MEDA 118 Clinical Skills: Ambulatory

5 credits

Introduction to patient care, charting, and clinical procedures in the medical office. Includes medical asepsis, standard precautions, vital signs, preparing patients and rooms for examinations, pediatric and OB procedures, minor office procedures, physical exams, ambulatory aids, wheelchair, and instrument identification.

Prerequisites: ENGL 99 (or placement into ENGL& 101 or higher), MATH 87 or AHSE 66 (or placement into MATH 98 or higher), and BIOL& 175 (or BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242)

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Accurately measure and record:
- blood pressure
- temperature
- pulse
- respirations
- height
- weight (adult and infant)
- length (infant)
- head circumference (infant)
- oxygen saturation
Instruct and prepare a patient for a procedure or a treatment
Document on a growth chart
Assist provider with a patient exam
Perform hand washing
Prepare items for autoclaving
Perform sterilization procedures
Prepare a sterile field
Perform within a sterile field
Perform wound care
Perform dressing change
Demonstrate proper disposal of biohazardous material:
- sharps
- regulated wastes

Program Outcomes
This course teaches to the following program outcomes:

be prepared to obtain an entry-level position in their field
be prepared to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties
meet CAAHEP Standards in the areas of cognitive and psychomotor skills
be prepared to pass the CMA (AAMA) exam

College-Wide Learning Outcomes
This course teaches to the college-wide learning outcome of Information Literacy, the ability to recognize when information is needed, to choose the appropriate tools to locate the required information, and to effectively gather and evaluate the information.

Total Hours: 70 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 30 Guided Practice (Lab or Clinical) Hours: 40