How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Greenbush Maine
Once you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Greenbush ME, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might want to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have furnished some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges 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 kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Duties of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Greenbush ME clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. 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 providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Providing basic support during exams and procedures
Although medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Maine law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Greenbush ME health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be performed in Greenbush ME area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your education might be the best option for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Greenbush ME medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Greenbush ME with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the college you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Greenbush ME employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately two years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Greenbush ME area medical care providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Greenbush health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Service Provided? Finding that first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Greenbush ME area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to witness what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Greenbush ME, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will also have to schedule any clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Greenbush Maine?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Greenbush ME area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Greenbush, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.96 square miles (113.86 km2), of which, 43.80 square miles (113.44 km2) of it is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,491 people, 602 households, and 406 families residing in the town. The population density was 34.0 inhabitants per square mile (13.1/km2). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2). The ethnic makeup of the town was 94.2% White, 0.3% African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 602 households of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.
Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant School Greenbush ME
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in What Can A Certified Medical Assistant Do. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Greenbush ME.
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