Medical assistants are multiskilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.
General Knowledge
General knowledge that will be learned in the beginning of the training to help you be successful in your more advanced classes may include:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical law and ethics
- Psychology for the medical professional
- Workplace relations
- Computer literacy
- English and writing for the medical assistant
- Basic accounting procedures
Medical Assisting Administrative Skills (front office)
Assisting the physician by taking care of patients’ administrative needs which could include:
- Managing  appointments
- Accounting/bookkeeping
- Coding procedures
- Insurance processing
- Phone calls
- Assisting patients in checking in and out
- Telephone techniques
- Opening and closing the office
- Maintainence of equipment
- Inventory ordering
- Pamphlet development
- Safety
- Emergency contact list
Medical Assisting Clinical Skills (back office)
Assisting the physician in providing care will include the following skills:
- OSHA regulations
- Infection control
- Personal protective equipment
- Safety equipment
- Disinfecting and sterile techniques
- Autoclaving instruments for infection control
- Cleaning wounds/bandaging
- Minor surgery/suture removal
- Assisting with exams
- Patient education
- Vital signs
- Well child care
- Breathing techniques/tests
- Electrocardiogram
- Ear lavage
- Dosage calculation
- Injections
- Laboratory procedures
- Specimen collection/tests
- Phlebotomy skills
- Patient triage (phone and In-person)
- Administration of medications
- Emergency procedures
Externship Experience
When you have completed all the courses for Medical Assisting, there will be a 240-hour externship that will need to be completed in an ambulatory care clinic or physician’s office. This experience is required for completion of the program. The student will not be paid for this experience. The program coordinator will work closely with you to help you determine the best place for you to complete this experience.
Admission Requirements
- Please meet with a counselor to schedule testing and to receive the application packet
- Accuplacer reading score of 72, DRP (Degree of Reading Power) 70, or ACT reading score of 22
- Accuplacer math score of 65, ACT math score of 17, TABE 80%, or successful completion of OWATC Math I course
- Completed application including physical examination, record of immunizations, completion of interviewing a medical assistant, and the signed statement of responsibility that is in the Medical Assisting Student Handbook (that can be purchased at the college bookstore)
- Copy of your high school diploma or GED or other equivalent
- A background check is required for all students prior to enrolling in the Medical Assisting program
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are enrolling in any health occupation program, any misdemeanor or felony conviction relating to drug offenses, assault/violent crimes, sexual assault, fraud, or theft that you have on your record, will result in the college not being able to place you in a clinical or externship site. As a result, you will not be able to complete the program. See your program coordinator for more detailed information.
The Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB) which works with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs can be contacted at 1361 Park Street,  Clearwater, FL 33756 or at (727) 210-2350. The Commission’s web address is www.caahep.org. Students who complete the Medical Assisting Program are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Employer Advisory Team:
- IHC
- Health Clinics of Utah
- Mountain Star Pediatrics
- Ogden Clinic
- McKay-Dee Porter Family Medicine
- Medical Arts Clinic
- Midtown Community Health Center
- Tanner Clinic
Your Instructor(s)
Emma Anderson, CMA (AAMA), RPT, is the coordinator of the Medical Assisting program. She has over 35 years of experience in the medical assisting field including working as a medical assistant in a busy clinic and in medical assisting education. Mrs. Anderson is an active member of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and of the Utah State Society of Medical Assistants (USSMA). She has served in many positions including president of the USSMA. She currently is the membership representative on the board.  She is a site surveyor for the AAMA, surveying programs across the nation for their Accreditation with Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP). Randy Hodges, AAS, AHI, is the health science instructor that supports many of the allied health programs at the college. For many students, his classes will be the first exposure they will have in the field of medical assisting. Students will complete coursework in medical terminology and anatomy and physiology before they progress in the medical assisting program. Mr. Hodges served as a medical technician for nearly 22 years in the United States Air Force before joining our staff. He holds an associate of applied science degree from the Community College of the Air Force and is currently a certified allied health instructor and member of American Medical Technicians. Marilyn Everton, CMA (AAMA), PhT, is a graduate of the tech college Medical Assisting program and has an associate degree in medical assisting. She has worked in the medical field and has been an instructor at the tech college for 15 years. Mrs. Everton also received a pharmacy technician license and worked in a pharmacy as a pharmacy technician. She is an active member of the AAMA and USSMA where she has served in several positions on the board. Hal Barfuss, CMA (AAMA), has over 30 years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, disposal of hazardous waste trainer, and instructor with ATK. Mr. Barfuss served in the United States Navy. Mr. Barfuss completed the tech college Medical Assisting program and is working at Tanner Clinic on call. He is an active member of the AAMA and USSMA. He helps us as we need him and has been a great addition to our staff.
