I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Clinical Procedures I

2. Course Prefix & Number:
MEDA 1110

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

Internship Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course covers clinical duties that are performed by the medical assistant.  Emphasis will be on medical asepsis, taking the patient history, the physical examination, emergencies, patient assessment including vital signs and documentation skills.  Students will learn how to obtain appropriate information through effective communication.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Name of Institution	Course Number and Title	Credits
Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount	MDAS 1130 Clinical Procedures I	3
Anoka Technical College, Anoka	MAST 1040 Clinical Procedures I	3

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Name of Program(s)	Program Type
Medical Assistant Program	Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Explain and demonstrate appropriate patient history taking skills.
Utilize appropriate technology	Demonstrate the ability to take vital signs using the appropriate thermometers, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, and scales.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

Expected Outcome	MnTC Goal Area
Apply principles of aseptic techniques and infection control.
Differentiate between a professional and unprofessional attititude.
Adapt what is said to the recipient’s level of comprehension.
Determine the need for accurate documentation and reporting.
Perform primary assessment in emergency situations to prepare for and respond to emergencies in the ambulatory care setting.
Determine the role of HIPAA in patient privacy.
Compare and contrast the cross cultural concerns between patients and healthcare providers.
Measure and record all vital signs accurately in patient's chart or electronic medical record.
Set up for physical examinations by recalling method, instruments used, and positions for at least eight body parts.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction to The Medical Assisting and Health Professions

• Historical Perspective of the Profession
• Career Opportunities
• Attributes of a Medical Assistant Professional
• Regulation of Health Care Providers

2. Health Care Settings and Health Care Team

• Ambulatory Health Care Settings
• Health Care Team
• Allied Health Professionals and Their Role
• The Value of the Medical Assistant to the Health Care Team

3.  Emergency Procedures and First Aid

• Recognizing an Emergency
• Preparing for an Emergency
• Common Emergencies
• Breathing Emergencies and Cardiac Arrest
• Safety and Emergency Practices
• II. Infection Control and Medical Asepsis
• Impact of Infectious Diseases
• The Process of Infection
• Chain of Infection
• The Body’s Defense Mechanisms for Fighting Infection and Disease
• Stages of Infectious Diseases
•  Disease Transmission
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and C
• Reporting Infectious Disease

4.  Infection Control and Medical Asepsis

• Standard Precautions
• OSHA Regulations
• Principles of Infection Control
• Medical Asepsis
• Bioterrorism

5.  The Patient History and Documentation

• The Purpose of the Medical History
• Preparing for the Patient
• Patient Information Forms
• Computerized Health History
• The Patient Intake Interview
• Communication Across the Lifespan
• The Medical Health History
• The Patient Record and Its Importance
• Methods of Charting/Documentation
• Electronic Medical Records
• Rules of Charting

6.  Vital Signs and Measurements

• The Importance of Accuracy
• Temperature
• Pulse
• Respiration
• Blood Pressure
• Height and Weight
• Measuring Chest Circumference

7.  The Physical Examination

• Methods of Examination
• Positioning and Draping
• Equipment and Supplies for the Physical Examination
• Basic Components of a Physical Examination
• The Physical Examination Sequence
• After the Examination

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

The laboratory sessions will involve practice and production of required work products to demonstrate proficiency of required competencies/skills related to the above outlined topics.

1. Emergency Procedures and First Aid
• Control of Bleeding
• Applying an Arm Splint
2. Infection Control and Medical Asepsis
• Medical Asepsis Hand Wash
• Removing Contaminated Gloves
• Transmission Based Precautions: Isolation Technique
• Sanitization of Instruments
3. The Patient History and Documentation
• Taking a Medical History for a Paper Medical Record
4. Vital Signs and Measurements
• Measuring an Oral Temperature Using an Electronic Thermometer
• Measuring an Aural Temperature Using a Tympanic Thermometer
• Measuring a Temperature Using a Temporal Artery Thermometer
• Measuring a Rectal Temperature Using a Digital Thermometer
• Measuring an Axillary Temperature
• Measuring an Oral Temperature Using a Disposable Oral Strip Thermometer
• Measuring a Radial Pulse
• Taking an Apical Pulse
• Measuring the Respiration Rate
• Measuring Blood Pressure
• Measuring Height
• Measuring Adult Weight
5. The Physical Examination
• Assisting with a Complete Physical Examination