How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Claflin Kansas
Now that you have decided to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Claflin KS, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Most future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues also. You may choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Job of Medical Assistants
The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their job is to make sure that the Claflin KS hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Kansas law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Courses
Unlike most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Claflin KS health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical element involving an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are an excellent alternative for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized also. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be completed in Claflin KS area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing a job after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential Claflin KS medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Claflin KS with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must look at when researching programs. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the program 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 enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Claflin KS employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Claflin KS area health care providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also help students establish relationships within the Claflin healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting that first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Claflin KS area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the school you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Claflin KS, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Claflin Kansas?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Claflin KS area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Claflin, Kansas
Claflin was first settled in 1887 after the Missouri Pacific Railroad was extended to that point.[7][8] The city was incorporated in 1901.[8] Claflin is the maiden name of the wife of an early settler.[9]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 645 people, 267 households, and 175 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,954.5 inhabitants per square mile (754.6/km2). There were 299 housing units at an average density of 906.1 per square mile (349.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.
There were 267 households of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Claflin KS
It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Certification Online. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Claflin KS.
More Medical Locations in Kansas
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
