How to Choose a Medical Assistant School Program near Pickford Michigan
Once you have made a decision to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pickford MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that task, we have provided some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their function is ensure that the Pickford MI hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work run efficiently. Depending 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 giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Providing general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Michigan law, some elect 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) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training Courses
In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Pickford MI health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element involving 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 similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent choice for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work 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 additional benefit, many 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. Just remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be performed in Pickford MI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the ideal option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Pickford MI medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Pickford MI with the most affordable 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 task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to verify that the college you select 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 accepted 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 one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Pickford MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive 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 receive a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Pickford MI area medical providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Pickford medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing that very first job can be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Pickford MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication 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 provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full time, it’s imperative that the college you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pickford MI, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pickford Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Pickford MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Pickford Township, Michigan
Pickford Township is located in southeastern Chippewa County on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is bordered to the south by Mackinac County. The northeastern part of the township extends into Munuscong Lake, a large bay on the St. Marys River. The Munuscong River flows through the center of the township into Munuscong Lake, passing the communities of Pickford, Stirlingville, and Kelden.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 119.5 square miles (309.5 km2), of which 108.3 square miles (280.4 km2) is land and 11.3 square miles (29.2 km2), or 9.42%, is water.[3]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,584 people, 607 households, and 475 families residing in the township. The population density was 14.6 per square mile (5.6/km²). There were 776 housing units at an average density of 7.2 per square mile (2.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.11% White, 0.06% African American, 5.81% Native American, 0.06% Asian, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Pickford MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Pickford MI.
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