How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Stoneboro Pennsylvania
Now that you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Stoneboro PA, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Many future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors as well. You might decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that task, we have furnished some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Job of Medical Assistants
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their role is to make sure that the Stoneboro PA 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 facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Supplying general support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices available 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
Unlike most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Stoneboro PA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed 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 typically 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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 similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Courses
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good choice for students who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue to work full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be lessened also. But remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be completed in Stoneboro PA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training may be the ideal option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Stoneboro PA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of 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 examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Stoneboro PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should explore when evaluating programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to make sure that the program you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 acknowledged 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 program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Stoneboro PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must determine 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 example, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get 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 opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Stoneboro PA area medical care providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Stoneboro healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that initial job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Stoneboro PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school 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 contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the program you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Stoneboro PA, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Stoneboro Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Stoneboro PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (3.79%) is water.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,104 people, 475 households, and 314 families residing in the borough. The population density was 395.4 people per square mile (152.8/km2). There were 517 housing units at an average density of 185.1 per square mile (71.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.73% White, 0.09% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.
There were 475 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Stoneboro PA
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the right info 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 decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant School Requirements. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Stoneboro PA.
More Medical Locations in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 