Medical Assistant Associate Degree Fishkill NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training School near Fishkill New York

Fishkill NY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to join the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Fishkill NY, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You might want to research several 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 carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have provided 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 kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Fishkill NY nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their job is ensure that the Fishkill NY hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any task they are authorized to under New York law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Fishkill NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, some 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 typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly 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 Fishkill NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent choice for individuals who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened as well. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be completed in Fishkill NY area healthcare 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 ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for those who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Fishkill NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Fishkill NY medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Fishkill NY with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to confirm that the school you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Fishkill NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want 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. Doing this is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Fishkill NY area medical care providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also help students build relationships within the Fishkill medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that very first job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Fishkill NY 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 large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the college you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Fishkill NY, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Fishkill New York?

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

Fishkill, New York

Fishkill is a village within the town of Fishkill in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The village population was 2,171 at the 2010 census.[2] It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

Fishkill is located in the former territory of the Wappinger people. It was part of the Rombout Patent granted to Francis Rombouts, Gulian VerPlanck, and Stephanus Van Cortlandt of New Amsterdam in 1685. The name "Fishkill" evolved from two Dutch words, vis (fish) and kil (stream or creek).[3] In 1714, Dutch immigrants settled in the area. The village of Fishkill was a significant crossroads in the overland transportation network in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Kings Highway, connecting Albany to New York City, intersected with a major overland route from New England to the Hudson River.[4] Among the first to occupy the land now within the village limits were Johannes Ter Boss and Henry Rosecrance.[5]

By 1716 the settlers wanted their own Dutch Reformed church so they would not have to cross the river to Kingston or New Paltz to worship. A congregation was established and the church building was finished in 1731. The first Dominie (minister) who arrived from the Netherlands in 1731 served churches in Poughkeepsie and Fishkill. The church was used as a military prison during the American Revolution. The fourth New York Provincial Congress met in the church in 1776, making Fishkill the state capital, until the Congress moved to Kingston in 1777.[6]

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Fishkill NY

Fishkill NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Associate Degree. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Fishkill NY.