Medical Assisting Named Advisory Committee of the Year

CONTACT: TAMMY MORTON, EXT. 2242

FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 8

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College's Medical Assisting Advisory Board was named Advisory Committee of the Year at the College's Annual Report Luncheon.

Chair Suzanne Simons, an R.N. at Simons Family Medicine in Clemson, and Tammy Morton, department head, accepted the trophy and plaque on behalf of the committee. The committee consists of 20 members from the tri-county area who work as office managers and certified medical assistants.

Medical Assisting is a one-year diploma program designed to train students to become multifunctional health care workers in physicians' and medical offices. Tri-County began this new program in the fall of 2000. Medical Assisting is the eighth fastest-growing occupation in the United States, and more medical assistants are employed by practicing physicians than any other type of allied health personnel. Graduates are trained for clinical and administrative duties, and serve as a real complement to the health care team.

The committee's focus this year has been program initiation and accreditation. Members have been instrumental in curriculum and policy development, as well as program evaluation materials for the department's initial accreditation. Members helped the department to establish 26 contracts with local doctor's offices for a summer externship program.

Members also assisted students with fundraising activities. Students raised $3,000 to attend the state convention and to purchase their graduation pins. Committee member Mary Gambrell, a CMA from Anderson, was the recipient of the Spirit of Medical Assisting Excel Award at the National Convention of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). At the committee's recommendation, this year the Anderson AAMA chapter made the very first donation to the College's Foundation Office to fund a scholarship for a medical assisting student.

Throughout the semester, five advisory committee members donated coding books, equipment and resource materials the department. In addition, members continue to serve as guest lecturers and this year will begin a new initiative to serve as e-mail mentors for students. Members adopt a student and communicate with that student one on one by e-mail answering questions, lending support and encouraging students.
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