Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Schools Franklin ME 04634

Medical Assistant Study Franklin ME

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Program near Franklin Maine

Franklin ME medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Franklin ME, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Most future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You may choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Franklin ME nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their role is to make sure that the Franklin ME hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and confirming appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
  • Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Maine law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training

Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Franklin ME health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally two choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Franklin METhere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are a good option for those who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Franklin ME area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your education might be the best option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Franklin ME medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Franklin ME medical assistant programsBefore you can start assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Franklin ME with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to explore when assessing schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to confirm that the college you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Franklin ME employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, verify that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Franklin ME area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students build relationships within the Franklin healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Landing that very first job can be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Franklin ME area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Franklin ME, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Franklin Maine?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Franklin ME area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Franklin, Maine

Franklin is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,483 at the 2010 census. The town's namesake is Benjamin Franklin.[4] The first settler in 1764, was Moses Butler, for whom Butler's Point is named.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} Principal products (in chronological order) have been ship masts, railroad ties, granite, blueberries, and Christmas trees.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.43 square miles (107.30 km2), of which 36.45 square miles (94.41 km2) is land and 4.98 square miles (12.90 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,483 people, 652 households, and 411 families residing in the town. The population density was 40.7 inhabitants per square mile (15.7/km2). There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 28.6 per square mile (11.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant School Franklin ME

Franklin ME medical assistant studentIt’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Study. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Franklin ME.

More Medical Locations in Maine

  • Medical Assistant Schools With Financial Aid Hebron ME
  • Best Medical Assistant Programs Danforth ME
  • Medical Assistant Certification Programs Near Me Buxton ME
  • Medical Assistant Training Online New Portland ME
  • Medical Assistant School Online Accredited Farmingdale ME
  • Best Colleges For Medical Assistant Sandy Point ME
  • Top Medical Assistant Programs Springfield ME
  • How Long To Get Medical Assistant Certification Sebec ME
  • Medical Assistant Qualifications Monhegan ME
  • Medical Assistant Course Anson ME
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 1

    Home Instead Senior Care
    3 Reviews
    Home Health Care
    Phone:
    442 Pleasant St, Blue Hill, ME 04614