What Can A Medical Assistant Do Wyncote PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Wyncote Pennsylvania

Wyncote PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Wyncote PA, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Many future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You may want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option 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 relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start 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 Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Wyncote PA nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is to make sure that the Wyncote PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Based 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 support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Wyncote PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often 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 Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Wyncote PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are an excellent choice for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced as well. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Wyncote PA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the right option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for individuals who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Wyncote PA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and perhaps 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 have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Wyncote PA medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you must determine which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Wyncote PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to make certain that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Wyncote PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Wyncote PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students develop relationships within the Wyncote healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Landing that first job can be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Wyncote PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Wyncote PA, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Wyncote Pennsylvania?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Wyncote PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Wyncote, Pennsylvania

Wyncote is a census-designated place (CDP) bordering North Philadelphia in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Wyncote is located 5 miles from Center City Philadelphia at the southeasternmost tip of Montgomery County. The Jenkintown-Wyncote SEPTA station is the fifth busiest regional rail station in the SEPTA system.

Wyncote is bordered by the Cheltenham neighborhoods of Glenside, Elkins Park, La Mott, and Cedarbrook; the Philadelphia neighborhoods of West Oak Lane and Cedarbrook, as well as the borough of Jenkintown and Abington Township.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,044 people, 1,057 households, and 713 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,732.5 people per square mile (1,434.2/km2). There were 1,069 housing units at an average density of 1,309.9/sq mi (503.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.7% White, 13.6% African American, 0.03% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Wyncote PA

Wyncote PA medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in What Can A Medical Assistant Do. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Wyncote PA.