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Training as a Medical Assistant

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With a 29% projected job growth rate, medical assistants are in high demand, but only if they are trained properly.

Prospective medical assistants should consider a technical training program to prepare them for certification and a career.

Here’s what you should know…

A Guide to Medical Assistant Training

A routine appointment with your doctor may seem like a one-on-one visit, but it actually isn’t. You will interact with your doctor and nurse. But it doesn’t end there.

There are a number of different people who are involved in the efficient functioning of any health facility, including medical assistants.

In fact, the first person whom you see in your doctor’s office may be the medical assistant.  

Medical assistants check you in, schedule subsequent appointments, answer phones, file insurance forms, and answer questions about the office.

Depending on their medical assistant training level, they may also administer injections, draw blood, and verify the accuracy of your medical records.    

Overview: Medical Assistant Training

Technically, you do not need formal training to work as a medical assistant. However, to succeed and advance, you should have a combination of both administrative and clinical training to qualify as a medical assistant.

certified medical assistant training - scitexas.edu

One reason for this is that all medical activities require a high level of responsibility and complexity, therefore obtaining quality medical assistant training should be a top priority.

At the Southern Careers Institute, you can register in a one-year certification program where you will learn a multitude of skills you need to thrive in this exciting field.

MA Education Requirements

There are many aspects to getting the proper education needed to become a certified medical assistant.

To start, one aspect of your education will deal with all things medical. This will include subjects such as human anatomy and physiology, the body systems, pathology, medical terminology, and pharmacology.

Next, you will study the medical procedures that pertain to medical assisting. These include laboratory diagnostic procedures, EKG, venipuncture, and more. Laboratories are well equipped and offer opportunities for you to apply the skills you have learned.

It doesn’t stop there.

You will understand the ins and outs of medical front desk procedures, business communication, and superb client service.

What is the best way to evaluate your medical assistant training? Well, we have found that the best way to do this is through actual experience.

You have the opportunity to practice develop and fine tune your knowledge and skills by taking part in an externship at an approved healthcare facility.

The objective of the medical assistant program at Southern Careers Institute is to train students to acquire relevant skills and demonstrate competency with the focus on obtaining entry-level employment.  

Skills of a Medical Assistant

In training to become a medical assistant, you will learn a variety of healthcare-related tasks and the essential job skills required. 

Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Clinical Skills

Understanding clinical skills and pharmacology as well as human anatomy and physiology is vital to being successful in the medical assistant job field.

Why?  With rising costs, benefit reductions, and growing chronic disease rates, hospitals and health clinics are struggling to make ends meet. Medical assistants can help hospitals keep costs under control by quickly attending to patients and performing basic medical procedures.

Certified MA’s help get patients with minor illnesses and injuries out of the hospital, reducing overall patient visit times and strain on hospital resources.

However, to do this effectively, medical assistants must understand basic anatomy and clinical skills. Most medical assistant programs in Austin TX focus on teaching their students to draw blood, carry out basic medical tests, and prepare, administer, and authorize prescriptions.

Communication and Customer Service Skills

Communication skills for medical assistants is key to providing the best patient care. Additionally, skills related to communication and customer service are beneficial in a number of ways.

One of the areas it is highly beneficial in is patient education.

As chronic diseases make up an increasing portion of healthcare costs, one of the most effective ways for hospitals to lower spending while improving patient outcomes is to expand patient education.

By teaching patients how to prevent or manage chronic conditions, hospitals can reduce the number of patients who develop these conditions and minimize the risk that those with chronic diseases will need emergency room care.

Medical assistants are perfectly situated to provide patients with this education. A medical assistant program will teach you the communication skills to explain complex medical facts to patients with little to no prior knowledge.

Microsoft Word and Electronic Health Records Skills

Hospitals and clinics are increasingly relying on electronic patient records, and many have placed all of their patients’ information online.

Medical assistants are in charge of recording the bulk of patients’ personal information, medical histories, and test results, and thus must be trained to file electronic records accurately.

Health recording skills are particularly important in hospitals that are currently transitioning from paper records to online ones.

Doctors and nurses don’t have the time to convert medical records into a digital format on their own, and thus trust medical assistants and other specialists to do it for them.

Health Insurance, Ethics, and Laws

Medical assistants are in charge of filling out and coding insurance forms. Assistants must thus be on the lookout for fraud, unclear insurance policies, and other issues that can create legal and ethical complications for their hospitals.

A medical assistant program Austin TX should place particular emphasis on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

HIPAA

HIPAA provides national standards that protect sensitive personal health information of patients. The national health information standards help hospitals eliminate fraud and abuse, while promoting patient confidentiality. 

Besides learning proper insurance and caregiver conduct, medical assistants must also be aware of environmental and public health regulations.

Medical Procedures

As part of the job, medical assistants may be asked to perform medical procedures. To do so, they must understand how to perform those procedures and handle medical equipment safely and legally.

Clinical assistants are in charge of disposing of medical waste and contaminated equipment, and must be able to do so in a way that meets all environmental statutes. Medical assistant programs will teach you to dispose of waste without endangering your community or ecosystem.

Develop Hands-on Experience

All industry specific skills are crucial to success as a medical assistant, but don’t choose a school based solely on its ability to teach you them.

Beyond basic medical and legal knowledge, assistants must be able to work in fast paced environments, retain large amounts of information, and maintain a positive attitude under difficult circumstances.

To find a medical assistant program Austin TX that will prepare you for these challenges, contact the Southern Careers Institute today.

Earn a Medical Assistant Certification

To stand out in a sea of applicants, your first step is to earn your certificate in medical assisting with Southern Careers Institute.

Getting certified as a CMA is more than just a way of obtaining work as a medical assistant.

It can also be the springboard you need to gain further knowledge in the field, specialize in specific areas through acquiring professional certifications, and network with other medical and CMA professionals for opportunities.  

Get the Job!

Given the nature of the work and the types of tasks that are involved, the health care field is very demanding. But as a profession, medical assisting is complex, diverse, and incredibly rewarding.

For many professionals working in the field, medical assisting offers a steady and reputable career path that allows them to give back to their community while providing professional and personal fulfillment.  

Consider becoming a medical assistant through Southern Careers Institute or other reputable colleges to achieve your potential and help make a difference one person at a time. Apply to MA school to start working toward your future or contact us at  1.833.SCI.TEXAS today!

This article was published on: 05/30/20 1:02 AM

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

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