Medical Assistant Technician Abington PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Abington Pennsylvania

Abington PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Abington PA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most potential students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Abington PA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Abington PA hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and obtain 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

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Abington PA 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 basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Abington PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good option for individuals who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be performed in Abington PA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training may be the right option for you. With the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for those who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Abington PA 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). In order to apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Abington PA medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Abington PA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must look at when researching programs. To help you with that process, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to confirm that the school you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Abington PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths 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, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, verify that the colleges you are considering offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Abington PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Abington health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Finding that initial job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Abington PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small 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 convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the program you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Abington PA, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Abington Pennsylvania?

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

Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to Philadelphia's northern fringe.[6] The population was 55,310 as of the 2010 census, making it the second most populous township in Montgomery County (following Lower Merion Township). The population density is 3603.3 per square mile, making it the second most densely populated township in Montgomery County (following Cheltenham Township).

Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities, dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's oldest transportation routes, industries and churches. Many of these older business and transportation centers were the forerunners of modern Abington. Abington contains the Willow Grove Park Mall, several small businesses, and a few of Montgomery County's largest employers.[2]

The land that comprises Abington today was purchased from the native Lenape by William Penn during the 1680s. By the next decade, a handful of European settlers built and lived in Hill Township, at the crossroads of Susquehanna Street Road and Old York Road. After brief times under other names, the township incorporated as Abington in 1704. The town's name is likely taken from parishes in England formed over 900 years ago in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire.[7] A local 1734 census counted 42 resident landowners.[8] During the American Revolutionary War, there was a small battle that took place at Edge Hill. (See: Battle of White Marsh).[6]

Choose the Best Medical Assistant College Abington PA

Abington PA medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Technician. But regardless of the kind 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 in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Abington PA.