Short Medical Assistant Programs Comstock NY

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Comstock New York

Comstock NY medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Comstock NY, it’s time to select a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Comstock NY nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their duty is to make sure that the Comstock NY clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and confirming appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are authorized to under New York law, some prefer 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 Training

Compared to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Comstock NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Comstock NYThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good choice for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in Comstock NY area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your education might be the best option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Comstock NY medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Comstock NY medical assistant programsBefore you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending 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 opening of this article, many prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Comstock NY with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are a few 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 good reasons to verify that the school you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Comstock NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Comstock NY area health care providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Comstock health care community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that initial job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Comstock NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms 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 Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a few classes before selecting a school to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the school you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Comstock NY, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Comstock New York?

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

Beth Comstock

Elizabeth "Beth" Comstock (born August 30, 1960) is an American business executive. She is a former vice chair of General Electric.[1] She operated GE Business Innovations, which developed new businesses, markets and service models; drives brand value and partners to enhance GE's inventive culture. This unit includes GE Lighting, Current, GE Ventures & Licensing and GE sales, marketing and communications.[2]

Since 2008, Comstock served as GE’s chief marketing and commercial officer. In October 2017, she announced that would be stepping down from her position by the end of the year. From 2006, she was President of Integrated Media at NBC Universal overseeing ad sales, marketing and research, and led the company’s digital efforts including Peacock Equity, acquiring iVillage.com and oversaw the founding of Hulu.[4] In 2003 she was named GE's first chief marketing officer in more than 20 years and created ecomagination as an initiative to drive positive environmental impact from GE and its customers.[5] Previously, she held roles at GE, NBC, CBS and Turner Broadcasting.[6]

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Comstock NY

Comstock NY medical assistant studentIt’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the right info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools offering 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 choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Short Medical Assistant Programs. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Comstock NY.

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