How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Salem New York
Once you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Salem NY, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Most potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may choose to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have provided several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Salem NY hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many duties of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Giving general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under New York law, some choose 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 Programs
Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Salem NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design 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 medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied 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 available online as well. They are an excellent option for individuals 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 solution for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be completed in Salem NY area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Salem NY medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school options, you must decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the schools that are closest to Salem NY with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to look at when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to verify that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Salem NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are looking at offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Salem NY area medical providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Salem medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding that initial job can be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Salem NY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Salem NY, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Salem New York?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Salem NY area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
North Salem, New York
North Salem is a town in the northeast part of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City approximately 50 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. The population of North Salem was 5,104 at the 2010 census.[4]
It was from Yerkes Tavern that John Paulding and Isaac Van Wart left on Sept. 22, 1780 for their appointment with destiny. Along the way they were joined by David Williams (soldier). The expedition that resulted in the capture of the British spy Major John André was supposedly planned at the Yerkes (Yerks) Tavern in North Salem, whose foundation—all that remains of it lies at the intersection of Yerkes Road and Bogtown Road.
A plaque posted on the site reads: On this site stood one of North Salem's early taverns. It's proprietor was John Yerkes who received a license from the town "to operate a tavern or inn for the accommodation and entertainment of travelers" in 1815. Early records indicate that this property was owned by the Smith family prior to this date. [7]
Choose the Best Medical Assistant Course Salem NY
It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Graduation. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Salem NY.
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