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VA 101 — Veterinary Medicine Profession and Practice

In this course, you will be introduced to veterinary medicine; the history, the settings, the standard practices and operational procedures, and a thorough understanding of the role of each member of the veterinary team, including the veterinarian, veterinary assistant, veterinary technician and all other animal hospital staff while learning the professional ethics of this occupation and obtaining rudimentary knowledge of veterinary laws and legalities. Effective client communication skills are also a focus of this course. The delicate subject of euthanasia is also covered in this course.

VA 102 — Veterinary Office Administration

In this course, scheduling and appointments, the procedures of admitting and discharging patients and developing a complete appreciation for the importance of the human/animal bond is presented. This course covers the creation, documentation within and maintaining of medical records and certificates, inventory and restocking procedures, as well as safety measures and precautions. Professional development and writing resumes and cover letters is covered as well.

VA 103 — Veterinary Office Practices

In this course, you will be instructed on the computer software system; and, other computer based processes and the automation in a veterinarian's office. The course focuses on keyboarding and computer skills and their practical applications in the veterinary medicine setting. Students will also gain an understanding of financial literacy.

VA 104 — Veterinary Medical Terminology

In this course, the fundamentals of learning medical language (identify meaning of common prefixes, suffixes and root words) and the ability to define and use common veterinary medical terms and abbreviations related to aspects of veterinary practice and animal species and care is the focus.

VA 105 — Animal Restraint and Handling

In this course, the fundamentals and the fine points of animal restraint will be addressed. You will be given an in‐depth explanation of ropes and knots as they pertain to animal restraint, and be educated on the differences of various forms of physical and psychological restraint techniques, and knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior. You will be instructed on the proper placement and removal of different animals from enclosures, the handling of fractious patients, restraint methods during the physical examination, and how to properly open a patient's mouth. This course also covers the proper positioning protocols for different animals and the standard veterinary terminology for each of these positions.

VA 106 — Veterinary Pharmacy and Pharmacology

In this course, the use of pharmaceuticals in a veterinary office will be addressed. Detailed information pertaining to the legal issues in drug handling, specifically the proper prescription labeling and packaging of medications, the correct way to store biological and therapeutic agents, and the efficient performance of inventory control will be included. You will be presented with information to recognize general types and groups of drugs and the difference between prescription and over‐the‐counter medications. You will also be presented the proper routes and methods of drug and vaccine administration as well as proper terminology.

VA 107 — Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology

The foundational study of anatomy and physiology is presented; and, the study of the anatomy and physiology of cats and dogs in particular, and many other domestic and some farm animals, comprises this course.

VA 108 — Veterinary Laboratory Procedures

In this course, you will be instructed on basic knowledge of laboratory procedures. Your studies will include recording laboratory results, and identifying common external parasites. You will learn how to collect voided urine samples, how to determine the physical properties of urine, how to collect fecal samples for parasitological exams and how to prepare fecal flotation solutions. Furthermore, you will be instructed on proper specimen collection and processing for culture and sensitivity.

VA 109 — Common Diseases and Medical Conditions of Animals

In this course, presentation of the medical conditions and diseases most common to cats and dogs and that result in a visit to the veterinarian is the focus. Diseases and conditions of many domestic animals and some farm animals are also presented.

VA 110 — Domestic Animal Care

In this course, you will be instructed on the fundamentals of small animal care. This course is richly informative and will provide you with the essential tools needed to properly nurture the animals in your care. The course focuses on the skills needed to identify different breeds of dogs and cats and properly care for the hospitalized patient in your charge. The essentials of patient housing, including environmental considerations, feeding and watering, nutrition, socialization and exercise will also be addressed. Preventative care such as grooming, ear cleaning, nail trimming, bathing and dipping, along with dental hygiene will be covered as well. The prevention of nosocomial infections and zoonotic diseases are also part of this course.

VA 111 — Examination Room Procedures

In this course, examination room protocol will be covered. You will learn basic examination room preparation, and patient background and physical examination procedures. Highlights of this portion of the stage will include general cleaning and disinfecting, obtaining and documenting the patient's history, which includes a history of their chief complaint, and a complete medical and environmental history. This stage also prepares you to record observations, test and monitor vital signs, and determine the patient's weight, respiratory rate, and temperature. You will be instructed on the proper techniques of radiology and ultrasound as a means of diagnoses. Positioning small and large patients, basic safety practices and techniques, and proper methods of equipment care will be explored. Also included are the methods of processing various data received from radiology and ultrasound to include quality control, film identification, and how to use automatic processing methods. You will also develop an understanding of vaccination protocols.

VA 112 — Surgical Preparation and Assisting

In this course, you will learn the skills every veterinary assistant should possess in order to best serve the animal hospital staff before, during and after a surgical procedure. This section provides detailed information on the preparation of surgical equipment and supplies, the appropriate sterilization methods for instruments and supplies, and the identification of common instruments and suture materials, both types and sizes. You will also be given explicit instruction on how to assist with the preparation of patients using aseptic techniques, how to operate and maintain autoclaves, and assist with positioning of surgical patients while maintaining proper operating room conduct and asepsis. Other critical components of this section include the understanding of operating room sanitation and care protocol, performing post‐surgical clean‐up of animals and equipment, proper storage of surgical gowns and drapes, and the identification and appropriate care of common surgical equipment and supplies along with the proper disposition of hazardous medical wastes.

