COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Program Outcomes Validation Report
June 29, 2010
Medical Assisting Program
Allied Health Professions Department
Career and Technical Programs Division
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Polly Owen, Ph.D, RN, Dean, Career and Technical Programs
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Connie Grossman, M.Ed., Chairperson
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Fauna Stout, BS, Program Coordinator
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Section 1, Introduction to the program
3. Section 2, Review Resources
4. Section 3, Validation of Program Outcomes
5. Section 4, Implications of Results and Plans for Revision of Curriculum/Outcomes
6. Appendix A
7. Appendix B
8. Appendix C
9. Appendix D
10. Appendix E
Executive Summary
The Medical Assistant Technology at Columbus State Community College was approved and initiated in 1996, and continues with both the Certificate Program and the Medical Assisting Management ATS Degree Program. Medical Assisting is one of the fastest growing technologies in healthcare, providing our community with individuals trained to work directly under the direct supervision of physicians.
In April of 1999 the CSCC MAT program received CAAHEP accreditation in collaboration with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) as an associate degree program. In 2006 the program was converted to a one plus one program in which students can follow the plan of study for the Medical Assisting Certificate Program and then choose to continue at CSCC to achieve the Medical Assisting Management ATS degree. The Certificate program is four quarters (in sequence) and requires 55.5 total credit hours of basic, general and technical education courses. The Medical Assisting Management ATS degree is 103.5 (or 104.5) total credit hours; once students have started the technology courses they must maintain the sequence of the MAT courses.
The Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) which is an autonomous unit within the AAMA Endowment conducts program reviews, based on CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) Standards and Guidelines for maintaining the status of accreditation. As a required component of the annual report file (ARF), the program analyzes its resources by surveying students, personnel, program advisory committee, employers of students, and externship site supervisors. Surveys are conducted in the following areas: 1) Skills list for externship sites, 2) Practicum evaluation of student, 3) Students evaluation of practicum site,
4) graduate surveys, 5) employer surveys, and 6) instructor surveys. ARF reports for 2006, 2007, and 2008 have all met threshold requirements of CAAHEP, therefore CSCC continues to be in good standing with the MAERB.
The process to validate the program outcomes included an internal and external analysis. An internal audit of CAAHEP standards and guidelines was performed for the MAT technology curriculum. The internal review process was conducted by producing a mapping grid of the 2008 Standard Guidelines. The program outcomes were listed within the grid in accordance to those courses, text-workbook, assessment, and competencies which represented those outcomes. The external analysis was based on CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) examination results which show results analysis of data in general, administrative, clinical, and overall categories. External analysis was also obtained by way of the advisory board survey.
Section 1: Introduction to Program
The Medical Assisting Program at Columbus State Community College was developed in response to community needs for trained Medical Assistants and the first class was admitted in autumn of 1996. The program is accredited by The Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) in collaboration with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) and received an eight year reaccreditation in September 2008.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) defines Medical Assisting as a multi-skilled allied health profession whose practitioners work primarily in ambulatory care settings, such as offices and clinics. Medical Assistants function as part of the healthcare team and perform administrative and clinical duties. (Adopted by the AAMA Board of Trustees, 1991)
As a health care profession, Medical Assisting is practiced under the direct supervision of a physician. Medical Assistants are Certified or Registered depending on the respective exam which is taken. Certification is through the AAMA, whereas Registration is through the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Students that attend and complete CAAHEP approved schools are eligible to become registered through the American Registry of Medical Assistants without testing (fee required only).
The curriculum for Medical Assisting includes, but not limited to, the following content:
o Anatomy and Physiology, including Pathology/disease
o Medical Terminology
o Medical Law and Ethics
o Psychology Communication
o Communication
o Medical Assisting Administrative Procedures
o Medical Assisting Clinical Procedures
o Critical Thinking
o Patient/environment assessment skills
o Practice guidelines and patient-driven protocols
Program Outcomes
The student or graduate will be able to:
· Perform risk-management procedures and patient instruction for follow-up care, health maintenance and disease prevention.
