How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Lexington Tennessee
Now that you have decided to join the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Lexington TN, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might choose to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting 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 Job of a Medical Assistant
The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Lexington TN hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work run successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Supplying general support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Tennessee law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn 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 Programs
Compared to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Lexington TN health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are a good option 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 choice for students who continue to work full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. Just remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Lexington TN area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your education might be the best option for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for individuals who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Lexington TN medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Lexington TN with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College 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. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Lexington TN employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select 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 about one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, verify that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Lexington TN area medical providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students develop relationships within the Lexington medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing that initial job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Lexington TN area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care 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 can be an indicator of how much personal instruction 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 teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s imperative that the school you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lexington TN, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Lexington Tennessee?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Lexington TN area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Lexington, Tennessee
Lexington is a city in Henderson County, Tennessee, United States. Lexington is midway between Memphis and Nashville, lying 10 miles (16 km) south of Interstate 40, which connects the two cities. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census.[4] It is the county seat of Henderson County.[5]
Shortly after the 1821 creation of Henderson County, a site near its center was chosen as a county seat, and was named "Lexington" in honor of Lexington, Massachusetts, site of the first battle of the American Revolution.[6] The first county courthouse was built in 1823; Lexington was incorporated in 1824 and by 1830 had a population of 260.
As the lead-up to the Civil War began, Henderson County voted against secession. As the war progressed, both Union and Confederate regiments were recruited in the county. The area in and around Lexington was the site of a skirmish on December 18, 1862. Union Colonel Robert Ingersoll sent his troops to destroy a bridge over Beech Creek to disallow the Confederate army moving into the area. However, Ingersoll's troops did not destroy the bridge, and General Nathan Bedford Forrest's troops headed into Lexington. Forrest's troops overtook the Union soldiers, taking over 140 men, including Colonel Ingersoll, and collected artillery and supplies left behind by Union soldiers who escaped.[7]
Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Lexington TN
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How Long Is Medical Assistant School. 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 so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Lexington TN.
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