Applied Medical Assisting (AMA) Week

Applied Medical Assisting (AMA) Week

The Applied Medical Assisting (AMA) course is a little different from your other courses because it happens only one week per block and is focused on applying what you've learned.

Think of it like a mathematical formula:

AMA Week = (Group Work + Assessment) x 4
Where Group Work = Case Study Assignment + Recording + Threaded Discussion

How AMA Week Works

Group Work
You’ll be assigned to a small group and work together on a patient case study. While you’ll submit your work individually in Populi, your answers are created as a team.

Working in groups can be a rewarding experience, but it can also feel uncomfortable, or even stressful. That’s normal. To better understand why we do group work at NIMAA and get tips for making the most of it, check out our guide: Working in Groups.
Recording
Each group creates a short recording of their case study presentation. This recording is shared with the rest of the class so everyone can learn from each group’s case.

Threaded Discussion
After watching other groups’ recordings, you’ll participate in an online discussion. You’ll:
  1. Ask questions about other groups’ cases.
  2. Reply to questions about your own group’s case.
  3. Build a back-and-forth conversation, just like a real clinical team.
Assessment
At the end of AMA Week, you’ll take a test on what you learned during that block. This helps you practice for your certification exam.
 

Unlike other courses, AMA takes place only during one week at the end of each block. This may feel fast-paced to work on a case study with a group, which is why we provide structure to help pace yourself and keep on track.

Here’s what the week usually looks like:

  • Early in the week: Meet with your group, review your assigned case, and divide up tasks.

  • Middle of the week: Collaborate to write your summary and record your presentation.

  • End of the week: Submit your case study work and post your recording.

  • Weekend: Watch other groups’ presentations and participate in the threaded discussion.

  • Monday after AMA Week: Take your end-of-block assessment.

This format keeps things moving quickly, but it also mirrors the kind of teamwork and time management you’ll need in a real clinical setting.

Skills Completion

We do not assign new core skills during the Applied Medical Assisting week. However, all skills for the block must be completed by the end of the week. Double-check your core skills by looking at the Core Skills Competencies (CC) assignment group in the Core Skills course to ensure they are completed and that you have received a minimum grade of 85% on all demonstrations. You can access the knowledge base article on communicating about Core Skills with your preceptor.

  1. Finalize all Core Skills from this block.
  2. Use this week to catch up on clinic hours if needed.

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