Medical Assistant Information Technology (IT)

Gone are the days of clip boards and medical charts carried by the medical assistant, or nurse. Today's medical assistants, especially certified medical assistants, are headed toward the future and need to be prepared and well trained in Information Technology ( IT) and computer applications. Many are carrying iPads, smart phones, tablet PCs, and other high tech mobile devices that are directly linked to a central database, or are designed to upload into a central unit.  

A tremendous amount of medical centers, hospitals, ambulatory health clinics, and doctor’s offices are looking for medical assistants trained in computer applications which includes proficiency in appointment scheduling, electronic medical record (EMR) management, medical terminology,  understanding and managing computer databases,  medical transcription, and bookkeeping etc… Some medical assistants may be required to perform medical  billing and coding, medical insurance claims processing, and utilizing CPT and ICD-9 diagnostic codes (soon upgraded to the new ICD-10 already used in Canada and many European countries). 

Judy Jondahl, director of accreditation for the American Association of Medical Assistant (AAMA) who certify thousands of medical assistants year after year, reported that associate degree programs in medical assisting are now putting a bigger focus on information technology skills and requiring IT competency as part of the their curriculum. Two year degree or Associates Certified Medical Assistants programs can provide most of the up to date computer applications training you need to compete in today's computer tech world.  Having these skill will not only help you to get hired, but it would also allow you to earn more than the average or less qualified non-certified medical assistants. 

Certified Medical Assistant Professional Medical Office Team Member

Working in the health care field offers a wide range of opportunities and many of these careers do not require years of formal education and training. One of these opportunities is becoming a certified medical assistant. In general, a certified medical assistant requires a high school diploma and then undergoes training to earn a medical assistant diploma. Upon graduation they chose to voluntarily take one of the different offered certification exams to earn credentials that are recognized in the medical assisting discipline, this also includes Registered Medical Assistants (RMA), who are also certified.

Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant

Medical assisting is an excellent career choice for those who truly enjoy helping people with unique concerns. The work is gratifying as well as rewarding that goes beyond words: that's thousands of young and old people from all walks of life that you will be making a difference to, directly and indirectly, including your own. Before getting started as a certified medical assistant, there are some things that need to be considered such as your education, financial responsibilities and most importantly, your ability to work with people of all ages.

The certified medical assistant career encompasses clinical responsibilities and administrative duties in a medical office.  On the clinical side you will perform duties such as taking and recording vital signs, new patient interviews and registration, providing patient education, preparing patients for their exams, assisting physician, EKG's, assisting with X-rays, using CPR when needed and ordering and maintaining supplies.

The administrative skills include front desk duties, answering phones, greeting patients, verifying medical and health insurance coverage, organizing medical and financial records, corresponding with patients and vendors, processing and coding insurance forms, accounting, billing and banking procedures, calling in prescriptions to the pharmacy, communicating with other allied health professionals and providers and being an all around professional medical office team member.

1.) Education: 

Becoming a certified medical assistant will require formal training from a school for medical assistant, either ending with a medical assistant diploma or a 2 year degree in medical assisting (Associates of Science, A.S. in Medical Assisting). Once you have graduated you will then be required to pass one of the national medical assistant certification exams of your choice to earn the certified medical assistant status.

2.) Financial: 

Education costs money and this can be accomplished through your own finances, or obtaining government funded education loans when enrolling in a formal medical assisting program. Normally if you cannot afford to pay tuition costs, most of the time you will qualify. These loans will cover college tuition costs, but will not cover your transportation, food, or simple school supplies. These low interest student loans typically become due 6 months after graduation and you will have to start making monthly payments until they are completely paid off. 

With determination and commitment, becoming a certified medical assistant is an excellent and fulfilling career decision many have already chosen and never regretted it.

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More at Medical Assistant NET website.

Role of the Medical Assistant - Essential to Medical Offices Everywhere

Anonymous said today...

CMAs are not nurses. They are not LPNs or RNs. CMAs cannot work independently. You don't have a license. You can't pass meds. As an LPN I do a full med pass (IM/SQ injections, PO meds, inhalers, etc...) treatments (wound tx, creams, etc). Neuro assessments, skin assessments, pain assessments, behavioral assessments... put phys orders in, change orders, order UAs based on MY assessments (MD can sign later). Deal with trachs, feeding tubes, ostomys, pressure ulcers, diabetics, PICC lines, post-op pts. you name it. And all of this is with a doctor not present. More responsibility = more pay and more respect and more knowledge. As far as vitals? Shit my STNAs do those. Do people really think getting vitals is a skill??? And when I'm working with crappy STNAs I also will wash and toilet my patients (all 26 of them). I bust my ass and I don't count it done unless I see a STNA do it or I do it myself. I'm sick of CMAs who walk a pt to a room, get a set of vitals, ask some questions and leave-acting like they have any idea what LPNs do. You dont even pass meds. Seriously. Know your role. LOL.

