Gloria Adams, Program Coordinator/Instructor
The Medical Assisting Technology (MET) Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP, 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775: telephone: 727-210-2350. Upon successful completion of the technical program, the student will be eligible to take a national certification examination.
The Medical Assisting Technology Program consists of courses in general education, health courses and related technical courses. Students gain practical experience through various clinical rotations at area health care facilities.
MCC’s Medical Assisting Technology Program gives students the knowledge and skills to help ensure job placement into the ever-growing medical field. Medical Assisting is a multi-skilled health education profession whose practitioners work primarily in ambulatory settings, such as medical offices and clinics. Medical Assistants function as members of the health care delivery team and perform both business administrative and clinical procedures.
The business administrative duties include scheduling and receiving patients; obtaining patients’ data; maintaining medical records; handling telephone calls, correspondence, reports, and manuscripts; assuming responsibility for office care; and handling insurance matters, office accounts, fees, and collections. The clinical duties include preparing patients for examination, obtaining vital signs, taking medical histories, assisting with examinations and treatments, performing routine office laboratory procedures and electrocardiograms, preparing and administrating medications and immunizations, sterilizing instruments and equipment for office procedures, and instructing patients in preparation of X-ray and laboratory examinations. Both business administrative and clinical duties involve purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment.
Mississippi Law requires health care professionals or Career Technical Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services to submit to criminal background checks and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed health care entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background checks of the student disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23 (g), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study, nor will he/she be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity.
If a student currently enrolled in Medical Assisting Technology is prohibited from participating in clinical experiences by any clinical affiliate of Meridian Community College (e.g., positive drug screen, gregarious behavior, violation of patient safety, non-compliance with the College’s “Student Behavior Code,” etc.), then the student will be dismissed from the program of study. The student is not eligible for program readmission unless the clinical restriction is removed.
In addition to the disqualifying events listed in Section 37-29-232 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 annotated, clinical affiliates may, at their discretion, refuse to provide clinical experiences to any student whom the clinical affiliates feel are not suitable for employment or for the clinical experience setting.
Any drug conviction; bodily harm, neglect or abuse, or felony DUI conviction within a year of the starting date of class is cause for denial of the clinical experience setting. Any convictions more than a year beyond the starting date of class will be examined by the “Review Standards Committee” with a decision rendered if the student is allowed to participate in the clinical experience setting. Any charges pending a resolution will require documentation of disposition from the student.
Progression: To meet graduation requirements for this program, students must successfully complete the specified courses listed below with a “C” average (GPA of 2.00) or better. A grade of “C” or higher is required in each MET course to progress in the program. Courses must be taken sequentially, and competencies stated in each course syllabus must be met.
Minimum admission requirements are as follows (in addition to general admission requirements):
Attain a 16 composite score on the ACT;
Or
Score a 251 or higher on the ACCUPLACER NG Reading Section and a 251 or above on the ACCUPLACER NG Arithmetic Section (or 231 on the ACCUPLACER NG Algebra QAS Section);
Or
Complete 15 hours or more with a “C” average at an accredited college or university. Developmental coursework does not satisfy this requirement;
And
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (“C” average) on college coursework;
And
Attend a MET Information Session. Students will be notified by letter from the Registrar’s Office about scheduling an Information Session after other requirements have been met.
Admission is competitive, and specific admission requirements must be met. All requirements and required application materials are due by May 1, preceding the fall admission desired. The deadline will be extended, if needed, until maximum enrollment is met.
The MET Admissions Committee will select each year’s class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum admission requirements. Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission. The admission process is competitive, and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission. Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows: 1) In-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC; 2) Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC; 3) Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework elsewhere; 4) Out-of-state students. Check with the Health Education advisor for selection details and deadlines.
After program admission and prior to classes beginning, students must present an American Heart Association CPR certification and proof of immunization for MMR. A background check, a Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test, and a random drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment. All students admitted into the program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and a background check, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories. These fees will be attached as registration fees. There are certain convictions that will prevent an individual from being eligible to participate in clinical experiences. If a student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, he/she will be dismissed from the Program. For additional information, contact the health education counselor or your advisor.
Students in the Medical Assisting Technology Program must attend MCC full-time (12 or more semester credit hours).
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