Medical Assistant Bachelor Degree Cedar Lake IN - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Cedar Lake Indiana

Cedar Lake IN medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Cedar Lake IN, it’s time to select a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? A number of potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You may decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to 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 provided some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Cedar Lake IN nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their function is ensure that the Cedar Lake IN 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 practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Indiana law, some prefer to specialize in a specific 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 medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Cedar Lake IN health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as 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 training. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Cedar Lake IN There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened also. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in Cedar Lake IN area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the right option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Cedar Lake IN medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Cedar Lake IN medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you need to decide which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Cedar Lake IN with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you need to explore when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few 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 good reasons to make certain that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Cedar Lake IN employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, find out 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 school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and obtain 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 decide to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Cedar Lake IN area healthcare providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students establish relationships within the Cedar Lake medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that very first job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Cedar Lake IN area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before selecting a school to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Cedar Lake IN, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Cedar Lake Indiana?

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

Cedar Lake, Indiana

Cedar Lake is a town in Hanover and Center townships, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,560 at the 2010 census. The town is known for Cedar Lake (formerly Lake of the Red Cedars, Armour).

Cedar Lake was settled by pioneers in the mid-19th century and was originally named West Point; the name “Cedar Lake” belonged to a nearby town that is now called Creston, Indiana.[7] In 1839, the town that was then called West Point competed with the settlements of Liverpool and Lake Court House (later called Crown Point) to be the county seat of Lake County, but lost out to Liverpool.[7] By 1870, the Cedar Lake Post Office was established, giving the area a new name. After the Monon Railroad came to the lake's western shore in 1882, many new residents flocked to the area along with tourists who saw the lake as a resort destination. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Cedar Lake was a popular place for Chicagoans looking for a retreat from the city. The lake had over 50 hotels at the time and several pavilions and ballrooms that brought many well-known bands to entertain the visitors.[8]

According to the 2010 census, Cedar Lake has a total area of 9.61 square miles (24.89 km2), of which 8.22 square miles (21.29 km2) (or 85.54%) is land and 1.39 square miles (3.60 km2) (or 14.46%) is water.[11] The lake, which is the largest natural lake in northwest Indiana, appears to have formed from glacial meltwaters. There is an abundance of hills around the lake, which are evidence of the Valparaiso Moraine running through the area.

Choose the Right Medical Assistant College Cedar Lake IN

Cedar Lake IN medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Whether you’re goal is to launch a career in health care 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 so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, for example 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 Bachelor Degree. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Cedar Lake IN.