Just A Medical Assistant said:

Let's not belittle medical assistants and marginalize their role! Medical assistants are ESSENTIAL to the modern single-doctor or group medical practice within ANY medical specialty. Let me tell you, and other LPNs and nurses, who often are just as confused as to what medical assistants can and cannot do,  as you seem to be.

This is the SHORT summary of medical assistant duties:

Medical assistants are essential to the medical office. For every nurse in the medical office you now find at least 2 medical assistants, one in the front office, and one in the back. Medical assistants typically build strong, long lasting relationships with the doctor, their colleagues, nursing staff and patients. At the end of the day, they return home knowing they have made a difference in many people's lives in their community. If a mother has a sick child the administrative medical assistant will fit them into the doctor's schedule to be seen, if blood, or any other specimens need to be collected, such as a throat or wound swab for a bacterial culture, the clinical medical assistant will take care of that. Chances are the clinical medical assistant is fully trained and qualified to take the administrative medical assistant's chair up front, and the administrative medical assistant can slip into the role of the medical assist in the back handling clinical tasks under the supervision of the doctor.

If the doctor prescribes crutches, a walker, or cane, then it will be the medical assistant's responsibility to make sure the patient returns home knowing how to safely use these devices. The medical assistant's role is to make sure that adequate care and attention is given to each and every patient who arrives and leaves from their doctor's appointment, young or old, and of course, appropriately handle any unforeseen situations, including medical emergencies, promptly notifying the doctor of any such critical events.

Aside from "just" taking vital signs and "only" escorting a patient to the examination room medical assistants know how to use the latest Electronic Medical Records databases and software, explain treatment procedures, prepare, position and drape patients for examinations (yes, they do know what Trendelenburg is, distal, lateral, medial and supine, etc.), give injections, pulmonary function test, EKG, Holter monitor, splints, bandages, eye and ear lavage and assist the physician when asked during an exam, or a procedure.

They also respond to patient's concerns in a courteous and professional manner, route their messages to the intended person, and respond back with an answer if so requested, help patients obtain their prescriptions, show them how to correctly take medications, draw blood, monitor patients and make them feel comfortable during the entire visit.

Furthermore, the medical assistant keeps the doctor on schedule in a succinct manner, patients informed and comfortable, waiting and examination rooms clean, reception area and clinical floors on track and the office workflow running smoothly. And no matter how busy the office gets, from time to time they have to show new medical assistant hirees and medical assistant students on externship the ropes so they can learn the necessary routines. All in all, a medical assistant is an important contributor to the doctor's medical practice and business.

In Conclusion: I don't know what a STNA is; furthermore I have to add that many of the LPN skills listed in the above post truly fall under the classical nursing duties that is essential to in-patient, in-hospital, or nursing home care. Medical assistants do not wash patients, we don't toilet patients, and rarely do you attend or monitor patients with trachs, feeding tubes, ostomys, pressure ulcers, diabetics, PICC lines, or post-op patients in an ambulatory setting. With all due respect to the nursing profession, I do believe this LPN is working in a nursing home (where she is well within her element) and is mistaking medical assistants with nursing assistants, or, at least, not fully aware of the medical assistant's role and scope of practice. I hope this article and posted link helps.

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More at Medical Assistant NET website.

Taking the Medical Assistant Certification Exam?

If you are a medical assistant preparing for the medical assistant certification exam here are some insights and tips:

Most medical assistants with formal training and recognized medical assistant credentials behind their name wind up doing quite well upon graduation. Many land jobs that they would probably not have gotten otherwise. The competition on today's job market is high... everybody wants to land a better job. There are many affordable certification exams offered, which cover a broad range of medical assisting areas of knowledge to assure proficiency and competency in different areas of medical assisting.

These medical assistant certification exams usually test knowledge on many areas of clinical and administrative skills, which also includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, clinical lab procedures, pharmacology, document processing and management, healthcare law and ethics, and medical coding and billing questions, to name just a few. Here are some REAL live medical assistant certification exam study tips, strategies, and example questions for those preparing for the medical assistant certification exam.

