Medical Assistant

A busy clinic runs on people who can book a procedure, update a chart and prepare an exam room in the same hour. RRC Polytech’s Medical Assistant programme is a 10-month certificate at the South Winnipeg Campus that trains you to give administrative and clinical support to physicians, hospitals and medical offices.

Term 1 builds the healthcare foundation: Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Medical Terminology, Human Health Conditions and Disease States, Human Development for Healthcare Professionals, Introduction to the Healthcare Environment, Communication in Healthcare, Communication Essentials, Software Application Skills and Global Citizen. Term 2 is hands-on office and clinic practice through Medical Office Communications, Medical Office Correspondence, Medical Procedure Coordination and Billing, Electronic Medical Record Application, and Medical Clinical Procedures 1 and 2.

The Electronic Medical Record Application course takes you from basic functions to advanced features of EMR software, while the two Medical Clinical Procedures courses develop practical clinic skills and patient care. In Term 3 you complete either the Medical Assistant Practicum, an unpaid preceptor-led placement under a physician, medical office manager or Medical Assistant, or the Healthcare Applied Capstone Project. Because you will work around patients, progression requires a criminal record check with vulnerable sector search, child and adult abuse registry checks and healthcare immunizations.

Graduates can work as medical office assistants, clinic assistants, medical receptionists, surgical booking coordinators, medical billing clerks and unit clerks in hospitals and physicians’ offices. The programme suits organised, calm communicators with an interest in biology who want a patient-facing role that mixes paperwork, technology and clinical tasks.