How to Pick a Medical Assistant School Program near Holladay Tennessee
Once you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Holladay TN, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? A number of potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences 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 important issues as well. You might choose to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have included some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Role of a Medical Assistant
The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their job is to make sure that the Holladay TN clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Giving basic support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Tennessee law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training
Compared to many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Holladay TN health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about a year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready 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 comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Programs
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent alternative for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced as well. But remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Holladay TN area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to 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 perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Holladay TN medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained 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). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which type of credential you want 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 begin the process of researching 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 Holladay TN with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when researching schools. To help you with that task, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several good reasons to make sure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Holladay TN employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get 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 obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are considering offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Holladay TN area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Holladay medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding 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 schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Holladay TN area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a college to witness what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the college you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Holladay TN, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the policy 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 Holladay Tennessee?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Holladay TN area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
John Holladay
John Holladay (March 10, 1798 – December 31, 1861) was a founder and namesake of the settlement of Holladay's Burg, Utah Territory, which became Holladay, Utah. He was an early pioneer in Colorado, Utah, and California.
John Holladay was born in Camden District, Kershaw County, South Carolina. Some Utah descendants erroneously insist on calling him "John Daniel", though no credible evidence supports this. Historical records agree his given name was only "John".[1]
Holladay married Catherine Beasley Higgins, also Camden born, in South Carolina in 1822. They had 10 children, nine of whom survived early childhood. Holladay's earliest known forbearer in the New World, his great-grandfather, is John "The Ranger" Holladay of Belfonte, Virginia. "The Ranger" is also an ancestor of Ben Holladay, "The Stagecoach King"[2] and Doc Holliday, notorious gunfighter at Tombstone's O.K. Corral.
Select the Best Medical Assistant College Holladay TN
It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Program. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend 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 compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Holladay TN.
More Medical Locations in Tennessee
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
