Medical Assistant Program Goals and Objectives
Program Goals
Berkeley College’s Medical Assistant Associate in Applied Science degree and certificate programs prepare students to enter the high-demand field of healthcare and to work in a variety of settings, including physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other professional healthcare facilities. Graduates are prepared to meet both the clinical and administrative challenges of today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.
The program is designed to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. This is accomplished by providing curriculum relating to patient care skills, general study, and administrative/business skills.
The goals for completion of the medical assisting program are to:
- Reading and Written Communication: Students will demonstrate competent writing and reading throughout their programs of study.
- Oral Communication: Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills in both general and major-specific contexts.
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning: Students will use critical analysis and reasoning, supported by knowledge and skills learned throughout their degree programs, to enhance personal and professional decision making:
- Quantitative analysis and reasoning
- Analysis and reasoning in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and arts
- Ethical analysis and reasoning
- Reasoning in career-related contexts
- Knowledge and Skills for Living in a Diverse Society: Students will consider multiple perspectives (quantitative and qualitative, among individuals, from different cultural contexts, etc.) when making decisions independently or as part of a team.
- Information Literacy: Students will define and articulate their needs for information and access this information effectively and efficiently.
- Integration of Learning: Students will develop the ability to integrate their learning, making connections within their major, between fields, between curricular and co-curricular activities, and between academic knowledge and practice.
- Prepare students as multi-skilled and nationally credentialed healthcare practitioners who perform a wide range of roles in physicians’ offices and other healthcare settings.
- Prepare students who are professional and proficient in administrative and clinical tasks such as medical record keeping and documentation, patient communication, and clinical skills (EKG, venipuncture, vital signs, physical exam, CPR, etc.).
- Instruct students to employ HIPAA, OSHA, Standard Precautions, and other infection control measures in the healthcare setting.
- Ensure students enter the workforce as qualified and technically skilled healthcare professionals in the ever-changing healthcare environment.
- Educate students regarding the ethical, legal, and professional principles of the healthcare profession and in the scope of their practice as a patient advocate.
- Prepare students to effectively interact with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team in a therapeutic and professional manner.