Medical Assisting: Administrative & Clinical Competencies,
10th Edition

Michelle Blesi

ISBN-13: 9798214113586
Copyright 2026 | Published
1440 pages | List Price: USD $168.95

Strengthen your knowledge base, critical skills and behaviors to become a successful entry-level medical assistant with Blesi's MEDICAL ASSISTING: ADMINISTRATIVE & CLINICAL COMPETENCIES, 10th Edition. Clear and easy to understand, this streamlined edition focuses on the content you need for national medical assisting certification exams and employment. The content is clearly organized to support objectives with a Summary and Chapter Review included to help you review and study the material. Content updates highlight the latest information in telehealth and mental health for medical assistants. Anatomy and Pathophysiology chapters now begin with a case study showing the relevance of the body system to medical assisting and include practical applications throughout. MindTap digital resources help you further develop a competitive advantage as you pursue a career in medical assisting.

Purchase Enquiry INSTRUCTOR’S eREVIEW COPY

Section I: MEDICAL ASSISTING FOUNDATIONS.
Unit 1: Introduction to Healthcare.
1. The Medical Assistant, Health Care Team, and Medical Environment.
2. Professionalism.
3. Legal and Ethical Issues.
4. Applying Communication Skills.
5. Medical Terminology.
Section II: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BODY.
Unit 2: Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body.
6. Body Structure, Anatomic Descriptors, and Genetics.
7. The Nervous System.
8. The Senses.
9. The Integumentary System.
10. The Skeletal System.
11. The Muscular System.
12. The Respiratory System.
13. The Circulatory System.
14. The Immune System.
15. The Digestive System.
16. The Urinary System.
17. The Endocrine System.
18. The Reproductive System.
Section III: THE FRONT OFFICE.
Unit 3: Business Communications.
19. Telephone Communications.
20. Written Communications.
21. The Office Environment, Computers, and Equipment.
Unit 4: Beginning the Patient’s Record.
22. Scheduling Appointments and Receiving Patients.
23. The Medical Record, Documentation, and Filing.
Unit 5: Medical Insurance and Coding.
24. Health Insurance.
25. Procedural and Diagnostic Coding.
Unit 6: Revenue Cycle Management.
26. Patient Accounts.
27. Preparing Insurance Claims and Posting Insurance Payments.
28. Patient Billing, Posting Patient Payments, and Collecting Fees.
29. Banking Procedures.
30. Accounts Payable and Accounting Procedures.
Section IV: THE BACK OFFICE.
Unit 7: Preparing for Clinical Procedures.
31. Infection Control and Medical Asepsis.
32. The Medical History and Patient Screening.
33. Body Measurements and Vital Signs.
34. Preparing for Examinations.
Unit 8: Assisting with Examinations.
35. The Physical Exam.
36. Specialty Examinations and Procedures.
37. OB/GYN Examinations.
38. Pediatric Examinations.
39. Geriatrics.
40. Mental Health.
Unit 9: Laboratory Procedures.
41. The Physician's Office Laboratory.
42. Specimen Collection and Processing.
43. Blood Specimen Collection.
44. Diagnostic Testing.
Unit 10: Cardiology and Radiology Procedures.
45. Cardiology Procedures.
46. Radiology Procedures.
Unit 11: Minor Surgical Procedures.
47. Preparing for Surgery.
48. Assisting with Minor Surgery.
Unit 12: Medication Administration Procedures.
49. Pharmacology Fundamentals.
50. Measurement Systems, Basic Mathematics, and Dosage Calculations.
51. Administering Oral and Noninjectable Medications.
52. Administering Injections and Immunizations.
Unit 13: First Aid and Responding to Emergencies.
53. Emergencies in the Medical Office and the Community.
54. First Aid for Accidents and Injuries.
Unit 14: Rehabilitation and Health Living.
55. Rehabilitation.
56. Nutrition, Exercise, and Healthy Living.
Section V: PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT.
Unit 15: Workplace Readiness.
57. Practicum and the Job Search.
58. Managing the Office.

  • Michelle Blesi

    Michelle Blesi is a certified medical assistant with 14 years of industry experience, who worked in a family practice clinic for 10 years, emphasizing clinical and laboratory skills. A change in her focus led her to a leadership position, working as the lead in the nursing/lab department and, eventually, as a clinical manager. She holds a diploma in medical assisting and is certified through the AAMA. She also has a bachelor's degree in psychology and an M.A. in community psychology. She has also completed the T.E.S. (Teacher Education Series) courses at the University of Minnesota. Coursework included introduction to vocational teaching, course development, instructional methods, philosophy and student training and assessment. A program director and unlimited full-time faculty member in the medical assistant department at Century College since 2001, Professor Blesi enjoys bringing her career experience into the classroom and making a difference in students' lives. In addition to serving as program director, she teaches clinical and laboratory courses and administrative procedures for medical assistants, both in the traditional classroom and online. She also teaches a medical assistant refresher course through CECT. She serves as the practicum coordinator, overseeing clinical externships for the program. In addition to being the lead author for the last three editions of MEDICAL ASSISTING: ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLINICAL COMPETENCIES, Professor Blesi has contributed to many other Cengage projects, including functioning as the S.M.E. for the CTC 3.0 and Medical Office Simulation Software (MOSS). She has also completed multiple reviewer projects and created numerous effective test banks. Professor Blesi serves on the board of trustees and has earned Outstanding Educator Award 2012, Golden Apple Award 2010 and Exemplary Faculty Member 2007.

  • Streamlined chapters and revised procedures allow stronger focus on meeting CAAHEP and ABHES standards to prepare students for certification exams and employment.

  • MindTap online learning platform includes revisions, reflecting functionality enhancements, customization improvements and assessment updates.

  • The Anatomy and Pathophysiology chapters now include case studies and practical application boxes to show relevance to medical assistants and how it relates to their job skills.

  • Expanded coverage on additional topics in telehealth, mental disorders, screening and teamwork provide additional emphasis on the medical assistant’s role in these areas.

  • Chapters are organized by learning objects based on current ABHES standards, 2022 CAAHEP standards and national medical assisting certification exams.

  • Easy-to-follow, step-by-step procedures strengthen general, administrative and clinical competencies with additional criteria to assist with evaluating performance.

  • Updated coverage of A&P presents medical terminology within a meaningful context to review diagnostic tests, diseases and disorders and treatments that students must know.

  • Updated full-color photos, illustrations, real charts and current tables visually reinforce how the concepts students are reading are used in today’s medical environment.

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

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