Dental Assistant - Diploma

Dental assistants aid the dentist in the examination and treatment of patients. Their duties include taking and developing x-rays, assisting in the operatory (four-handed dentistry), construction and preparation of temporary crowns and bridges. The dental assistant is also involved in the efficient operation of the dental practice. Insurance, patient relations, billing and the greeting of patients, are some of the duties performed by the dental assistant.

Arizona College of Allied Health's dental assisting academic program is 3 quarters in length, each quarter consisting of 12 weeks. The student is then required to complete an 8 week clinical externship. The program length will be approximately 44 weeks in duration.

Health Information Specialist (Billing & Coding) - Diploma

The objective of Arizona College of Allied Health's health information specialist course is to provide a sound education environment for instruction and training to equip its graduates for entry-level jobs as health information specialists. This is accomplished through approximately one half of the course consisting of lecture/demonstration and one half hands-on laboratory procedures.

The health information specialist is concerned with health-related information and the systems used to collect, process, store, retrieve and communicate information for the support of operations, management and decision making within an enterprise. The specialist is qualified to work in a wide variety of health care settings, governmental agencies and managed care organizations. As computerization of information advances, the specialist is vital to medical coding, computerized billing and patient care data analysis.

Arizona College of Allied Health's health information specialist academic program is 3 quarters in length, each quarter consisting of 10 weeks. The student is then required to complete a 5 week clinical externship.

Health Information Technology (Billing & Coding) - Associate's

In our current day and age, formal training, combined with professional certification, is the key to obtaining desirable positions. Increasingly, employers are requiring an associate's degree due to the additional demands from managed health care, the growing complexity of insurance, and the increased level of technology in the medical office. Another advantage of the associate's degree comes from the promotional opportunities and skill advantage over other employees with lesser degrees. Finally, the Microsoft Office Certification, which is gained through the associate's degree programs, will give the student a superior advantage in the marketplace.

This degree program prepares students to enter the health care community with skills commensurate to degree level competencies. It prepares students to pursue a career in varied and diverse health care environments and assume supervisory roles in the health care community which would include administration, personnel, public speaking, information technology, and insurance and billing.

The heightened importance of technology in medical records management for systems to collect, process, store, retrieve and communicate information has created a demand for health care specialists. As computerization of health care information advances, this specialist is vital to medical coding, computerization billing and patient care data analysis. National certification is available through the American Health Information Management Association (CCA, CCS, CCS-P).

Massage Therapy - Diploma

The objective of Arizona College of Allied Health's Massage Therapy course is to provide a sound education environment for instruction and training to equip its graduates for entry level jobs as massage therapists. This is accomplished through approximately one half of the course consisting of lecture/demonstration and one half hands-on laboratory procedures.

Massage therapy is a service-oriented career, providing the skilled application of a variety of massage techniques and modalities and helping to access what type of work would be most beneficial for the client/patient. A strong background in anatomy and physiology will benefit the therapist in understanding movement and dysfunction. Business skills include marketing, office procedures, charting, and client communications.

Arizona College of Allied Health's Massage Therapy academic program is three (3) quarters in length, each quarter consisting of twelve (12) weeks. The program length will be approximately thrity-six (36) weeks in duration. A typical student will attend classes between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or between 5:30pm and 10:00pm, Monday through Thursday. Classes are based on the standard educational hour of fifty (50) minutes. Appropriate class breaks will be provided.

Medical Assistant - Diploma

Medical assistants aid physicians in the examination and treatment of patients, in addition to performing various secretarial and administrative duties. Their responsibilities may include: checking vital signs, obtaining medical histories, preparing patients for examination, performing numerous basic laboratory tests, giving injections, applying bandages, recording electrocardiograms, cleaning and sterilizing instruments, and instructing patients about medication. Office duties may include answering the telephone, recording and filing patient data, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence and arranging outside services. In addition, they may keep the books of the practice and maintain billing and collections. To a large degree, the size of the practice where the assistant is employed determines the exact scope of the job and, therefore, compensation.

Arizona College of Allied Health's medical assisting academic program is 3 quarters in length, each quarter consisting of 10 weeks. The student is then required to complete a 5 week clinical externship.

Medical Assisting - Associate's

Technical and administrative areas and health services are attracting many thousands of new wage earners. Medical assisting is expected to be one of the largest growing fields of occupations through 2010.

Employers are increasingly requiring an associate's degree due to the additional demands from managed health care, the growing complexity of insurance and the increased level of technology in the medical office. An advantage of Arizona College's associate's degree program is the availability of Microsoft Office Certification, which is gained through the associate's degree programs and will give the student a superior advantage in the marketplace. National certification / registration can be obtained through the American Association of Medical Assistants (CMA) and American Medical Technologist (RMA).

The medical assisting associate's degree program prepares students to enter the health care community with skills commensurate to degree-level competencies.

The program's objective is to provide students with the training they need to assume supervisory roles in the health care community which would include administration, personnel, public speaking, information technology, and insurance and billing.

Pharmacy Technician - Diploma

The objective of Arizona College of Allied Health's pharmacy technician course is to provide a sound educational environment for instruction and training to equip its graduates for entry-level positions in pharmacy-related services. This is accomplished by approximately one half of the course work consisting of lecture/demonstration and one half consisting of hands on laboratory procedures.

Students in the pharmacy technician program:

• Train for both retail and hospital based pharmacy.
• Learn techniques for IV therapy including chemotherapy.
• Receive training on Pyxis Medistation.
• Perform hands on tasks such as filling of prescriptions.
• Work with modern equipment such as the Laminar Flow Hood.

Arizona College of Allied Health's pharmacy technician academic program is 3 quarters in length, each quarter consisting of 12 weeks. The student is then required to complete 4 weeks of clinical externship. The program length will be approximately 40 weeks in duration.

Phlebotomy Technician - Diploma

The phlebotomy technician program strives to provide a sound educational environment and the training to equip students to gain entry-level positions as a phlebotomist. Phlebotomists draw and collect blood samples from patients, verify record and prepare specimens for laboratory analysis. They may also do finger sticks, conduct interviews and take vital signs. Phlebotomists may also screen blood donors at blood banks.

The phlebotomist has knowledge of practices of the medical profession, privacy and needs to have the ability to work under pressure.

Arizona College's phlebotomy technician program is 2 quarters in length, each quarter consisting of 10 weeks. The externship is 5 weeks in duration.