Diné College Certified Medical Assistant
Diversity of the workforce is essential to success in the ever-changing healthcare industry. The healthcare market is diverse by definition, due to that, healthcare services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team. Thus, an increasing number of students/ professionals are always needed in the healthcare industry at various career levels. There is a significant and growing demand for certified medical assistant professionals in the fields of outpatient and inpatient care services throughout United States and especially within the Navajo Nation.
Certificate in Medical Assistant (CMA)
PROGRAM MISSION
The Medical Assistant Certificate program is aligned with Diné College Vision and Mission completely. “Through the principles and values of Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon”, rooted in Diné language and culture, our mission is to advance quality post-secondary student learning, and development to ensure the well-being of the Diné People. While, our vision is to continuously improve our programs, and services to make Diné College the exemplary higher education institution for the Diné People and their health.
ABOUT THE CMA PROGRAM
To address the significant and growing demand for certified medical assistant professionals in the fields of outpatient care services throughout the Navajo Nation, we started this “Medical Assistant Certificate Program”. The certificate program will require 37 credit hours of coursework in Medical Assisting. The Division of STEM will provide oversight for the program.
PROGRAM GOALS
The Medical Assistant Certificate program would assist in achieving the College’s vision and imperatives under these goals, and will contribute to
- Expanding out of classroom learning experiences (externships)
- Expanding cross-disciplinary learning communities and enhance student peer mentoring programs (exposure to healthcare careers)
- Enhance the awareness of faculty and their ability to teach effectively and have a global appreciation (empower)
- Develop collaborative agreements with key industry partners (community, healthcare and economic well-being)
- Broaden the type of stakeholders
By focusing on these goals, the proposed certificate program should enable students to:
Understand, integrate and apply conceptual approaches to medical assisting
Consider cultural issues and their impacts on the clients healthcare decisions
Meet the educational goals of the Medical Assisting Program are founded upon the learning domains established by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and those adopted by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Meet the Core Curriculum for Medical Assistants (2008) as established by the Medical Assisting Review Board (MAERB) utilized to prepare graduates for a career in an ambulatory health care setting that requires a multi-skilled health professional, performing both clinical and administrative duties.
Graduate as professional practitioners proficient in all entry-level competencies as set forth in the MAERB curricula. The curriculum is designed to instruct and assess students in achievement of cognitive, psychomotor and affective domain learning objectives as established by the MAERB in order to meet the educational goals.
The educational goals also include the Medical Assisting Program assessing the needs of the local community through the local advisory board and other various avenues and providing an educational program for Medical Assistants to meet their needs and respond to changes giving graduates the best possible opportunity for local employment.
The educational goals also include the Medical Assisting Program preparing graduates for the Certified Medical Assistant examination through quality curriculum, instruction, practice and assessment.
Program goals are consistent with the philosophy and mission of the College.
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
PSLO 1 Using critical thinking skills, students will be able to understand and use the vocabulary used by health professionals involved in healthcare services, public health programming, and health research.
PSLO 2 Through research and synthesizing information, students will be able to describe a chosen health care profession in detail, obtain knowledge from other students’ descriptions, and use this knowledge to reflect on their own career path.
PSLO 3 By implementing course material, students will be able to identify structures of the human body and describe their functional interrelatedness.
PSLO 4 By reflecting on and applying the significance of their educational goals, students will encompasses the supervised application of clinical and administrative skills in a Medical office setting with varied and expended level of responsibilities that may involve communication skills, record filing, patients education, patients dealing, etc.
| Program Requirements | Credits |
| Semester I | |
| CMA 160/BIO 160 Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 170, CMA 170, PUH 170 Medical Terminology | 3 |
| CMA 103 Intro to Medical Assisting | 3 |
| CMA 104 Intro to Medical Lab Techniques | 3 |
| CMA 105 Basic Mathematics, Quality Control & Statistics | 3 |
| Semester II | |
| CMA 107 Biosafety & Infection Control | 3 |
| CMA 108 Pharmacology for Medical Assistant | 4 |
| CMA 109 Ambulatory Care Clinical Procedures | 4 |
| CMA 110 Medical Office Administration | 3 |
| Summer Session | |
| CMA 111 Med Bus Practices: Admin Functions & Coding | 3 |
| CMA 113 Medical Assistant Externship (240 hrs) | 4 |
NOTES:
- All courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Students are not eligible for Title IV Financial Aid in this certificate.