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Announcing the NEXT Level in Your Medical Assisting Career: Specialty Certified Medical Assistant (SCMA™)

Over the last few years there has been increased awareness and overwhelming interest in  certification and specialization among medical assistants in the United States. Experienced medical assistants know how important recognized credentials are to their success.

The medical and healthcare industry has matured to the point where doctors, clinics and facilities recruiting new medical assistant staff ask their applicants about credentials, experience and unique qualifications they may have to do the job. They know that medical assistants who are certified, or specialized will meet widely-recognized standards for professional excellence and are up to date on the latest techniques and research in their field. When physicians review resumes they want to hire a professional. 

"Hiring a certified medical assistant makes everyone's job easier. Those medical assistants who earned a designation have a proven track record of continuing education and expertise in their discipline. This means better customer satisfaction and happier patients." 

Those looking to document their professional expertise and wishing to earn a unique distinction in their specific focus field can now do so by taking the Specialty Certified Medical Assistant(tm) (SCMA) exam, the only medical assistant certification with a therapeutic focus provided by Certification Commission, which is the highest and most widely-recognized standard for professional excellence in a medical specialty field AND specific therapeutic area. 

Specialty Certified Medical Assistant (SCMA™) certification in therapeutic specialties are presently offered in:

·         Family Medicine (SCMA-FM™) 

·         Geriatrics (SCMA-G™)

·         Internal Medicine (SCMA-IM™)

·         OB/GYN (SCMA-OBG™)

·         Pediatrics (SCMA-PD™)

·         Transplantation Surgery (SCMA-TTS™)

·         Cardiology (SCMA-CD™)

·         Oncology (SCMA-ON™)

·         Urology (SCMA-U™)

·         Endocrinology (SCMA-END™)

·         Women’s Health (SCMA-WH™)

Once certified through Certification Commission you have earned the distinct privilege to list this unique credential after your name; for example, as a member who completed the pediatrics certification you can list your name in either of the following ways: Jane Doe, SCMA-PD™, or Jane Doe, SCMA(PD)™. It proves that you are fully trained and dedicated to the particular therapeutic area.

What Medical Assistants Need to Know About CMA and RMA Certification, Licensure, Limited Licenses and Permits

A member of our Medical Assistant Community Forum who calls herself New RMA asked the following question:

"I'm in Charlotte, NC. I just completed an eight-month, VERY INTENSE, Medical Assisting program, including a two month externship at a private practice. I was then eligible to sit for the RMA exam and passed with a near-perfect score. The question came up several times during my training about what the differences were between RMA/CMA designation. We were told repeatedly that there is no difference in qualifications, just that the CMA title is older and more widely recognized, and for that reason has, until now, usually been paid more."

Certification and Registration

In the United States of America certification and registration for medical assistants remains a largely voluntary process to identify a medical assistant as having achieved certain standards established by a professional organization, such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and American Medical Technologists (AMT). These well known professional membership associations have been certifying healthcare professionals and granted them active certification status for many decades.

Upon passing their proprietary standardized certification exam the medical assistant receives their credential, such as Certified Medical Assistant® (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and is now medical assistant certified or registered.  Both, the CMA and the RMA certification exams are given throughout the United States.

In 2006 the AMT sought legal counsel against the AAMA spurred by misconceptions about the proper use of the words certified medical assistant and employer's preferred advertising and hiring of CMA. To ward off one-sided job placement, confusion about the credentials and possible discrimination against the RMA the AMT established that the designation of RMA was in fact equal to CMA and that any employer that recognizes the CMA should be equally willing to hire medical assistants with the RMA designation.

CMA refers to Certified Medical Assistant, while RMA refers to Registered Medical Assistant. Certification for medical assistants is the same as registration, which means medical assistants who are registered are also certified on a national level by passing a proprietary medical assistant certification exam.

If you are an RMA applying for jobs advertising certified medical assistant, or CMA only, you can obtain a letter from AMT explaining that the RMA is just as qualified to fill medical assistant positions as the CMA. See: AMT v. AAMA, a lawsuit filed in federal district court in October 2006. 

Professional Licensure

Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives permission to practice, operate, or provide specific skills, equipment and services. Licensing differs from certification in as much as it is enforced by the government, usually at state level, through a system of processes that authorizes, identifies and tracks a health professional's conduct. The purpose is to regulate and control healthcare professionals and practicing clinicians by means of licensure. All practicing physcians must be licensed. If they violate any rules or laws their license to practice medicine can be revoked or suspended. At present, no state in the USA has instituted state licensure for medical assistants.

