Medical Assistant Training Bellerose NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Bellerose New York

Bellerose NY medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bellerose NY, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You may decide to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Bellerose NY nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their role is ensure that the Bellerose NY clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. 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 physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Giving general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are authorized to under New York law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Bellerose NY health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical component involving 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 similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bellerose NY There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good alternative for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Bellerose NY area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training might be the best option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Bellerose NY medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among 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 examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Bellerose NY medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you have to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Bellerose NY with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when assessing schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many great reasons to verify that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in 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 one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Bellerose NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Bellerose NY area healthcare providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Bellerose healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing that first job can be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Bellerose NY 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 health care community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before selecting a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Bellerose NY, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bellerose New York?

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

Bellerose, New York

The village was founded by Helen Marsh of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In 1907, planning to build a model community, Marsh purchased 77 acres (310,000 m2) of Floral Park gladiola fields. The first Bellerose home was completed, under Marsh's supervision, in 1910. Marsh persuaded the Long Island Rail Road to place a station in the new village, and she named the station Bellerose. Though it has been suggested that she named the station for the Rose farm, south of the railroad, and her daughter Belle, she said that she simply found the name "euphonious". A vote of the homeowners made the name official in 1917.[4]

Bellerose Village has its own mayor and Board of trustees. Thomas Van Buskirk served as mayor for 12 years, from 1993 until 2004. During his tenure he was responsible for the installation of the village's playground, the purchase of a new fire truck and chief's car, the re-modeling of the village hall and many other projects.[5]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,173 people, 378 households, and 333 families residing in the village. The population density was 12,207.3 people per square mile (4,529.0/km²). There were 384 housing units at an average density of 3,996.2 per square mile (1,482.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.79% White, 0.43% African American, 6.65% Asian, 0.85% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35% of the population.

Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Bellerose NY

Bellerose NY medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin 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 information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 Training. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Bellerose NY.