Eastern Kentucky University’s Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment.  Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certification examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

In this program students develop primary health care skills in diagnostic tests and measurements, therapeutic procedures, and medical office practices.  The curriculum combines both general and specialized education and includes the administrative and clinical areas of medical assisting.  Instruction includes both formal class work and directed practical experience in hospitals, physicians’ offices, health departments, and other health care settings.

Objectives

     The graduate of the Medical Assisting Program is expected to:

1. Utilize knowledge acquired from the curriculum to perform administrative and clinical skills in the physician's office;
2. Apply knowledge of human development and behavior to communicate effectively with patients, their families, and health care workers;
3. Assume ethical and legal responsibility for medical assisting practices;
4. Utilize theory and skills to provide patient education;
5. Serve as a liaison between the physician and the patient and;
6. Accept the responsibility for continuing growth as a person and as a professional.

The Medical Assisting Program has several well-equipped laboratories, which permit the student to receive valuable practical experience in primary health care skills. The externship (MAS 390) is taken the last semester of the program during which the student spends five days a week for approximately six weeks working in physicians' offices.  In the office environment students are given the opportunity to refine their skills under the direction of experienced clinical professionals. 

Following completion of the Medical Assisting Program’s Associate of Applied Science Degree, students can increase their knowledge and skills by obtaining a four-year degree.  There are several related disciplines by which this can be accomplished. EKU’s baccalaureate degree program in Medical Practice Management offers the medical assisting student the opportunity to build upon their medical assisting degree.  Medical practice managers are responsible for developing policies and procedures, managing human resources, administering compliance plans, assuring overall quality of patient care, negotiating managed care contracts, facility management, financial management and medical records management.

Medical Assisting/Medical Practice Management graduates can be employed as a(n):

• Medical Assistant
• Clinical Leader
• Clinical Manager
• Front Office Staff/Manager
• Certified or Non-Certified Coder
• Billing Manager
• Compliance Manager
• Electronic Medical Record Coordinator
• Medical Records Coordinator
• Administrative Assistant
• Insurance Coordinator
• Patient Account Representative
• Referral/Precertification Specialist
• Clinic Manager
• Assistant Practice Administrator
• Practice Administrator