The Clinical Medical Assistant: Alternative Medicine Specialization program prepares learners to deliver high‑quality clinical support in both traditional healthcare and alternative medicine settings. Offered by our accredited school partners, the program combines core clinical medical assisting competencies with specialized knowledge for holistic and integrative care environments, preparing learners to work confidently alongside physicians and alternative medicine practitioners.
Module 1: Healthcare Fundamentals
• The History of Healthcare
• Healthcare Etiquette
• Professional Situations and Applications
Module 2: Communication in Healthcare
• Healthcare Teams
• Team Success
• Champions
Module 3: Medical Documentation and Record Keeping: HIPAA
• Use and Disclosure
• Real Life Scenarios
• HIPAA Laws, Policies, and Requirements
Module 4: OSHA Infection Control Compliance
• Introduction to Infection Control
• Personal Protection
• Protection of the Office Environment
• Instruments, Specialized Equipment & Laboratory Specimens
• Infectious Patients & Healthcare Workers
• Waste Management Plan
• Chemical Disinfection
• Heat Sterilization
• Exposure Control
• General Safety Standards
• Employee Training
• OSHA'S Required Records
Module 5: Medical Terminology
• Word Structure
• Prefix, Root Word, and Suffix
• Organization of the Body
• Diagnostic Testing and Radiology
Module 6: Anatomy & Physiology
• Anatomy and Physiology Basics
• Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Respiratory Systems
• Digestive, Reproductive, and Urinary Systems
• Blood and the Cardiovascular System
• Lymphatic, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
• Nervous and Sensory Systems
Module 7: Administrative Responsibilities
• The Health Record
• Reception and Daily Operations
Module 8: Billing and Reimbursement
• Billing and Reimbursement
• Health Insurance Basics
• Claims
• Accounts, Collections, and Banking
Module 9: Basic Clinical Procedures
• Vital Signs
• Physical Examination
• Assisting with Minor Surgery
Module 10: Advanced Clinical Procedures
• Patient Coaching with Health Promotion
• Patient Coaching with Nutrition
• Pharmacology Basics
• Administering Medication
• Cardiopulmonary Procedures
• Medical Emergencies
Module 11: Medical Laboratory
• Assisting in the Clinical Laboratory
• Analysis of Urine
• Blood Collection
• Analysis of Blood
• Microbiology and Immunology
Module 12: Alternative Medicines
• The five National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classifications of complementary and alternative medicine
• Types of alternative medicine and how they can compliment current mainstream medical methods
Module 13: Cardiovascular System
• Heart Structure
• Blood Flow
• Heart's Conduction System
• EKG Terminology
• EKG Waves and Segments
• EKG Intervals
Module 14: EKG Supplies and Equipment
• Thermal EKG Paper
• Electrodes
• Electrocardiograph Settings and Calibration
• Biopolar Leads
• Augmented Leads
• Chest Leads
Module 15: EKG Procedure
• Patient Prep
• Applying Electrodes and Lead Wires
• Running the EKG Tracing
• Troubleshooting Artifact
• Evaluating an EKG Tracing
• Identifying an Abnormal Rhythm
• Finishing the EKG
Module 16: EKG Testing
• Exercise Stress Test
• Nuclear Stress Test
• Holter Monitor
• Cardiac Event Recorder
• Implantable Loop Recorder
• Transtelephonic Monitoring
• Portable Handheld EKG Monitors
Module 17: Venipuncture Equipment and Safety
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Tourniquets
• Antiseptics
• Evacuated Collection Tubes
• Post-exposure Needle stick Follow-Up
Module 18: Needles and Supplies in Phlebotomy
• Multisample Needles
• Needle Holders
• Syringes
• Winged Infusion Sets (Butterfly Assembly)
Module 19: Venipuncture
• Patient Prep
• Preparing Venipuncture
• Performing Venipuncture
• Completing Venipuncture
• Complications with Venipuncture
Module 20: Capillary Puncture
• Equipment
• Site Selection
• Patient Prep
• Collecting the Specimen
Module 21: Specimen Handling
• Chain of Custody
• Capillary Puncture Specimen Handling
Upon completion of the program, the learner will be able to:
Perform safe and effective blood collection, including venipuncture and specimen handling
Obtain and document vital signs, patient histories, and clinical observations
Assist with medication administration, minor procedures, and diagnostic testing
Apply proper techniques for EKG setup, 12‑lead placement, and basic interpretation support
Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and disease processes
Apply HIPAA regulations, ethical standards, and legal principles in patient care
Support patient care in alternative medicine and integrative healthcare environments
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will be eligible to sit for the NHA national certification exam to become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.