VA 201 — Externship

The externship is an extension of classroom training. As with other program coursework, students do not receive compensation by Ross or the site during Externship. During the Externship, students will spend a minimum of 168 hours off‐site at a veterinary facility where they will receive hands‐on experience in a veterinary clinic or hospital. Students will also spend up to two (2) hours per week / 12 hours total using the student learning management system, where students focus on developing the required soft‐skills and professional development needed to be successful in the healthcare workplace. Off‐site hours and seminar hours must equal a minimum of 180 hours to satisfy the requ rements of externship. Students who need additional help with program‐specific skills will have the opportunity to request to work with a faculty member in a non‐threatening environment to advance their skill‐set. Ross Medical Education Center will identify and approve Externship sites prior to any student beginning an Externship experience at any site. Students seeking to identify an externship site addressing specific interests or other needs must do so under the direction of the Career Development Representative. A site visit and site approval must be completed by Ross Medical Education Center for any student developed Externship experience. Student performance will be evaluated by Ross Medical Education Center personnel and site supervision will be conducted in compliance with accrediting standards.

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Hope Bockover

Completing a certificate in Medical Assisting through Ross Medical has jumpstarted my career! I was recently hired on at an oncology office which is such an amazing opportunity. I have gained so much valuable experience and I am continuing to learn new information and gain new experience every time I am at work.

Hope Bockover Graduate Medical Assistant student at Kokomo, IN campus Graduation: November 10, 2017
Bonika Surline

I came to Ross Medical because I wanted to change my career path; I wanted something more hands on. I have the most amazing instructors who have supported me every step of the way. They are providing me with the skills I am going to need to be successful in the medical field. I am happy I chose Ross Medical Education Center.

Bonika Surline Graduate Medical Assistant student at Port Huron, MI campus Graduation: March 27, 2019
La Rae Hemstrom

Ross Medical Education Center has been absolutely outstanding. I attended the Medical Assistant program at the Port Huron campus and then I pursued the Medical Scribe Specialist Program online. I received job offers after the completion of both programs. Ross has prepared me for a career for the rest of my life.

La Rae Hemstrom Graduate Medical Assistant student at Port Huron, MI campus Graduation: April 11, 2016
Taylor Powell

Ross is a great school filled with awesome instructors! I've learned so much from my instructor, Miss. Michelle. I've never had a teacher so educated, involved, or dedicated to their students. There is no program I'd rather be in than dental and I cannot wait to start my lifelong career in this field. There's never a boring day in dental and there is no school I'd rather be enrolled in than Ross.

Taylor Powell Graduate Dental Assistant student at Niles, OH campus Graduation: April 27, 2020
Anderih Toma

The program has changed me a lot. I learned to be more professional. I've learned a lot and I watched myself make progress, from getting better grades to having a better and more professional attitude, as well as understanding situations better. It also expanded my knowledge about the medical field. I recommend the program if you are looking to go into the medical field, I think it's a good start.

Anderih Toma Graduate Medical Assistant student at Madison Heights, MI campus Graduation: November 18, 2019
Medical Assistant Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Huntsville
  • Quad Cities
  • Evansville
  • Fort Wayne
  • Granger
  • Kokomo
  • Lafayette
  • Muncie
  • Bowling Green
  • Erlanger
  • Hopkinsville
  • Owensboro
  • Ann Arbor
  • Battle Creek
  • Brighton
  • Canton (MI)
  • Davison
  • Flint
  • Grand Rapids
  • Kalamazoo
  • Kentwood
  • Lansing
  • Midland
  • Muskegon
  • New Baltimore
  • Port Huron
  • Saginaw
  • Taylor
  • Warren
  • Cincinnati
  • Dayton
  • Elyria
  • Mansfield
  • Niles
  • Canton (OH)
  • Sylvania
  • Johnson City
  • Knoxville
  • Charleston
  • Morgantown
Dental Assistant Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Huntsville
  • Evansville
  • Fort Wayne
  • Granger
  • Kokomo
  • Lafayette
  • Muncie
  • Erlanger
  • Owensboro
  • Brighton
  • Canton (MI)
  • Davison
  • Flint
  • Grand Rapids
  • Kalamazoo
  • Kentwood
  • Lansing
  • Warren
  • New Baltimore
  • Muskegon
  • Saginaw
  • Cincinnati
  • Dayton
  • Elyria
  • Niles
  • Johnson City
  • Knoxville
  • Charleston
  • Morgantown
Veterinary Assistant Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Huntsville
  • Erlanger
  • Canton
  • Kalamazoo
  • New Baltimore
  • Warren
Pharmacy Technician Program Certificate online program
Nursing Assistant Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Brighton
  • Grand Rapids
  • Kalamazoo
  • Midland
Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration Certificate online program
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Hopkinsville
  • Quad Cities
Nursing Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Canton (OH)
  • Cincinnati
  • Dayton
  • Elyria
  • Niles
  • Sylvania
Practical Nursing Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Canton (OH)
  • Cincinnati
  • Elyria
  • Niles
  • Sylvania
Veterinary Technology Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Canton (OH)
Business Management Program offered at these campus locations:
  • Hopkinsville, KY
Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree online program
Health Care Administration Associate Degree online program
Human, Social, and Health Services Associate of Applied Science Degree online program
Medical Billing Administrative Specialist Associate Degree online program
Medical Office Administration Certificate Program online program
Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration Certificate online program
Pharmacy Technician Program Certificate online program