Medical Assistant Curriculum Palmyra ME

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Palmyra Maine

Palmyra ME medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have decided to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Palmyra ME, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Many potential students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might choose to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Palmyra ME nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their role is to make sure that the Palmyra ME clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Giving general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Maine law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options 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 Training Courses

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Palmyra ME health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Palmyra METhere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent option for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of 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 remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Palmyra ME area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training may be the right choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Palmyra ME medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received 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 sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Palmyra ME medical assistant programsPrior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must decide which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, some students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Palmyra ME 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 examine when researching schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the college you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Palmyra ME employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Palmyra ME area health care providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Palmyra medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing that very first job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Palmyra ME area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Palmyra ME, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still need to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Palmyra Maine?

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

Palmyra, Maine

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.44 square miles (107.33 km2), of which, 40.16 square miles (104.01 km2) of it is land and 1.28 square miles (3.32 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,986 people, 809 households, and 552 families residing in the town. The population density was 49.5 inhabitants per square mile (19.1/km2). There were 943 housing units at an average density of 23.5 per square mile (9.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

There were 809 households of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.8% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.87.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant College Palmyra ME

Palmyra ME medical assistant studentIt’s important to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Curriculum. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Palmyra ME.

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