Essential Functions: Medical Assistant Program

Medical Assistants working in the field must have the ability to perform the functions listed below safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice.

Disability Act Statement: Madison College complies with all provisions of the American with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request for qualified individuals. If you believe you may need accommodations to assist you in performing the functions listed below, please contact the Disability Resources Services (DRS) office at (608)246-6716 or (800)322-6282 ext. 6716 (deaf students via Relay 711) or email(link sends e-mail).

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment and professional behavior.

  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Identify cause-effect relationship in clinical settings
  • Prioritize and flex with change
  • Follow a process from start to finish, utilizing sequential established steps

Interpersonal Skills: Abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.

  • Establish good rapport with patients, teachers, classmates and coworkers
  • Be sensitive to needs of others

Communication: Abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.

  • Follow written and oral directions
  • Enter and retrieve data on a computer terminal

Mobility: Abilities sufficient to move quickly from place to place and maneuver in small spaces. Tolerance for walking, standing, stooping, and bending. May need to maintain awkward positions for prolonged time.

  • Assist with patient transfers
  • Maneuver and move quickly in examination rooms, labs and hallways

Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care.

  • Type minimum of 25 wpm
  • Calibrate and use equipment
  • Manipulate small specimen collection

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor warnings or procedure termination signals.

  • Recognize and respond to instruments, equipment and assess patient needs
  • Hear auscultatory sounds

Vision: Ability sufficient to monitor equipment and assess patient needs.

  • Observe patient responses
  • Read gauges and instrument printouts accurately
  • Discern variations in color and intensity

Touch: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

  • Palpate for veins with gloves on
  • Palpate for pulses

Emotional Endurance: Ability to work in high stress environment, respond to emergencies and maintain emotional control.

  • Calmly react to urgent situations

Environmental Safety: Ability to protect self and others from environmental risks and hazards.

  • Tolerate frequent hand washing
  • Use germicides and bodily fluids precautions