How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Roscommon Michigan
Now that you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Roscommon MI, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest 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 also. You may decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished several questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Duties of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Roscommon MI clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions 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 practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Giving general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Michigan law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
In contrast to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Roscommon MI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Schools
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized as well. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Roscommon MI area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training might be the right choice for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Roscommon MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. 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, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Roscommon MI with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must explore when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several great reasons to verify that the program you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Roscommon MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, make certain that the schools you are considering offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Roscommon MI area medical providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Roscommon healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Roscommon MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, 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 might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Roscommon MI, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Roscommon Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Roscommon MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Roscommon, Michigan
Roscommon /rɒsˈkɒmən/ is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 1,075. In 2016, the population was estimated to be 1,042. It is the county seat of Roscommon County.[6]
The village is in Higgins Township in the northern part of Roscommon County. Roscommon Township is in the southwest part of the county. The Roscommon post office, with ZIP code 48653, also serves the northern portion of Higgins Township, as well as all of Gerrish Township to the west, most of Lyon Township to the west of Gerrish, and smaller portions of Lake Township to the south of Lyon, Markey Township to the south of Gerrish, Au Sable Township to the east of Higgins and also the southern portions of South Branch Township and Beaver Creek Township to the north in Crawford County. Roscommon is located in the center of northern Michigan's lower peninsula. It is near Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake and St. Helen. Roscommon is accessible by the two major freeways: I-75 and U.S. 127.[7] The Roscommon post office first opened January 9, 1873.[8]
The South Branch of the Au Sable River passes through the village and contributes to the local economy. Several canoe liveries operate in the village and offer water recreation such as kayaking and canoeing.
Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant School Roscommon MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged 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 How Long Does It Take To Be A Medical Assistant. 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, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Roscommon MI.
More Medical Locations in Michigan
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
3 Reviews 