Medical Assisting Profession Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the medical assisting profession and its educational components as discussed in the lecture notes.

Medical Assisting

A healthcare profession involving clinical and administrative tasks to support physicians and improve patient care.

AAMA

American Association of Medical Assistants, founded in 1955 to promote the medical assisting profession.

Accreditation

A process to determine if an educational institution meets certain standards set by an accrediting body.

Certificate Program

A training program for medical assistants that typically lasts from six weeks to a year, focusing on clinical skills.

Diploma Program

Similar to the certificate program, but incorporates clinical and limited administrative skills in its training.

Degree Program

A more extensive medical assisting program that can last from eight months to two years, including clinical and administrative training.

CAAHEP

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, an accrediting agency for medical assistant programs.

Externship

A required, unpaid component of medical assisting education where students gain real-world experience in healthcare settings.

Professional Development

Training that focuses on improving professional skills in a specific field, essential for advancing in the medical assisting profession.

Curriculum for Medical Assisting Programs

Typically includes anatomy and physiology, applied mathematics, infection control, communication, administrative functions, and coding.