Medical Assistant Duties Clawson MI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant School near Clawson Michigan

Clawson MI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clawson MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Most prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have furnished several questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Duties of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Clawson MI nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their job is ensure that the Clawson MI clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Michigan law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices available 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

Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Clawson MI 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 basically 2 options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to complete, 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 acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often 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 four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Clawson MI There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are an excellent alternative for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Clawson MI area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the right option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain 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 a good option for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Clawson MI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and perhaps 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, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Clawson MI medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Clawson MI with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when evaluating programs. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several good reasons to ensure that the program you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive 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 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 agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Clawson MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, ask what the program’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 college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring 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 one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, verify that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Clawson MI area healthcare providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Clawson healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Getting that first job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Clawson MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction 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 instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Clawson MI, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Also, 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 Clawson Michigan?

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

Clawson, Michigan

The city's name is a misspelling of John Lawson's name, a local settler.[8] Clawson began in 1829 and was originally known as Pumachug and The Corners. It was incorporated in 1921 as a village and in 1940 as a city.[9]

At the 2010 census,[3] there were 11,825 people, 5,460 households and 2,992 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,375.0 inhabitants per square mile (2,075.3/km2). There were 5,791 housing units at an average density of 2,632.3 per square mile (1,016.3/km2). The racial makeup was 93.4% White, 1.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 5,460 households of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.88.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Training Clawson MI

Clawson MI medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin 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 decision. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on 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 a recognized agency, 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 Duties. But regardless of the kind 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 choosing the best program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Clawson MI.