Certified Medical Assistant Duties New Cumberland PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near New Cumberland Pennsylvania

New Cumberland PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near New Cumberland PA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may choose to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with New Cumberland PA nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their role is to make sure that the New Cumberland PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Providing basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some opt to specialize in a specific 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 Programs

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of New Cumberland PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices 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 usually take about 1 year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as trade 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 often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in New Cumberland PA There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent alternative for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be lessened as well. Just remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in New Cumberland PA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for those who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Some possible New Cumberland PA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask New Cumberland PA medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you must choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to New Cumberland PA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you should examine when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several good reasons to confirm that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective New Cumberland PA employers will not hire 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 exams. To start with, you must learn which of the certifications the schools 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 targeting that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take about 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with New Cumberland PA area healthcare providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the New Cumberland health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Finding that very first job may be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the New Cumberland 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 an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, 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 plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near New Cumberland PA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near New Cumberland Pennsylvania?

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

New Cumberland, Pennsylvania

New Cumberland is a borough in easternmost Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. New Cumberland was incorporated on March 21, 1831. The population was 7,277 at the 2010 census.[3] The borough is noted for its historic downtown which includes landmarks like the historic West Shore Theater and the yearly Apple Festival, which gathers hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors.[4][5]

New Cumberland is located at 40°13′45″N 76°52′26″W / 40.22917°N 76.87389°W / 40.22917; -76.87389 (40.229140, -76.873992)[6] and borders the western bank of the Susquehanna River in South Central Pennsylvania. It is bordered to the south by Yellow Breeches Creek, across which is York County and the Capital City Airport. To the west is Lower Allen Township, and to the north is the borough of Lemoyne. New Cumberland is situated along the southern edge of the Cumberland Valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.68 square miles (4.36 km2), of which 1.68 square miles (4.34 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.62%, is water.[3]

Select the Right Medical Assistant Program New Cumberland PA

New Cumberland PA medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you pick 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 Certified Medical Assistant Duties. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend 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 so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in New Cumberland PA.