· Properly handle and dispose of infectious waste and biohazard materials in compliance with government regulations.
· Process insurance claims including the application of managed care policies, and performing both diagnostic and procedural coding.
· Perform clerical functions to include execution of bookkeeping principles and special accounting entries.
· Maintain and perform inventory of administrative and clinical supplies and equipment following office policy.
· Perform and collect various specimens in compliance with Standard Precautions set forth by the Centers for Disease Control.
· Perform various diagnostic tests utilizing quality control procedures.
· Conduct various patient care procedures, administratively, clinically and laboratory, including preparation and administering oral and parenteral medications as directed by the physician.
· Identify medical-legal issues within the medical office, respecting confidentiality and documenting appropriately in the medical record.
Department Mission Statement
The faculty of the Columbus State Community College Medical Assisting Program support the mission and goals of the college. “Allied Health Professions Department is committed to providing accessible professional healthcare programs through quality curricula that meet rigorous accreditation standards. These technical programs maintain currency in content and advance as technology does. The programs are offered for students and in collaboration with the support of the clinical community. This community will be provided with graduates that possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are consistent with those of entry level practitioners in each of the specific disciplines”.
Description of the Program(s)
The Medical Assisting Certificate Program: can be completed in four quarters. The program consists of three hours of general education requirements, 17 hours of basic education requirements and 35.5 hours of technical education hours for a total of 55.5 credits. This program is a sequential program and courses are offered once a year, students must follow the course sequence quarter to quarter to be eligible to receive the Certificate. Students are required to perform 180 hours at an externship site (medical office, urgent care) to complete their practicum experience.
The Medical Assisting Management ATS Degree Program: can be completed in seven quarters. The program consists of 22 hours of general education requirements, 22 hours of basic education requirements and 58.5 hours of technical education hours for a total of 102.5 credits. This program is a sequential program and courses are offered once a year, students must follow the course sequence quarter to quarter to be eligible to receive the Certificate. However beyond the Certificate, students may take other courses out of sequence at their leisure. Students are required to perform 180 hours at an externship site (medical office, urgent care) to complete their practicum experence.
The program has one full time faculty: Fauna Stout, C.M.A. (AAMA), Medical Assisting A.A.S., B.S. Ed., Program Coordinator, CAAHEP Program Director, CAAHEP Practicum Director; and employs an experienced adjunct faculty to support the program. The program is a part of the Allied Health Professions Department of the Career and Technical Programs Division. The department is chaired by Connie Grossman, M.Ed., RDH.
The faculty point of view of the connection of the educational program to the employment community is a vital link in the success of the student. The externship and employment in the community provides the student with “real life” experience and guidance which ensures that program instruction is current. This also updates instructors in current health care techniques and trends, as well as provides the final evaluation of the program outcomes that are measured by CAAHEP surveys.
The faculty views the curriculum as a fundamental foundation of the program that focuses on critical thinking and active learning skills. Competencies are performed in which scenarios are given to simulate skills required by medical assistants working currently in the field. This program has completely revised starting in 2007, with the hiring of the current Program Coordinator; continuous updating of curriculum is maintained to evolve with current health care trends.
The 2008, 2009, and the 2010 classes that have followed the Medical Assisting Plan of Study breakdown as follows:
2008 Class: The age range of this group of students was 18 to 57 years of age, with 100% female and 0% male. There are 85.7 % White, 9.52% Black, 4.76% listed as unknown race. A total of 21 students enrolled into this program with an 80.9% retention rate; four students dropped during the program.
2009 Class: The age range of this group of students was 18 to 54 years of age, with 100% female and 0% male. There are 86.7% White, 6.66% Black, 6.66% listed as unknown race. A total of 14 students enrolled into this program with one former student (Mrs. Biggs class) joining this class in summer quarter to complete her Certificate and Degree. The retention rate was 80%, with a total of three students dropping from the program.