Licensing

For language's sake, the use of the term licensing is often used a tad-bit different than licensure although essentially it is synonymous and means the same. Certain types of professionals, businesses and even activities in the United States need to be licensed and certain licenses must be obtained before being allowed to drive a motor vehicle, operate a crane, carry a firearm, or go fishing and hunting, to name just a few. In the end it's still the same: licensing is required, because it regulates certain activities and professions and grants permission to practice certain skills safely. Here are some examples of professionals that require licensure and businesses that must be licensed in order to provide their services to the public:

• Accountants
• Attorneys
• Blood Banks
• Body Piercing Artists
• Cosmetologists
• Counselors
• Dentists
• Dietitians
• Doctors
• Dialysis Centers
• Electricians
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Family Therapists
• Funeral Directors
• Home Care Agencies
• Laboratories
• Medical Test Sites
• Nurses
• Opticians
• Osteopathic Physicians
• Physical Therapists
• Physicians
• Radiological Technologists
• Social Workers
• Veterinarians
• X-Ray Facilities
• X-Ray Technicians

See: AAMA Certification and Licensure - Facts You Should Know.

Limited Licenses and Special Permits

When a medical assistant is expected to draw blood, or take x-rays they must be aware that certain states have mandatory educational requirements before they can perform certain duties and may be required to carry a permit, or obtain a license in order to perform certain procedures, such as phlebotomy, radiography, start IV lines, or give certain or any injections. Anyone wishing to work as a medical assistant should carefully research whether there are specific laws that regulate the medical assistant profession and any special licenses or permits are required in their state.

Medical assistants and their supervisors can check with their state's Department of Health, Department of Nursing, State Medical Board, Board of Medical Examiners, Department of Licensing, State Bar Association (legal and attorneys), etc. for details about any special licensing requirements in their state, or how to obtain certain permits if so required.

Most Employers Want Certified Medical Assistants...

When Applying for Medical Assistant Positions: Are Certified Medical Assistants Preferred?

Are you a recent medical assistant school graduate or...

• a medical assistant already working but not yet certified?
• does your diploma seem worthless without experience?
• do you have experience but no way to reliably document it?

 If you are a job seeking medical assistant you may already know that...

Most Employers Today Demand:
We want CERTIFICATIONS before we hire!
To work as a medical assistant you don't have to be certified (in most states, US states), but if your goal is to work in a large regional medical center, often the ambulatory medical offices and specialties affiliated with local hospitals, such as, for example our large BayState Regional Medical Center, or Mercy Hospital, which has satellite offices and laboratories throughout the Western Massachusetts communities, then you should strongly consider getting certified, because that's what they want.

You must understand, that while getting certified is not legislated nor mandated by (most) US states, it is the EMPLOYER who set their specific standards and decide what qualifications they want (see: www.certmedassistant.com). Phlebotomy or limited x-ray training would also be a plus.

But how do you get certified?
Medical assistant certification is earned by passing a written medical assistant certification exam. This gives you recognized credentials and verification of your qualifications in various areas of the medical assisting discipline, including clinical and administrative areas. When applying for medical assistant jobs these credentials are your secret weapon, your "ace in a hole", the sure thing that makes you stand out from the rest. As long as you keep your certification status active these credentials are valid, recognized and portable to all places in the USA where you may work now and in the future. Medical assistant certification exams for individuals who meet the training and experience requirement as determined by the sponsoring organization are provided by the following entities:

- American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- National Registry for Medical Assisting (NRMA)
- American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants

You, after you took the certification exam, will receive an official document from the organization which presides over the exam to confirm that you have passed their medical assistant certification exam. You are then allowed to use their designated credentials behind your name as long as you abided by the rules and keep your certification status active. You will also receive a pin or name tag with your credential engraved, a professional membership card and instructions on how to keep your certified medical assistant status current.

Read Medical Assistant's Questions
WHY do so many employers now prefer hiring certified medical assistants over non-certified medical assisting staff? What are the various medical assistant certification avenues and their benefits, purpose and cost?

