How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Port Henry New York
Once you have decided to join the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Port Henry NY, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? Most future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You may want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is ensure that the Port Henry NY hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing 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
- Giving general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under New York law, some elect 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) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training Programs
Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Port Henry NY health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire 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 created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Schools
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for students who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be completed in Port Henry NY area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your education might be the best choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for those who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Port Henry NY medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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 apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
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 from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Port Henry NY with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to confirm that the college you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive 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 agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Port Henry NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to choose 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 one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Port Henry NY area medical care providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Port Henry healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Getting that very first job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Port Henry NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the school you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Port Henry NY, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Port Henry New York?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Port Henry NY area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Port Henry, New York
Port Henry lies on the east side of the town of Moriah and is approximately one hour's drive (52 miles or 84 km)[4] south of Plattsburgh. It is 44 miles (71 km) by road south-southwest of Burlington, Vermont, 115 miles (185 km) north of Albany, New York, and 113 miles (182 km) south of Montreal, Quebec.[4]
Port Henry is in a tract of land set aside by the British Crown for veterans of the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War). Although a mill was built in 1765, no other European-American settlers arrived until 1785, after the American Revolutionary War.[citation needed]
Most of the Iroquois from the territory of New York had been resettled in Canada, forced out of New York and the United States due to their alliance with the British during the war. In the early years, timber harvesting was a major industry and 20 mills were located in the area. The first dock was built on Lake Champlain by 1820 for shipping lumber to other ports.[6]
Pick the Right Medical Assistant School Port Henry NY
It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of 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, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in 6 Month Program For Medical Assistant. 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, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Port Henry NY.
More Medical Locations in New York
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 