Medical Assistant Tech Delafield WI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Delafield Wisconsin

Delafield WI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Delafield WI, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most potential students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You may want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Delafield WI nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their function is ensure that the Delafield WI hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Wisconsin law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Delafield WI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain 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 basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Delafield WI There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent choice for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Delafield WI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your education may be the ideal option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for those who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Delafield WI medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and perhaps 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 be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Delafield WI medical assistant programs Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which type of credential you would like 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 researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Delafield WI with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should look at when assessing programs. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Delafield WI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Delafield WI area healthcare providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Delafield medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing that initial job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Delafield WI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication 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 provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s imperative that the program you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Delafield WI, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, 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 Delafield Wisconsin?

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

Delafield, Wisconsin

Delafield was the hometown of the Cushing brothers, who served the Union cause during the American Civil War - Alonzo (killed during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg), William (led the raid on CSS Albemarle), and Howard (an Indian fighter killed fighting the Apache in Arizona after the war). Cushing Memorial Park is named after them, and is home to a war memorial in their honor. It was established in 1837, and was named after Dr. Charles Delafield of Milwaukee.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.06 square miles (28.65 km2), of which, 9.41 square miles (24.37 km2) is land and 1.65 square miles (4.27 km2) is water.[6]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7,085 people, 2,776 households, and 1,858 families residing in the city. The population density was 752.9 inhabitants per square mile (290.7/km2). There were 2,974 housing units at an average density of 316.0 per square mile (122.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant College Delafield WI

Delafield WI medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing 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, make certain that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 Medical Assistant Tech. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Delafield WI.