What’s A Medical Assistant Merion Station PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Program near Merion Station Pennsylvania

Merion Station PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Merion Station PA, it’s time to select a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You may choose to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Merion Station PA nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Merion Station PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work run successfully. Based 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 responsible for giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners 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
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain 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 healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Merion Station PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about 1 year to complete, some 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 earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical component involving 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Merion Station PA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent choice for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be performed in Merion Station PA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the ideal option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Merion Station PA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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 be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Merion Station PA medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Merion Station PA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to explore when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the program you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Merion Station PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to choose 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 evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate 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 decide to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Merion Station PA area medical care providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students develop relationships within the Merion Station health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Getting that very first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Merion Station PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s important that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Merion Station PA, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Merion Station Pennsylvania?

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

Merion Station, Pennsylvania

Merion Station (also known as Merion) is west of Philadelphia, which it borders. It is one of the towns that make up the storied Philadelphia Main Line, and is part of the municipality of Lower Merion township. Merion Station is known for its grand mansions and for the wealth of its residents.

One of the towns that make up the storied Philadelphia Main Line, it is contiguous to the Overbrook and Overbrook Park neighborhoods of City of Philadelphia and is also bordered by Lower Merion Township's unincorporated communities of Wynnewood and Bala Cynwyd, and the borough of Narberth.

The community was named after Merionethshire, Wales, the native home of a large share of the first settlers.[2] Merion is often referred to as "Merion Station," as this is the place name that the United States Postal Service recommends using in order to distinguish Merion from other areas in Pennsylvania with similar names.[3] However, the historical name of the town, used by historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, is Merion.[4]

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant College Merion Station PA

Merion Station PA medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if 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 acquire the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in What’s A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Merion Station PA.