What Is A Medical Assistant Bellmore NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School near Bellmore New York

Bellmore NY medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bellmore NY, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Most future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have furnished several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Bellmore NY nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Bellmore NY clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical 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 submitting claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under New York law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices available 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 Courses

Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Bellmore NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical element 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 Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bellmore NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent choice for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be lessened as well. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Bellmore NY area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the best option for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Bellmore NY medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Bellmore NY medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Bellmore NY with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you need to explore when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to verify that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations 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 exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Bellmore NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Bellmore NY area health care providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Bellmore healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Bellmore NY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a program to observe what the teaching environment 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 to work full time, it’s essential that the college you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Bellmore NY, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bellmore New York?

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

The Bellmores, New York

Bellmore is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population according to the 2010 census was 16,218. Bellmore is located on the south shore of Long Island 5 miles from Jones Beach State Park, approximately 27 miles (43 km) east of Manhattan, and 10 miles (16 km) east of the Nassau-Queens (New York City) Line. North Bellmore is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 19,941 at the 2010 census.

Bellmore serves as a suburb of New York City on Long Island. Penn Station in Manhattan is typically a 45-minute direct ride from the station on the Long Island Rail Road's Babylon Branch. John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport is located within 15 miles (24 km) of Bellmore, making it easy for travelers. Major thoroughfares that wind through the suburb include Sunrise Highway, Southern State Parkway, Merrick Road, Bellmore Avenue, Jerusalem Avenue, and Newbridge Road.

"The Bellmores" are subdivided into Bellmore (population 16,000) and N. Bellmore (population 20,000). The Bellmore area has an approximate population of 36,000 at this time. Also, some residents call the area south of Merrick Road (or sometimes Sunrise Highway) "South Bellmore".

Pick the Right Medical Assistant Course Bellmore NY

Bellmore NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get 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 selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in What Is A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Bellmore NY.