MEDA 1030 - Pharmacology for Medical Assistants

1. Legal and ethical aspects of pharmacology in the Medical Assisting profession
2. Basics of pharmacology
3. Drug information and drug forms
4. Drug dosages for special populations
5. Medication labels and orders
6. Measuring systems and their equivalents
7. Calculations of parenteral medications
8. Safety and quality assurance of medication administration
9. Medication administration
10. Analgesics and antipyretics
11. Immunizations and the immune system
12. Antimicrobials, antifungals, and antivirals
13. Nutritional supplements and alternative medicines
14. Medications as they relate to different body systems

1. describe the registration and documentation process for compliance with the drug enforcement administration DEA with regard to administering, dispensing and prescribing controlled drugs.
2. identify ethical procedures regarding prescriptions, including who may prescribe medications, and the use of protocol to ensure that these measures are followed.
3. identify the legal aspects of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and describe the five schedules for controlled substances found therein. 
4. identify common pathology related to each body system including: signs, symptoms and etiology.
5. analyze pathology for each body system including: diagnostic measures and treatment modalities.
6. identify the classification of medications including: indications for use, desired effects, side effects and adverse reactions.
7. demonstrate knowledge of basic math computations.
8. apply mathematical computations to solve equations.
9. define basic units of measurement in: the metric system and the household system.
10. convert among measurement systems.
11. identify abbreviations and symbols used in calculating medication dosages.
12. verify the rules of medication administration: right patient; right medication; right dose; right route; right time; right documentation.
13. select proper sites for administering parenteral medication.
14. administer oral medications.
15. administer parenteral (excluding IV) medications.
16. calculate proper dosages of medication for administration.
17. demonstrate proper disposal of biohazardous material: sharps.
18. demonstrate proper use of: sharps disposal containers.

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