Heroes of the Medical Office

The undisputed heroes of medical offices everywhere are their certified medical assistants. They help make the life of doctors easier and millions of patients happier. In your role as a certified medical assistant you are expected to act professionally with a can-do-attitude and friendly disposition throughout the day, from start to finish. While duties can vary greatly from office to office your main role will be to assist doctors with various clinical and administrative medical office routines, keep the patients comfortable and informed, react and handle unforeseen events and unexpected situations, including medical emergencies in an appropriate manner and keep daily medical office routines running smoothly and efficiently until every patient has been served and seen.

Certified Medical Assistant Profession

When becoming a certified medical assistant you will be dealing with people who are sick and have special needs, while at the same time staying within your discipline's scope of practice and strictly adhering to any existing state and local laws, as well as following moral and ethic principles in everything you do. Typically, you will work within an ambulatory medical office, medical physician practice setting and apply your skills under the direct supervision of the doctor who hired you. At times you might be asked to carry out delegated tasks from a supervising nurse, or other licensed health care practitioner, who is in charge and in a supervising role.

"You have to ask yourself why you want to be a medical assistant. If it's for the money then realize that it's average pay at best, BUT if you want a job in the medical field where you can make a difference, I think you would enjoy being an MA! This is the reason I'm doing it: not for the money, but for the good feeling of helping people!"

As a certified medical assistant you may also fall under certain educational and certification requirements as set forth by the State Medical Board/Board of Medical Examiners and other governing professional membership bodies and licensing boards, such as the State Board of Nursing, who regulate the medical and nursing professions in the state where you work.

Is there a difference between CMA and RMA certification and which do employers prefer?

Donna Gardner-Lawson, a medical assistant instructor, tells us in the LinkedIn Medical Assistant Job Board discussion what she has found in her area where she lives. Donna tells us:

"The general preference is for the CMA. The only significant difference between the two is the accrediting body, specifically ABHES vs CAAHEP. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), which grants the CMA credential, is headquartered out of Chicago and has been around since 1956. AAMA only certifies Medical Assistants, nothing else. The American Medical Technologists (AMT), also seated in Chicago, registers medical assistants, x-ray techs, lab techs and a host of other allied health professionals. Both are nationally accepted certifications anywhere in the U.S. and its territories."

She further states that the major objective of the AAMA is to bring medical assisting into national recognition as a legitamite PROFESSION, like the RN and the MD. The AMT can not make this statement. The AAMA has lobbyists in Washington that lobby for the professionalism of the medical assistant discipline. There have been several attempts to strip the medical assistants of certain assigned duties, but thanks to the AAMA's active engagement and lobbying the duties for medical assistants have been maintained.

Whether you are certified through AAMA, or registered through AMT, in either case you are certified by means of meeting certain educational and training requirements, passing a standardized certification exam and maintaining your credential by means of annual continuing education units. As long as your credentials are valid they are portable to any state that you may work in now, or in the future.

Drug Sales Rep Visit In a Medical Office

This day starts with a drug sales rep brush-off: While at the optical shop where several ophthalmologists and their assistants were working diligently to serve their customers and patients, I observed one of the employees answering the ringing phone, exchanging a few brief words with the person who had just called and then hanging up with an audible "clank" as the receiver hit the phone's cradle. I thought I heard her say: "No thanks, we are all set!" as she hung up.

The same instance she was hanging up the phone she gleefully swung herself around toward me and she declared proudly: "Boy, that felt really good!" I didn't know what she meant and so I politely asked what she meant. "Well," she said "this was one of these drug reps and I just love to tell them off. We only allow those we already know to come in." So, it was having given a drug sales rep the brush-off that had just made her day.

Doctors Closing their Door to Drug Salesmen

This scene instantly reminded me of an article I had come across a few years ago while I still was a medical assistant student. The article was titled "Doctors Closing their Door to Drug Salesmen". I seem to remember that the article stated that the number of drug sales reps has grown from nearly 45,000 to almost 88,000 in just two years. This would have been between 1996 and 1998 when I was still in medical assisting school.

I recall that I used this article for an essay on pharmaceutical drugs and drug promotion. I was writing about the pharmaceutical industry and how it had spent more than $16 billion that year to persuade doctors to prescribe their company's drugs. On top of that they had invested nearly $10 billion for free samples of various drugs that were widely advertised to consumers. In my essay, I was trying to highlight any pros and cons.

After my work was turned in, reviewed and graded, I remember a few words of wisdom provided by my instructor. As she was sharing her experiences out in the field as an RN she mentioned that she had witnessed drug representatives resorting to excessive means in an attempt to ward off competition and win over physicians and their prescription pads. Their goal was to outdo generic competition and to maximize sales of drugs protected by patents, which if they were successful, would earn them their hefty commissions.

