Our fundamental purpose as a vocational-technical high school is to ensure that all learners are college and career-ready upon graduation. Medical Assisting is a multifaceted profession within healthcare that includes working in an administrative and/or clinical role. The Medical Assisting program at Diman Regional High School is dedicated to providing theory and technical skills necessary to gain successful employment as a medical assistant, begin to build a professional network with individuals within the medical field, and gain exposure to a myriad of employment opportunities.

Medical assistants are employed in physician’s offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other specialty settings. Graduates of the medical assisting program will possess the important skills needed to be successful in today’s industry with the ability to learn, change, and adapt. The underlying fundamentals of the program will include career and technical training, integrated with English, math, related science, and safety training (that will meet and exceed OSHA Safety training) to provide each student with the background to advance educationally, as well as professionally. The course instruction utilizes the competencies from the Medical Assisting Vocational Technical Educational (VTE) Frameworks and the objectives contained within the six strands of the VTE Frameworks allowing students to sit for national certification. Emphasis is put on the obtainment of 21st-century skills, designed to promote an environment of problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration/teamwork, and resourcefulness through rigorous project-based learning.  It is the goal of the Medical Assisting program to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to meet the needs of the local communities of interest.

Program Learning Experience

As a freshman, students can expect an introduction to the profession of medical assisting during their exploratory program. In the second semester, students will continue that exploration with an emphasis on safety and building foundational skills. Students will begin to learn the language of medicine and the necessary communication skills that will not only be important to their function as a medical assistant but will aid in their success as a student and/or employee in any setting. Students will receive training in assisting with the physical exam and responding to patients' needs and learn important infection control procedures. 

Sophomores will continue the medical assisting shop with a systems approach. They will learn the medical terminology, abbreviations, anatomy and physiology, and medication categories of the body systems. Clinical skills within the scope of practice for medical assistants and related to the body system being studied will be practiced with a focus on safety, communication, infection control, and charting. Additionally, students will be introduced to administrative duties including the use of electronic health records (EHR), scheduling, and the revenue cycle.

Juniors will continue to strengthen their knowledge of safety, communication, administrative functions, infection control, and medical terminology. In a systems approach, they will learn pathophysiology including various diagnostic testing, medication administration, and lab skills that fall within the scope of practice for medical assistants. Students will participate in a clinical externship and eligible students will be able to participate in Co-op.

Seniors who do not participate in Co-op will further their education in advanced areas of medical assisting as they prepare for and take certification exams in a number of areas.

Certification Exams

Students who successfully complete a Chapter-74 Medical Assisting program will be eligible to sit for various certification exams. These may include:

• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
• Certified EKG Technician (CET)
• Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
• Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)
• American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid
• American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR
• OSHA 10-hour General Industry (Healthcare)