How to Pick a Medical Assistant Program near Grand Valley Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Grand Valley PA, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many future 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, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Function of Medical Assistants
The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their function is ensure that the Grand Valley PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many 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 instruments and rooms for physicians
- Giving general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options 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 Courses
Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Grand Valley PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about 1 year to finish, 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 attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good option for those who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced also. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be carried out in Grand Valley PA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Grand Valley PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably 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, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, some potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Grand Valley PA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to look at when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to confirm that the college 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. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Grand Valley PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take about two years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Grand Valley PA area medical providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students build relationships within the Grand Valley medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing that first job can be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Grand Valley PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the college you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Grand Valley PA, make sure that those times are offered. 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 clinical training that may be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Grand Valley Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Grand Valley PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Grand Valley State Lakers football
The Grand Valley State Lakers football team represents Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in NCAA Division II football.[1] The team currently competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was affiliated with the now defunct Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference. The Lakers football team has appeared in six NCAA Division II national title games, winning four championships, since 2001. The team has made the playoffs in 17 seasons. They have also won or shared 16 conference titles (GLIAC & MIFC).[1]
Since the start of the football program in 1970, the team has an overall winning percentage of .729 (371–137–3)[3] that places the program ranking the one of the highest among teams from NCAA Division 2 Football. The Lakers all time home record is 171–38–1.[3]
Grand Valley has played its home field games at Lubbers Stadium since 1973. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations and expansions in recent years to accommodate the overflow crowds that regularly exceed the stadium's 10,444 seat capacity.
Pick the Right Medical Assistant Program Grand Valley PA
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, 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 Becoming A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Grand Valley PA.
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