Accepting the Peace Pipe Offerings from Drug Reps

Upon graduation, I worked in my role as a certified medical assistant in different medical offices, from small private practices to larger group practices and indeed drug reps were calling the office regularly to see when they could come in to promote their products. It usually was us medical assistants working up front at the reception desk who booked them and informed the doctor when they would be coming in, usually during lunch time.

Drug Samples, Ink Pens and Scratch Pads
Along with their heavy bags full of sample products and brochures, the pharmaceutical reps would also bring a wide variety of promotional gifts, from ink pens and scratch pads with their logo for the medical assistants, to titanium golf clubs and other extravagant gifts for the doctor, especially around Christmas. A delivery boy would already have dropped off the drug company funded lunch for the entire staff and we would set it up in our staff break and lunch room area. Once the lunch was over and the tables cleared, the drug rep would proceed to give a brief presentation, a mini lecture of sorts, to us and the doctor about the product they came to promote.

Nice People with a Difficult Job

Personally, I do not particularly like or dislike the drug reps and I do not doubt for a single moment that drug reps are professional, educated and nice people with a difficult job. I hope that the doctors they visit during these lunches and lectures are independent thinkers and will not sell out their patients to the drug companies and the products they promote and sometimes "push".

Regardless, whether I like the drug reps, or not; or whether I agree, or disagree with their methods to get a moment of attention to grasp a foothold in the available territory, it is clear to me that many needy patients will benefit from the medication samples and the medical assistants will benefit from the free continued education classes they provide from time to time.

As far as the free ink pens, scratch pads and lunches, a medical assistant colleague once said to me, that if we don't take them, someone else will. Goes to show that not everybody in a medical office objects to accepting promotional gifts from the heavily funded drug industry. Chances are, she probably had made a good point! As a medical assistant I eventually learned to value the information and education and even the pens I receive from qualified drug rep professionals.

Medical Assistants and the Drug Rep Routine

As a medical assistant you will face drug reps, some good, some pushy, all trying to do their job and detail a practicing doctor or clinician about new pharmaceutical products and drugs. We all appreciate a break in our job, so let's remember to give the reps a break, too. Less and less have drug samples to give out, but all have good information to share and, of course, the sticky pads of paper and ink pens with their company's logo.

Although it may look strange to the patients and be a bit bothersome to the working medical office staff when the drug reps are standing there in their dark business suits on a busy day waiting for the doctor to take a break, or for us medical assistants to finally take them to the back office area where they can leave their samples, I was always thankful for the treats and a well spent hour leaning about new medications on the market.

Medical Assistants Seeking Certified Phlebotomy Credentials

Medical assistants often are trained in venipuncture (blood drawing techniques) and are responsible for obtaining ordered blood specimens for diagnostic analysis in a laboratory. Medical assistants often seek phlebotomist certifications to work as phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician in a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility.

The money is good and the jobs are plentiful. Phlebotomists, and medical assistants who perform venipunctures (and phlebotomy) as part of their daily routine in California need special approved phlebotomy training and phlebotomy certification in order to work in this occupation in this state. The certification exam is sponsored by a handful recognized certification sponsors that allow phlebotomy certification candidates to apply and take their proctored phlebotomy certification exams.

A list of Professional membership organizations and agencies that certify phlebotomy candidates by examination in the USA is here: Phlebotomy Certifications.

Is Certified Medical Assisting right for you?

While there is high demand for this job, even in the current economy, there are also high demands on a prospective candidate: costs, temperament, skills and time commitment.

Well, let's think about it this way: Are you an efficient multitasker who works well with people? Want to use your organizational skills within the fast-paced environment of a medical facility, where you could be handling everything from managing the day-to-day operations of a doctors office, to interacting and helping with patients?

Medical assistant training that leads to desired diplomas and degrees requires one or two years of training in order to be eligible for the medical assistant certification exam upon successful graduation.

There are distance programs available, however there is a requirement to dedicate a year to full time training, which will likely be a lost year of income for you: you will need to factor that in with the tuition to determine your overall financial obligation.

To learn more about the medical assisting career please visit Medical Assistant NET on the Web.

Why Do Doctors Want CERTIFIED Medical Assistants?

