MEDICAL ASSISTING COURSES

(please see the MPC catalog for detailed/official course descriptions and program requirements; also see SUGGESTED ORDER OF COURSES for MEDA majors through certificate links from the MEDA webpage)

MEDA 100 – INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CAREERS 
This 1-unit 8-week course covers general concepts that apply to working in health care. Students learn about pathways to a variety of health careers. Online and in-person sections are available. Available at both the Monterey and Marina locations (check semester schedules).
Recommended for:  First semester MEDA students. May also be taken by non-majors for general interest or as an elective. This course has no prerequisites.

MEDA 101 – LAW, ETHICS AND IT SECURITY
This is a 3-unit lecture course covering legal, ethical and regulatory issues as they relate to patient safety, working in healthcare and IT security. Critical thinking is emphasized through scenarios and discussions. Offered entirely online each fall and spring semester.
Recommended for: Required for all MEDA students. May also be taken for general interest or continuing education. There are no prerequisites for this course.

MEDA 105 – MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 
This 4-unit lecture course is offered online and in person every fall and spring. May also be offered in summer. It provides an overview of anatomical structures and function with a heavy focus on spelling, use and meaning of medical terms. 
Recommended for: Required for all MEDA students. As a co-requisite for MEDA 120, MA majors are advised to take this course in the first semester. The course is widely accepted as a prerequisite for health programs throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Since there are no prerequisites, this course is also appropriate for general interest or continuing education. Offered online each fall, spring and summer. Also offered in class some semesters. 

MEDA 110 – MEDICAL OFFICE PROCEDURES
This course is a mixture of lecture and lab, covering professional skills and hands-on medical office applications. Emphasis is placed on teamwork. Offered in fall at the Monterey location and in spring at the Marina Education Center.
Recommended for: Required for MA and MOA majors. This course has prerequisites!

MEDA 112 – MEDICAL OFFICE COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Learn how to use a computer to perform medical practice functions from entering payments to documenting a medical history. This course is offered online in spring and fall semesters.
Required for all MEDA majors. This course has prerequisites!

MEDA 113 – MEDICAL PROCEDURE CODING
Covers procedural coding for outpatient services. This specialized course is offered online each fall. 
Recommended for: MOICS majors. General interest. Continuing education for health personnel. 

MEDA 114 – MEDICAL INSURANCE
This course covers types of medical insurance and billing rules. Offered online each fall and spring.
Recommended for: All MEDA majors. General interest. Continuing education.

MEDA 116 – MEDICAL LINGUISTICS AND TRANSCRIPTION
Students learn how to transform voice files into professional medical documents using transcription software. Real-time scribing is also explored and practiced. This is a hybrid course - you do some of the work at home and meet once a week in class. Offered each fall and spring.
Recommended for: MA and MOA majors. General interest. This course has prerequisites!

MEDA 117 – MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS CODING
Covers diagnostic coding for outpatient services. This specialized course is offered online in spring. Recommended for: MOICS majors. General interest. Continuing education for health personnel. 

MEDA 118 – PHARMACOLOGY AND HUMAN DISEASE
This course explores common medications – including origins, design, use, mechanism of action and side effects. This lecture course prepares health professionals to identify and document medications. While medication administration is discussed, it is not practiced in this course (MA students learn this in detail in MEDA 122). This course is offered online each fall and spring and may be available in person some semesters. 
Recommended for: All MEDA majors. General interest. Continuing education.

MEDA 120 – CLINICAL TECHNIQUES I
Built upon the necessary background theory, fundamental hands-on skills are covered for medical assistants, including vital signs, exam assistance, wound care, instrument identification and sterilization techniques. This course is offered in fall at the Monterey campus and in spring at the Marina Education Center. 
Recommended for: First-semester MA students. General interest. Continuing education. MEDA 105 is a corequisite!

MEDA 121 – CLINICAL TECHNIQUES II
Medical specialties are covered in this course. Students learn the art of efficient patient rooming and performance of/preparation for specialty procedures. This course is offered in spring at the Monterey campus and in fall at the Marina Education Center. Skills from MEDA 120 are continually practiced,
Recommended for: Second-semester MA students. This course has prerequisites!

MEDA 122 – CLINICAL TECHNIQUES III
Students learn to responsibly administer medications, including by injection. Blood draws are learned and performed. Basic microbiology procedures are covered as well as specimen processing and handling. Skills from this and the preceding clinical courses are practiced until mastered. Successful students will become eligible for externships. This course is offered in fall at the Monterey campus and in spring at the Marina Education Center.
Recommended for: Third-semester MA students. This course has prerequisites!

MEDA 130 – CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP
MA students get to apply their skills in real clinical settings in this 160-hour course. Offered every semester.
Only available to MA graduates from MPCs MEDA program. 

MEDA 123 – MEDICAL ASSISTING CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION
This 2-unit online course is appropriate for recent graduates of MPCs or other MA programs. Students study and prepare for national examination through AAMA or AMT. 

MEDA 251 – Community Health Worker Level 1 
This 3 unit course provides an overview of the healthcare industry and introduces the student to the role of a community health worker. Tools for patient engagement, communication, outreach and case management are explored through scenarios and projects. Portions of instruction may be offered online; may also be offered fully online.