 

Vocational

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course requires the student, in the controlled environment of an approved externship site, to experience the hands-on application of administrative, clinical and professional procedures required as part of the competency and outcomes established by the Commission on Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs in their Standards and Guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs. This course requires the student to complete a minimum of 200 clock hours of supervised practical experience in a program approved site. The course may include one or more required externship conference presentation sessions with program staff on the college campus to assure meeting of program outcomes/competencies requirements.

 

PREREQUISITES AND/OR COREQUISITES


Prerequisite: Successful completion of ALMA 110, ALMA 120, ALMA 130, ALMA 150, and ALMA 160 medical assisting courses with a course grade of “C” or above.

 

TEXTS

 

Young, Alexandra Patricia, Kennedy, Deborah B., (2003). Kinn’s The Medical Assistant An Applied Learning Approach, 9th edition. St. Louis:  Saunders.  ISBN: 0-7216-9012-2

 

Morton, Tammy B., (2003). Student Study Guide to accompany Kinns The Medical Assistant An Applied Learning Approach, 9th edition. St. Louis:  Saunders.  ISBN: 0-4160-0116-6

 

Palko, Tom., Palko, Hilda, (2006). Q & A review for the Medical Assistant, 7th Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice A. Hall. ISBN:  0-13-117851-2

 

Medical Assistant Program Externship Study Guide, Current Year

COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES (as Required)

In the externship site the student will apply cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills to:

 

  1. Perform Medical Office Administrative Competencies
    1. Perform Clerical Functions
    2. Demonstrate Bookkeeping Procedures
    3. Process Insurance Claims

 

  1. Perform Medical Office Clinical Competencies:
    1. Execute Fundamental Medical Office Procedures
    2. Perform Specimen Collection
    3. Operate Diagnostic Testing Equipment
    4. Complete Patient Care

 

  1. Perform Medical Assisting General Competencies
    1. Demonstrate Concepts of Professional Communication
    2. Recognize the Importance of Observing Legal Concepts
    3. Provide Patient Instruction
    4. Perform Medical Office Operational Functions

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

This is on-the-job training with each individual’s experience being unique but related to the course outcomes/competencies.   

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

Instruction will be provided by externship site staff following the Standards and Guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs under the direct supervision of an assigned preceptor.   Experiences will cover the topics presented in the Medical Assistant Program curriculum and outcomes/competencies successfully demonstrated in the skills laboratory. Students will be required to utilize problem based and serendipity learning opportunities in meeting course outcome and competency requirements.

 

The course will include one or more required externship conference session(s) with the program instructor/coordinator or designated program staff. Students may be required to travel to the college campus during the course for group conference presentations.  

 

 

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION

 

Students will be required to keep a journal to log their observations, skill competency and comments.  A journal entry is required for each day of the externship that addresses cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills developed and applied. Students will be evaluated jointly by their assigned externship preceptor and program staff as outlined in the Medical Assistant Program Externship Study Guide.  Preceptor evaluations are used for feedback, follow‑up, and to confirm accuracy of the student’s written journal log. The student’s grade may range from an A to an F depending on the student's externship success and level of cooperation in completing coursework requirements.

 

Students will be required to demonstrate skill competency as outlined in the “Medical Assistant Program Externship Study Guide”. The student must participate in all activities and observe attendance requirements, as well as accurately complete assigned competencies in order to receive a passing grade in this course. This course will meet on an arrangement basis.

 

          The course is designed to operate with a minimum of 50-clock hours for each 1 credit hour for a total of 200 documented hours in the externship site.  A grade of “C” or above is required to successfully complete the medical assistant program. The student's grade will be determined as follows:

 

                    Journal log records (skill competency documentation)                                       40%

                    Documented completion of a minimum of 200 hours (without absence or tardy)         10%

                    Satisfactory site performance (observance of site, program, and college policies)         30%

          Satisfactory conference presentations                                                                          20%

 

GRADING SCALE

    

                90-100%                      =         A

            80-89%                        =          B

            70-79%                        =          C

            60-69%                        =          D

            59% or less                  =          F

ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

Absences that occur due to students participating in official college activities are excused except in those cases where outside bodies, such as the State Board of Nursing, have requirements for minimum class minutes for each student. Students who are excused will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work or receive substitute assignments from the instructor and should not be penalized for the absence.  Proper procedure should be followed in notifying faculty in advance of the student’s planned participation in the event.  Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of the planned absence.

 

Unless students are participating in a school activity or are excused by the instructor, they are expected to attend class.  If a student’s absences exceed one-hundred (100) minutes per credit hour for the course or, in the case of on-line or other non-traditional courses, the student is inactive for one-eighth of the total course duration, the instructor has the right, but is not required, to withdraw a student from the course.  Once the student has been dropped for excessive absences, the registrar’s office will send a letter to the student, stating that he or she has been dropped.  A student may petition the chief academic officer for reinstatement by submitting a letter stating valid reasons for the absences within one week of the registrar’s notification.  If the student is reinstated into the class, the instructor and the registrar will be notified. 


Academic Integrity

NCCC expects every student to demonstrate ethical behavior with regard to academic pursuits.  Academic integrity in coursework is a specific requirement.  Definitions, examples, and possible consequences for violations of Academic Integrity, as well as the appeals process, can be found in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and/or Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

Note: This includes falsification logs made on externship site journal.

 

Cell Phone Policy

 

Student cell phones and pagers must be turned off or placed on vibrate during externship. Faculty/Preceptor may approve an exception for special circumstances.

 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT GAIN

 

Assessment of student gain will be measured by comparing the student’s knowledge of the subject when the class begins and then by using the same measurement at the close of the class.  This measurement will be done via pre and post tests over the stated course competencies, through skills competency assessment tracking sheets, and competency evaluation exams.

 

NOTE:

 

Information and statements in this document are subject to change at the discretion of NCCC.  Changes will be published in writing and made available to students.

 

NOTE:

 

If you are a student with a disability who may need accommodation(s) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Advising and Counseling, Chanute Campus, Student Union, 620-431-2820 ext 280 or the Dean, Ottawa Campus, 785-242-2607 ext 312, as soon as possible.  You will need to bring your documentation for review in order to determine reasonable accommodations, and then we can assist you in arranging any necessary accommodations.