With all the recent changes in healthcare, job market, and economy everything has changed, including the way doctors hire their medical assisting staff. Many doctors are looking for experience and and certifications, whether is is for a permanent, or temporary position - it's the same old tune. It seems to be directly connected to their need for competent staff when it comes to running their medical practice efficiently, and effectively, fear of errors, and thus, law suites, their reputation and in some cases, because their State Medical Board, or professional malpractice insurance carrier requires it. As a medical assistant, you should make sure you are fully informed about the value and importance of medical assistant certifications available to you.

Cert Med Assistant: Free Guide for Working Medical Assistants

Cert Med Assistant: Free Guide for Working Medical Assistants video testimonial:

First off, it’s not often you stumble upon a website where the primary objective isn’t to sell you something. At Cert Med Assistant it seemed as if I came across someone who had my best interest at heart. When I learned that Medical Assistants have replaced Nurses in doctor’s offices, I realized the potential for working in a medical office near me (something I always wanted to achieve). After finding out which schools in my area were accredited, it didn’t take me very long to register. In 5 minutes I found every answer I was looking for. It’s almost a no-brainer. With Cert Med Assistant (.c0m) they have created a site that not only helps you along the path to getting your medical assistant career started, but also get certified, and there is an active medical assistant message board, resume help, and the scope of its practice by each state for reference what medical assistant can, and cannot, do.

Cert Med Assistant is a resource that prospective and current medical assistants can enjoy It seems like this will be a resource I’ll be using throughout my career. If you’re aspiring to be or thinking about become a medical assistant, it has tons of information on job outlook, where to find the jobs, how to get certified, where schools are in your area, and the scope of practice by state if you're looking for jobs elsewhere. If you’re already certified, it has job search resources and even resume help. If by some chance that doesn’t help, a forum to post questions that’ll be answered by other certified medical assistants is there too.

Check it out: www.certmedassistant.com

Opportunities in Medical Assisting

The following was submitted to me via this Blog's comment function, but because comments can be easily missed I have decided to add it directly into our Blog. Unfortunately, it was sent anonymously, and I cannot give proper credit. I am, however, sure, the person who's sent this will not mind. Perhaps he/she will comment again directly under this post.

Thank you!!!

Here it goes:

I'm a Certified and Registered Medical Assistant. All of my experience as an MA has been in the acute-care hospital setting. There has been a trend in hiring MAs in the hospitals.

When you work in an acute care setting versus an ambulatory setting such as a Doctor's office, you make more. Most Hospital-based MAs in the area that I work in make about $23 an hour. There seems to be a lot of MA versus LPN and LPN vs MA on this website regarding scope of practice and wage dispute.

It's true that there is similar training and educational background in the pathways between MAs and LPNs, but where MAs get the administrative side of healthcare, the LPNs get into the more acute care assessment side of patient care. The LPNs are trained more in the direct patient care and can function under their own license.

We as MAs (whether we are CERTIFIED and/or REGISTERED or choose not to be) must work under the supervision of an MD or RN. The role of the MA and LPN in the traditional doctor's office and clinic may be very similar, but the LPNs can also listen to hearts and lungs and make patient care assessment. We as MAs cannot. But we as MAs do have the advantage of having both our clinical and administrative training and are a very valuable team member.

And in many situations, we are a patient care advocate and are often the first person that the patient may request (whether it's the doctor's office or the acute care setting) when they have a question. I also have seen a great phasing out of the LPNs in both of the settings. MAs are being utilized more over the CNAs and the LPNs in our hospitals, as well as often being the working majority in the outpatient clinics and doctor's offices.

Whatever the future holds for them and us, we will always have jobs and be valuable. There should be no us or them. We are supposed to be team players. Yes; LPNs do often get paid more-but it's not that much more that an MA wage. They deserve it based on their education and amount of clinical hours that they put in.

Does it make them more valuable? That depends on what type of work setting they are employed in and what is expected of them and the MAs that they work with. The unfortunate thing is that no matter how many credentials we MAs choose to test for and earn, it still doesn't always increase our wage.

I also have various healthcare assistant licenses (for my MA scope of practice to perform venipunctures and injections) but that still doesn't increase my wage, either. But I do make a good wage as a hospital-based Medical Assistant. And I believe that my experience coupled w/all of my credentials is what got me into the acute care setting.

So; opting to be Certified and credentialed for various specialties (like phlebotomy, ekg, administrative and clinical medical assistant, etc...) does open up doors. Good luck to all the Medical Assistants out there. You all obviously are very passionate about patient care and proud of your role and title.

You deserve to be.

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.

