MA 229 - Professionalism in the Medical Office

Credit Hours: 2

Students will develop professional soft skills to be applied while interacting with patients, office personnel, and supervisors within a medical setting. Discussion and analysis of best practices regarding communication in healthcare will be emphasized. Principles of professionalism, empathy, and interpersonal communication theory are presented from various viewpoints. Students will practice using therapeutic communication strategies with diverse patient populations. Constructive feedback techniques will be studied. Medical office soft skills will be refined using simulation software. A career portfolio will be created, and students will learn how to use a portfolio during an interview and as a professional development/advancement tool. LinkedIn profiles will be created.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Refine soft skills applied in a medical office setting
Develop therapeutic communication skills when interacting with patients
Demonstrate ability to give and receive constructive criticism in a professional setting
Understand the significance of professionalism in the medical office
Create updated employment documents - resume, professional references, cover letters
Develop a professional portfolio to be used for job searching and career advancement

Prerequisites: MA 117 and MA 119
F/S (N)

Reminder: To be eligible for an Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting, students must attain a C average or better in all MA courses