How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Piketon Ohio
Now that you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Piketon OH, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? Most potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might decide to research a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their role is to make sure that the Piketon OH hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and confirming 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 exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Ohio law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the options 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
Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Piketon OH health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often 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
There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are a good alternative for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be lessened as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Piketon OH area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the ideal option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for those who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Piketon OH medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Piketon OH with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to look at when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to verify that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 acknowledged 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 organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Piketon OH employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
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 exams. First, you must find out which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and get 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 choose to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are looking at provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Piketon OH area medical providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Piketon medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Getting that initial job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Piketon OH area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the school you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Piketon OH, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule all clinical training or internships that will be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Piketon Ohio?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Piketon OH area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Piketon, Ohio
Piketon is a village in Pike County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The village is best known for the uranium enrichment plant located there (one of only three such plants in the United States). The population was 2,181 at the 2010 census. Originally called Jefferson, it was the county seat of Pike County 1815–1845, when James Emmitt, a wealthy local entrepreneur, influenced removal of the county seat to Waverly, due to its closer proximity to the then new Ohio & Erie Canal. Piketon is the location of the Pike County Fairgrounds and is served by the Scioto Valley School District.
Perhaps the best-known historic resident of Piketon was Robert Lucas, the governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa. Around 1824, Lucas built a large brick house two miles east of Piketon, named Friendly Grove, which became a center of local political activity.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.55 square miles (6.60 km2), of which 2.50 square miles (6.47 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[1]
Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Program Piketon OH
It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to begin 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 prior to making your selection. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Education. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Piketon OH.
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