Online Medical Assistant Programs

Subject: Online MA Programs
Name: Lisa
Date Posted: Feb 9, 06 - 6:30 PM
Credential or Professional Title: CNA




Message:
Hello my name is Lisa and I was wondering if anyone knows about 100% online training programs. I am thinking of a college in CA and I live in MN. I checked out the website, accreditations, finacial aid office, and even spoke to a addmissions counselor. Everything is great but I am bit unsure if I can do all the hands on part online. My externship will be 10 weeks long and that is where I will get my hands on training. I would like some feed back on this info. My class starts next week!!!! Thanks Lisa


Re: Online MA Programs
Name: Tracy
Date Posted: Feb 9, 06 - 6:47 PM
Credential or Professional Title: CMA/ RMA/ CNA

Message:
I don't see how you can do it completely online. How can you learn venipuncture? Dressing changes, EKG's injections, without practicing on a real person? I can see the theory courses being online, but not the clinical portion.
Tracy

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Just remember: online training providers, non-traditional universities, and so called virtual colleges that offer distance learning programs have different accreditation standards than brick-and-mortar universities, colleges, and vocational training institutions. They may be great courses for many but always make sure they meet your specific goals!

Use Common Sense!
It is always prudent before joining any online programs to get in touch with the provider of the courses to ask questions. One should also contact the accrediting organization to find out whether a program is truly legitimately accredited by them, and to confirm the quality of the online training courses.

Online Programs:
One important aspect to consider when selecting an online learning program is the school's reputation. The school must be honest and credible in their dealings with the public, have a clean record, and should be accredited and approved by the right organization!

Online courses are seldom accredited, or approved by the board of education and unless they truly have met or exceed established national standards. The application process for reviews and approval is tedious and lengthy. Only the best achieve accreditation!

Those institutions who went through the process and are approved will always have their program's accreditation status visibly posted on their Web site and online course catalogs.

Awareness is the Key!
It is the presence of a number of certain features taken together that should signal to students that they may be dealing with a “mill.”

Web page advertisements that contain text, images, seals, and any profound sounding designations to proclaim that a school and their programs are accredited may contain words such as approved, accredited, accreditation pending, authorized, chartered, licensed, empowered, sponsored, recognized, and registered. Web sites that feature such ads should be critically examined to determine whether these claims are merely common catch phrases, or the assertions are legit.

Those whose goal is proper vocational training to receive a much desired promotion, or to achieve educational goals that will allow them advance into a new position or career must graduate from courses that are accredited not just by any, but by the RIGHT organization.

To learn more about educational requirements, and practical tips for handling emergencies, and proper documentation visit Medical Assistant Net on the Web. There is lots of additional "scope of practice for medical assistants" info at that web site.

Does St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants Uphold Honesty?

Biting The Hand... It is no secret that St. Augustine Medical Assistant School aka St. Augustine Educational Services, which offers online education for medical assistants, has regarded our medical assistant websites as a reliable source for ideas and guidance regarding the latest trends in the medical assistant profession, training, and education.

In 2003 St. Augustine Medical Assistant School contacted us via email for support and advise, however we declined their request to form an advertising partnership with Certmedassistant.com and MedicalAssistant.net.

Unfortunately in September of 2005 we found out that the Augustine Medical Assistant School/St. Augustine Educational Service's website featured content that belonged to us. Entire paragraphs and images were lifted off our MedicalAssistant.net and published to one of their sites without our prior knowledge and permission.

We reported their site for violations of ISP's Terms of Service TOS and intellectual property rights violations/copyright infringement and as a result, the St. Augustine Educational Service's Web site was shut down temporarily by their webhosting firm as a result.

A person, who called himself Dr. Jeff Andrews retalliated by contacting our media partners under false pretense questioning our affiliation with them to pry into our business. At the same time, anonymous emails of dubious nature were forwarded to us with threads that our website will be reported to the FCC! We consulted with our copyrights attorney Fierst, Pucci & Kinder Law Firm to find out how we can protect our business and websites against such shameless threats and insidious actions.

While St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants SRSPsych@aol.com denied any knowledge or affiliation of Dr. Jeff Andrews at drjeffandrews@yahoo.com a recent entry in St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants Blog confirms that Dr. Jeff Andrews is indeed directly affiliated with St. Augustine Medical Assistant School where he, according to them, functions as one of their new Medical Assistant faculty advisors.

Where a business resorts to such underhanded actions, it comes as no surprise that we never will allow St. Augustine Medical Assistant School/St. Augustine Educational Services advertising, which includes their AdWord Google ads, on ANY of our websites! Neither will we ever recommend their programs to any medical assistants looking for online learning opportunities. This is  just our stance... but wait! There is more.

St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants Victim Complaints

Those who are as little as just thinking about giving their program a try are HIGHLY encouraged to look up St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants rating on the Better Business Bureau Website. It pays to take the time to do so. There also have been complaints filed with the Rip-Off Reports website, an online service by consumers for consumers. 

One person, who posted her complaint under the name Hobby of Oakland, Michigan writes:

"I signed up with this school thinking that I can start a new career in the health field, but I found that the school is a total failure.... I tried to email them for some information and they didn't answer. Then I send them a letter through the mail and the letter came back saying the company moved. Then I send a letter to the BBB so they can send the school a letter, so I can get my money back, but the BBB got nowhere."

Rachelle, who calls herself a victim of St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants writes:

"Due to an online search, I found this company as a "certified" online organization that offered a "certification" program for Nursing Assistant... There are several non-satisfactory reports from consumers already, and there is no legitimate address for these services-despite the address that is given on their online website (which has apparently changed three times already). This company is ripping people off around the country. I have been one of those victims."

Mike, in his complaint about St. Augustine Educational Services writes:

"Even when you complete all coursework and final exam you aren't certified. You can't get a job after going here, you still have to find your own internship and do your own clinicals. You might have the knowledge, but you're not certified. It sounds too good to be true, and it is. Stick with going to school."

Indeed.com Peer-To-Peer Discussion About St. Augustine's Medical Assistant School

Another useful peer-to-peer discussion about St. Augustine's Medical Assistant School is taking place on the Indeed Medical Assistant Jobs Forum; check out what other people say about St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants.