How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School Program near Shadyside Ohio
Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Shadyside OH, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You might choose to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Shadyside OH clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Supplying basic support during exams and procedures
Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Ohio law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and obtain 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 Programs
Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Shadyside OH 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 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine 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 typically two year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to trade 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 training. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly 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 Colleges
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent alternative for those who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in Shadyside OH area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your training may be the right option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Shadyside OH medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of 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 apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, 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 procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Shadyside OH with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to look at when researching schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Shadyside OH employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Shadyside OH area health care providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Shadyside health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Getting that first job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Shadyside OH area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal 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 face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of 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 program while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Shadyside OH, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that might be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Shadyside Ohio?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Shadyside OH area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Shadyside, Ohio
Shadyside is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,785 at the 2010 census.
On the evening of June 14, 1990, three inches (76 mm) of rain fell in less than two hours, creating a flash flood in the Shadyside area which caused twenty-six fatalities and destroyed or damaged many buildings. Flooding occurred along Pipe Creek, Wegee Creek, and Cumberland Run. Witnesses reported seeing a "wall of water" ten to thirty feet high moving downstream.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.03 square miles (2.67 km2), of which 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[1]
Choose the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Shadyside OH
It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized agency, 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 Medical Assistant Course Cost. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided 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 best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Shadyside OH.
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