2010 Class: The age range of this group of students was 18 to 54 years of age, with 96.5% female, and 3.44% male. There are 68.9% White, 10.34% black, 6.89% Asian, 3.44% Hispanic students, and 10.34% listed as unknown race. A total of 29 students enrolled into this program with 25 students currently remaining.
Upon completion of this program, students may transfer to Franklin University where all their courses transfer to complete a Bachelor’s in Health Administration.
Section 2: Review Resources
Each year, as a part of the Annual Report Form for CAAHEP sent to the MAERB, the program surveys students and personnel (fulltime and adjunct, and advisory committee members), as well as externship supervisors and employers. CAAHEP surveys are used as the measurement tool. This includes: Graduate surveys, Employer surveys, and Externship evaluations of students. Items surveyed include personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies, learning resources, financial resources and clinical resources.
The most recent survey results (2009) indicate that all the above resourses meet or exceed the cut score of 3 on a 5 point Likert scale. Graduation survey results indicate the lowest rating (4) was given to “Helped me to acquire the medical assisting knowledge appropriate to my level of training”. See appendix A.
Graduate Survey Results
Cognitive Domain / 96%Psychomotor Domain / 95%
Affective Domain / 94%
Employer survey results indicate the lowest rating (3) was given to “How satisfied are you with this graduate as an employee”. See appendix B. Externship evaluations of students resulted in all students passing their practicum.
See appendix C.
Employer Survey Results
Cognitive Domain / 90%Psychomotor Domain / 83%
Affective Domain / 92%
Externship Evaluation of Students Results
Overall Percentile / 92%Resource surveys from students, faculty, and advisory committee members indicated that equipment was adequate; however the lab facilities were extremely inadequate, lacking proper amount of space for students to work in the laboratories.
Section 3: Validation of Program Outcomes
The validation process began with the advisory committee meeting to review the college program validation process and obtain a survey on the current program outcomes. Internal measures include an internal audit of all 2008 CAAHEP standards that relate to the current program outcomes. See appendix D. External methods of measures include evaluation of the 2008 and the 2009 Certification Examination Program Performance Reports, and the Medical Assisting Advisory Board Committee Survey. See appendix E.
To conduct the internal audit a grid was made of the 2008 CAAHEP Standards. The standards pertaining directly to the program outcomes was extracted. See appendix D. The items covered in the curriculum were identified in the following: Cognitive Description, Course Name, Text & Workbook Chapter, Test Bank Reference, Competency Number and Name. See appendix D; with the CSCC Program Outcomes listed above those to which it pertains. The results of this analysis revealed that the majority of the grid content is covered in the curriculum with a minimum number of gaps. However, Program outcome 1 (Perform risk-management procedures and patient instruction for follow-up care, health maintenance and disease prevention) was taught in many courses, however according to CAAHEP standards, a competency was needed to evaluate psychomotor outcomes. This competency has been developed and is now a part of the curriculum. All other program outcomes were taught and assessed. The curriculum pertaining to Emergency Preparedness and Safety in the Workplace, as a result of this internal audit (in accordance with CAAHEP requirements), was improved. All program outcomes were met according to the internal audit.
The two methods used for the external measurement were the 2008 and 2009 Certification Examination Program Performance Report and the Medical Assisting advisory board survey.
The Certification Examination Program Report evaluates Certification Exam results which are based on CAAHEP standards. This is a direct link to the curriculum examined with the mapping grid, in which the program outcomes are listed. See appendix D. The results indicate that the CSCC MAT program is above national standards and that CAAHEP standards and guidelines which correlate directly to the Program Outcomes have been taught. See Appendix E.
The second method of evaluation of the program outcomes is the assessment of the survey conducted with the advisory committee. The results have been evaluated with the following outcome:
Program Outcomes:
1. Program outcome 1- It is the determination of the committee that this is a valid outcome, it is suggested that the verbiage be changed to: Perform patient history, prepare patient for exam, instruct patient in follow-up care, health maintenance and disease prevention.
2. Program outcome 2 - It is the determination of the committee that this is a valid outcome, it is suggested that program outcome number two and number six be combined and organized in a more general manner such as “Infection Control Technique”.