Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Training Bridgeport IL 62417

Medical Assistant Duties Bridgeport IL

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Bridgeport Illinois

Bridgeport IL medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have decided to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bridgeport IL, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? A number of future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You might choose to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Bridgeport IL nursing home patientThe job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their role is to make sure that the Bridgeport IL hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work run efficiently. Based 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 responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Providing basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can perform almost any task they are qualified to under Illinois law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered 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 certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Bridgeport IL health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bridgeport ILThere are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be performed in Bridgeport IL area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Bridgeport IL medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. 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 sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Bridgeport IL medical assistant programsPrior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Bridgeport IL with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make sure that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Bridgeport IL employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Bridgeport IL area healthcare providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Bridgeport medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that very first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Bridgeport IL area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a program to experience what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s imperative that the school you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Bridgeport IL, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that will 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 Bridgeport Illinois?

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

Bridgeport, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Bridgeport has a total area of 1.075 square miles (2.78 km2), of which 1.05 square miles (2.72 km2) (or 97.67%) is land and 0.025 square miles (0.06 km2) (or 2.33%) is water.[4]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 2,168 people, 871 households, and 585 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,024.0 people per square mile (782.3/km²). There were 964 housing units at an average density of 900.0 per square mile (347.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.52% White, 0.46% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.05% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 871 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

Choose the Right Medical Assistant School Bridgeport IL

Bridgeport IL medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon 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 organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Duties. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Bridgeport IL.

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