Medical Assistant Online Training -- Students Must Use Extreme Caution

This is an example:
St. Augustine Educational Services on the Internet AKA St. Augustine Medical Assistant School—advertised on the Internet as an accredited medical assistant online school. Please know that the article reflects only, and solely our own opinion. If there is anything you'd like to share or add to this article, please feel free to do so. Please utilize the "add comment" button below.

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St. Augustine Medical Assistant School!
St. Augustine Educational Services is one example where exercising extreme caution before signing up for medical assistant training is advised. Only because St. Augustine Educational Services is a heavy advertiser on the search engines and ranks high it does not automatically mean that their program is right for medical assistant students educational and professional needs.

St. Augustine Educational Services is a school on the Internet that offers medical assistant classes through distance education online. Cost: $645 -- Non-refundable! Their main web site (one of many) is located at medassistant.org. However, to raise their online presence and recruitment of students into their medical assistant distance education and training program this website is interlinked with a broad network of other websites.

As Posted on St. Augustine's Home Page:"An Accredited, Convenient and Affordable Online Distance Education ProgramYou can now study online to earn an accredited Medical Assistant Certificate in just 6-8 weeks!"

St. Augustine Educational Services describes their online school as a worldwide leader in online medical assistant education and proclaims to be an accredited medical assistant school. In the past their web site indicated that that they were a school in Florida which may lead to confusion since there also is the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida (especially with the added image of a building that resembles a southern university campus). However, this reference has now been removed from their web site. See archived web page!

Once visitors start to dig through their web pages and drill deeper into their site they find a page (not easy to find!) that explains what St. Augustine Educational Services really is: St. Augustine Educational Services is a business located in the British Virgin Islands and accredited by a private non-government agency called “The Certification Board”.

The Certification Board through which St. Augustine Medical Assistant School is accredited is based in Owensboro, Kentucky. Anyone can join over the Internet for a one-time fee of $200! Upon completion of their distance education program St. Augustine Educational Services issues nothing more, nothing less than a certificate of completion, which is a simple piece of paper imprinted "Certificate of Completion" with the student's name.

Read more details every student should know
about St. Augustine's classes
before
signing up at: http://www.medassistant.org/Info.html

In Conclusion:

Students who sign up for medical assistant or other allied health professional related vocational training are urged to seek out properly accredited programs that meet national standards, make them eligible to sit for the national certification exams, and lead to higher education, and/or a degree. Over the past years recognized national certification and accreditation agencies and sponsors have become very engaged in providing quality education, professional membership support, and building awareness among educators, employers, supervisors, and students about the importance of attending proper accredited schools and programs.

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)
• American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

For example, the AAMA's Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), AMT's Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification, and/or NHA's Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Administrative Medical Assistant (CMAA) certification exams are available ONLY for qualified candidates from properly accredited schools. Anyone with questions can go to these organization's websites to find more information on the certification process.

Unless potential medical assistant students understand the difference between fully accredited vs. the multitude of gray-area, non-accredited, and flat-out illegitimate vocational training programs offered online, they might be in for a rude awakening, when after having successfully completed the course they find out that they have virtually nothing to show for their money and efforts. Even worse: that they are not permitted to sit for any of the professional certification exams!

It is extremely important that anybody who seeks vocational training graduates from courses that are approved and accredited by the RIGHT agencies, such as the United States Board of Education, the US Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the US Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the US Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and other governmental agencies and regulatory organizations, such as Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Comments -------------------------------
A comment that was previously added to the article below, but then deleted:
Quote: "I would like to see more info on St Augustine they claim they are accredited by an organization called “The Certification Board” It is totally phony website address at www.acertification.org". Here is the information about St. Augustine's accreditation agency from the WhoIs Name Intelligence, Inc. database. Anyone interested in finding out more details about St. Augustine's accreditation status here is the contact information:

• Web site: acertification.org
• Title: National Accreditation and Certification Board
• Description: Offers accreditation for alternative health programs, colleges and graduates.
• Based in Owensboro, Kentucky.
• Domain Name: ACERTIFICATION.ORG
• Sponsoring Registrar: Intercosmos Media Group Inc.
• Registrant Name: Steve Rusher
• Registrant Organization: American Mystery Cat INC.
• Registrant Street: 358 East Main Street
• Registrant City: Fordsville
• Registrant State/Province: KY
• Registrant Postal Code: 42343
• Registrant Country: US
• Registrant Phone: 270.276.5384
  
  
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