J. F. Drake State Technical College - Alabama

Course Details

Medical Assisting Technology

Course Description

The Medical Assisting Program is intended to prepare students to provide patient care in physician’s offices, minor emergency centers, long-term care facilities, and other types of free-standing medical clinics. In the clinical role, the medical assistant provides assistance to the physician during assessment and examination of patients, treatment interventions, and in-office diagnostic protocols. Students in this program will learn to perform physical assessments, take medical histories, take and record vital signs, administer medications, assist with diagnostic procedures, take electrocardiograms, interpret life-threatening arrhythmias, perform venipuncture, and interpret basic laboratory results. The program's mission seeks to satisfy the diverse needs and academic pursuits of the community by offering Medical Assistant courses to students preparing for a career as a medical assistant, at a reasonable cost.

Course Duration

NumberDuration
1year

Career outcomes

According to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook publication, employment for Medical Assistants is expected to grow 34% from 2008 to 2018. The annual report cites the increasing prevalence of conditions, such as obesity and diabetes and an aging population, as factors contributing to the demand for healthcare services and medical assistants. Utilizing multi-skilled medical assistants allows doctors to care for more patients and will further stimulate job growth for this sector of the medical field. Also driving the growth in this field is the increasing number of medical practices, clinics and other healthcare facilities that utilize a high proportion of support personnel, particularly medical assistants, who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. Additional information is available from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.




Medical Assisting Technology J. F. Drake State Technical College - Alabama