WDT to begin Medical Assistant program
Western Dakota Tech will start a Medical Assistant program to meet the needs of healthcare providers across South Dakota.
The new Associate of Applied Science degree will begin in the Fall 2010 semester. WDT is now accepting applications for the program’s 24 seats.
“This program will prepare students for the growing medical assistant field,” program coordinator and registered nurse Donita O’Meara said. “This career offers variety, opportunities for direct patient care, and lots of growth.”
The Medical Assistant program prepares students for a variety of careers in the medical profession. Students will complete courses in cardiac monitoring, pathophysiology, medical law, pharmacology, coding, phlebotomy, and others. Students also will complete clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings.
A medical assistant is a professional multi-skilled person who assists in all aspects of medical care and is primarily employed in a medical office setting. Medical assistants help the physician with patient care management, execute administrative and clinical procedures, and perform managerial functions.
Administrative duties may include using computer applications; answering telephones; greeting patients; updating and filing patient medical records; coding and filling out insurance forms; scheduling appointments; arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services; and handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping in a medical office setting.
Clinical duties may include taking medical histories, taking vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during the exam, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, instructing patients about medication and special diets, preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician, and taking electrocardiograms.
“WDT is starting the program with the cooperation and assistance of many of the hospitals and healthcare providers in the region,” O’Meara said. “We designed the curriculum to meet the evolving needs of outpatient healthcare systems.”
Medical assisting is a rapidly growing and expanding career. Between 2006 and 2016, the need for medical assistants is expected to grow by 39 percent, according to projections from the South Dakota Department of Labor. Nationally, the need will grow by 34 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Besides providing skilled workers for a growing field, the program will play a direct role in addressing the nurse shortage in western South Dakota. Medical assistants free nurses from clinical and administrative outpatient duties so they can be placed in positions that more fully and properly use their inpatient nursing skills.
“We are excited about this program,” O’Meara said. “It will provide opportunities for students and improve our community’s healthcare system. We can’t wait to get started.”
For information about the medical assistant program, contact WDT at (605) 718-2565, (800) 544-8765, or admissions@wdt.edu. Visit WDT on the web at www.wdt.edu.
Western Dakota Tech is the only technical institute that serves the western South Dakota region. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction Trades, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades, and Science and Technology. More than 94 percent of WDT graduates are placed in careers within six months of graduation, and more than 82 percent live and work in South Dakota.
WDT faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.