Medical Assistant – Credit Program at CWI

CWI Medical Assistant Credit Program

If I can help patients get to a place where they're comfortable and confident, I've done beyond what I ever imagined I could in the medical field. Jacquelyn Acance, CMA (AAMA)

A Medical Assistant performs administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by a physician.

The Medical Assistant program at CWI offers you two pathways for your future career as a Medical Assistant:

An Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) where you complete a semester of pre-requisites then two semesters of Medical Assistant classes.
An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree where you complete the ITC and an additional semester of healthcare focused courses, which are available online, to receive an associate degree in addition to the ITC.

Please note, the Medical Assistant program no longer requires a supplemental application process. You are encouraged to review the Plan of Study for your desired pathway and meet with an advisor with questions or for guidance.

Healthcare Information Sessions

Want to learn more about this program and other healthcare programs at CWI? Join a Healthcare Information Session to learn about the programs, what you can do to prepare for the programs, meet advisors and instructors, and ask questions.

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Statement of Accreditation

The Medical Assistant Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) at College of Western Idaho is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). This program meets the standards set in the education of quality patient care by competent well-trained professionals.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
www.caahep.org

The following is the aggregate outcome from our 2021 Annual Report Form (ARF) from MAERB for our 2019 cohort:

Medical Assisting Program at CWI has average retention rate of 100 percent.
Medical Assisting Program at CWI has a job placement average rate of 97.78 percent.
Medical Assisting Program at CWI has an average employer satisfaction rate of 100 percent.
Medical Assisting Program at CWI has an average graduate satisfaction rate of 100 percent.

Mission

1. To prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), Psychomotor (skills) and effective (behavior) learning domains.
2. To prepare medical assistant students to successfully complete the CMA examination and practice as skilled practitioners.
3. To provide real life learning experiences to assist graduates in master of performing administrative and clerical skills to provide quality healthcare.
4. To provide a competent entry level Medical Assistant program to Treasure Valley in number sufficient to meet the needs of the health care community.

What You Will Learn to Do

Working understanding of medical office practices that include:
Soft skills necessary for scheduling and patient interactions
Working understanding of Electronic Medical Records
Use of medical records coding systems as ICD10 and CPT codes
Understanding and practice of HIPPA regulations
Knowledge of Medical Law and Ethics
Clinical skills that include:
Proficiency taking vital signs, removing sutures, giving injections and immunizations, performing EKG, urinalysis, CLIA waive tests and other labs
Proficiency with phlebotomy, assisting physician with minor surgical procedures, prepping and wrapping instruments used in minor surgical procedures

Additional Opportunities

A Certified Medical Assistant credit program is being requested by the industry, specifically local hospitals, to meet the demand for Certified Medical Assistants in outpatient clinic settings.

Degrees and Certificates

Medical Assistant - Associate of Applied Science Degree

YEARS

AAS

Course Delivery Styles: In-Person, Hybrid

Plan of Study - Spring Start

View Full Catalog

Medical Assistant - Intermediate Technical Certificate

1.5

YEARS

ITC

Course Delivery Styles: In-Person

Plan of Study - Spring Start

View Full Catalog

Important Dates for Credit Programs


	Summer 2023	Fall 2023	Spring 2024
Priority Registration Begins¹	N/A	April 10	Nov. 13, 2023
Open Registration Begins	Feb. 27	April 17	Nov. 20, 2023
Financial Aid Priority Deadline	May 13	July 29	Dec. 16, 2023
Admission Deadline²	May 27	Aug. 12	Jan. 6
Last Day to Register for Classes	June 2	Aug. 18	Jan. 12
Tuition and Fees Due	June 2	Aug. 18	Jan. 12
Classes Begin³	June 5	Aug. 21	Jan. 16
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based on their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time.
2 The admission deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines for the fall and spring semesters.
3 Classes in shorter sessions (including 4-, 5-, and 8-week sessions) may begin before or after this date. Please refer to the Registration and Refund Deadlines by Class Section Dates (located beneath each semester) of the Academic Calendar for more information.

Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes

Excellent written and oral communication skills
A desire to serve others
Exactness and precise attention to detail
Computer Literacy Skills
Health-oriented professional image
Completion of pre-requisite Biology and Medical Terminology, as well as core Math, Psychology, English and Communications

Advising

Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.

Connecting With Ideas

Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is the first semester student success course designed to help CWI students become engaged members of the academic community and cultivate habits for lifelong achievement and success. Each semester, students can select from a variety of themes. More information about next semesters CWI 101 themes

Transfer

Look beyond your degree at CWI and plan for continuing your education by working closely with CWI advising and representatives of your intended transfer school. Planning before you transfer can save you time and money. Visit Transfer Information for more information or contact One Stop Student Services.

Financial Aid Available

Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.

Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to spur demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.

Medical Assistants are the most versatile allied health professionals. They are cross-trained to perform clinical and administrative responsibilities. Medical Assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Most full-time Medical Assistants work a regular 40-hour week. Some work part-time, evenings, or weekends.

O*Net OnLine Career One Stop

Program Department Chair

Sabina Omair

Department Chair

CCMA

Dept of Health Professions

208.562.2409

sabinaomair@cwi.edu

Instructor(s)

Colleen Conklin

Instructor

RMA, CMA

Medical Admin Program

208.562.2321

colleenconklin@cwi.edu

Ashley Robison

Instructor

M.Ed., BS, RMA

Medical Assistant Program

208.562.2593

ashleyrobison@cwi.edu

Respectful Community

The College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX

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CWI Medical Assistant Credit Program