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Program at Diné College Tuba City, Ariz. – Diné College, under the umbrella of STEM Division offers a one year Certificate Program in “Medical Assisting”. First cohort (10 students) of this one-year certificate program started in fall 2020 at our Tuba City Center in Collaboration with Tuba City Regional Health Care Center (TCRHCC) with focus on preparation of local workforce in primary/allied healthcare fields. These students received their graduation Certificates in fall graduation ceremony on December 10th 2021. Second cohort of 20 graduates received their certificates in fall 2022 and third cohort of 20 students is underway.
Additionally, our graduates of CMA program are being prepared for National level exam from NHA (National Healthcare Association
www.nhanow.com/about-nha/about-us) right upon completion of their program to be eligible to work anywhere in the country. An initiative that has been very well cherished by the healthcare communities and organizations throughout the reservation. Our NHA exam pass rate for the year 2021 90% (9 out of 10) and 87% (14/16) for 2022.
According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics updated September 04, 2019, the employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 23 percent from 2018 to 2028 in US, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians in outpatient care settings. These opportunities present both challenges and opportunities for academic institutions, TCUs, and healthcare organizations to initiate, develop and sustain programs in allied healthcare such as “Certified Medical Assistant” program (CMA).
We at Diné College feels that this is the need of the time to train local workforce in skilled careers, that might provoke their interest in more long term careers like Associate degrees, BS/MS/MD and PhD programs. Designed according to the “Higher Learning Commission (HLC)” requirements and the guideline provided in Appendix B of Core Curriculum for Medical Assistants, Advised by the “Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)” 2015, this program at Diné College will facilitate access, development of autonomy and innovation among students through self-motivation, discipline and resource management skills. These same skills will provide a unique skill set, students will need to succeed as professionals in challenging and exciting healthcare positions and as citizens in our increasing global society.
This program provides our Navajo students the complete academic and hands on training at their local campuses and local healthcare services centers, not far from home, weekend classes (every Saturday and Sunday), so even with their continued employment and family responsibilities; students can attend the classes. Face-to-Face interaction with the faculty and hands on training at both Diné College and Tuba city Regional Healthcare Center (TCRHCC) will increase the percentage of locally trained workforce and Job opportunities for the local communities.
This is an open opportunity at Diné College for those who want to serve their community via healthcare, and hoping this “Certified Medical Assistant Program” will be the stepping-stone for more allied healthcare certification/degree programs to help and serve the Navajo Nation in particular.
| Program Requirements | Credits |
| Semester I | |
| CMA 160/BIO 160 Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology | 4 |
| CMA 170/BIO 170 Medical Terminology | 4 |
| CMA 103 Introduction to Medical Assisting | 3 |
| CMA 104 Introduction to Medical Lab Techniques | 3 |
| CMA 105 Basic Mathematics, Quality Control & Statistics | 3 |
CMA Exam 1: Mid-program Review and Exam: On completion of courses listed as prerequisites in semester one, the Certified Medical Assistant Program, students will appear for a Mid-Program Review and Exam to monitor their level of understanding, progress and deficiencies. It is mandatory to pass this exam in order to move forward in the program.
| Semester II | |
| CMA 107 Biosafety & Infection Control | 3 |
| CMA 108 Pharmacology for Medical Assistant/Lab | 4 |
| CMA 109 Ambulatory Care Clinical Procedures | 4 |
| CMA 110 Medical Office Administration | 3 |
Graduation Requires: Successful completion of CMA Exam 1, CMA Exam 2 and Internship (minimum GPA 2.5 or a C grade)
DEAN'S OFFICE
Acting Dean, School of STEM
Tuba City Campus
Phone: (928) 283-5113 ext. 07520
Research Labs: 7538, 7539
Email: stabassum@dinecollege.edu
Administrative Assistant
Tsaile Campus
Phone: 928-724-6731
Email: syazzie@dinecollege.edu