Medical Assistant Training School Harwich Port MA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Harwich Port Massachusetts

Harwich Port MA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Harwich Port MA, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many potential students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have furnished some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Harwich Port MA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their role is ensure that the Harwich Port MA hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Massachusetts law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn 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 Courses

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Harwich Port MA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often 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 Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Harwich Port MA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good option for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Harwich Port MA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the best choice for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Harwich Port MA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps 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 exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Harwich Port MA medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Harwich Port MA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should explore when researching schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the college you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Harwich Port MA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Harwich Port MA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Harwich Port health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Landing that first job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Harwich Port MA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Harwich Port MA, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Harwich Port Massachusetts?

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

Harwich Port, Massachusetts

Harwich Port (also spelled Harwichport[1]) locally known as "The Port", is an affluent beach resort and census-designated place (CDP) situated along Nantucket Sound in the town of Harwich in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the port of Harwich in Essex, England. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 1,644.[2] It is a popular vacation spot on Cape Cod and is home to the Wychmere Beach Club and the Allen Harbor Yacht Club. Also, one of its popular mottos is "Three Harbors, One Port", referencing to Saquatucket, Wychmere, and Allen Harbor, which are all located in Harwich Port.

Harwich Port is located in the southeastern part of the town of Harwich at 41°40′5″N 70°4′9″W / 41.66806°N 70.06917°W / 41.66806; -70.06917.[3] It is bordered by Nantucket Sound to the south, Northwest Harwich to the west, Harwich Center to the north, East Harwich to the northeast, and the town of Chatham to the east. Saquatucket and Wychmere Harbors are located in Harwich Port. Neighboring Allen Harbor, while having a Harwich Port mailing address, is located in the Northwest Harwich CDP.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km2). 2.6 square miles (6.8 km2) of it is land and 0.85 square miles (2.2 km2) of it (24.19%) is water.[2]

Select the Best Medical Assistant School Harwich Port MA

Harwich Port MA medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training School. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Harwich Port MA.