Clinical Procedures and Surgical Assisting

Catalog description

MA114 prepares learners for the medical assistant’s role in assisting with minor surgical procedures in the clinical setting. Instruction includes identification of surgical instruments, principles of surgical asepsis, sterile tray setup, and pre- and post-operative patient care instructions. Learners study anatomy and physiology, pathology, treatment procedures, and disease prevention related to the male and female reproductive systems and the urinary system. Additional content covers pediatric growth and development, anthropometrics, and common diseases affecting patients from newborn through adolescence, as well as stages of life and the effects of aging on multiple body systems. Learners also practice medical terminology and electronic health record (EHR) documentation, and develop communication and career-readiness skills. The laboratory component emphasizes hands-on application of minor surgical assisting skills within the medical assistant’s scope of practice. Learners demonstrate surgical asepsis, assist with minor procedures, perform pediatric anthropometric measurements, and conduct CLIA-waived tests for common urinary and reproductive disorders. Core medical assisting competencies reinforced throughout the course include administering intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and intradermal (ID) injections; performing phlebotomy and capillary punctures; and operating EKG equipment.