What role would a medical assistant play in assisting with diagnostic procedures and patient education?

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What is Medical Assisting?

A key member of a health care team who works in the administrative office, examining room, and laboratory. You are a vital liaison between doctor and patient and play an important role in diagnosis and treatment.

Medical Assistant Mandatory Orientation

What are my career options?

Doctors offices, outpatient clinics, and other ambulatory health care facilities. As health care expands, the demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations.

What will I do on the job?

Schedule and monitor appointments, arrange hospital and outpatient admissions, manage medical records, process insurance claims, and manage office financial records. What medical and technical tasks would I perform? In the clinical area, you:

• Prepare patients for exams, procedures, and treatments
• Assist with physical examinations
• Record medical histories
• Take vital signs
• Chart patient information
• Administer medications and injections
• Perform electrocardiograms
• Assist with minor office surgeries
• Perform venipuncture
• Collect and prepare specimens
• Perform basic laboratory tests

What will I study?

Anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical procedures, laboratory procedures, and administrative procedures.

What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?

You can earn a certificate in medical assisting as well as specialty certificates. You'll be prepared to take the certification exam of the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).

Certificates

Medical Assisting Certificate
When you complete your Medical Assisting Certificate you will also receive the following certificates.

• Medical Office Administrative Assistant 
• Medical Office Insurance Billing and Coding 
• Electrocardiograph Technician 

Admission Requirements (for Medical Assisting Certificate)

Student must meet the minimum Placement Test or ACT score requirements. It is preferred, but not required, that general education and support courses be completed prior to program admission. A grade of "C" or higher must be achieved on all program required courses.

Students that are registered for Fall Medical Assisting Classes will be contacted by the program coordinator or program faculty to go over the program information.

There are just 2 general education requirements, along with an active CPR certification and 4 easy steps between YOU and YOUR medical assisting certificate AND with the help of scholarships, you could do it all for FREE!*

Complete your FASFA and fill out your HCTC Application

ATTEND the MANDATORY Orientation on August 4, 2022.
Apply for SCHOLARSHIPS including the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship that may cover the full tuition for your entire certificate!

Length of Program

You can earn a Medical Assisting Certificate in one year if you maintain full-time status.

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.

A medical assistant career is one of the most sought-after roles in today’s job market. Between the pandemic and other health crises, doctors’ offices and hospitals are seeking medical assistants to improve their practice and keep up with demand. In fact, certified medical assistant jobs are expected to grow by around 18% through 2030, making the field highly secure. In as little as ten weeks, you could be at the forefront of the medical field, making a positive impact in the lives of others.

What Can a Medical Assistant Do? 

The role of a medical assistant varies by state, criteria, and practice. More generally, certified medical assistant jobs will allow you to perform administrative tasks, such as updating patient records, billing, and coding, admissions forms, or referrals. A medical assistant career will also prepare you for clinical tasks, such as collecting vitals and laboratory specimens, administering an electrocardiogram as a certified EKG technician, or preparing patients for a physical exam.

What Are Some Certified Medical Assistant Jobs?

1. Administrative Medical Assistant 

Without an Administrative Office Assistant, a doctor’s office or hospital would likely be a disorganized mess. This role is one of the most popular certified medical assistant jobs because the certification process provides the necessary skill set to organize a medical setting for billing, scheduling, insurance claims, accounting, and communication needs. You’ll be one of the most trusted professionals present, valued by licensed doctors, nurses, and patients.

1. Surgical Technologist 

A surgical tech certificate can set you apart by giving you the skill set necessary to ensure that the operating room and patient are ready for a procedure. This job is most often performed in a hospital setting, but you could be hired at any medical location that offers surgery. This process involves sterilizing instruments and making sure that equipment is properly arranged. Depending on the practice and needs of the surgeon, you might also assist during or post-operation.

1. Certified EKG Technician 

Heart conditions and cardiovascular diseases are incredibly common in the United States, and a certified EKG technician can help in the diagnostic process, ensuring that patients receive necessary and prompt treatment. An electrocardiograph (EKG) measures cardiovascular activity through stress and monitoring tests and is monitored by a certified EKG technician. The results of these tests can better inform doctors on how to proceed with a patient’s health and well-being.

1. Phlebotomy Technician 

A phlebotomy technician, — a phlebotomist — is responsible for collecting samples from patients or blood donors. These certified medical assistant jobs are crucial across all healthcare fields, as blood samples are closely linked with a myriad of medical testing, allowing doctors and labs to diagnose health conditions, diseases, and other illnesses properly. This job can be performed at hospitals, diagnostic labs, hospitals, long-term care centers, or blood drive organizations, providing a diverse array of possible work environments.

The world of certified medical assistant jobs is plentiful, and this list is by no means exhaustive. You could also pursue a career as a health inspector, a medical claims professional, a specialized medical assistant, and more!

While a medical assistant certification sets you up for the job market and a lifelong career, it might also spark the desire to get a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management or Nursing. Or it could lead you to apply to an Associate Degree program as a Physical Therapist Assistant or an Occupational Therapy Assistant. The options are seemingly endless, and the world is your oyster.

If you’re ready to begin your medical assistant career, apply to Lackawanna College today. With diverse and qualified faculty members, gracious staff, and ready-to-learn peers, your certification process starts on day one, allowing your knowledge and expertise to increase exponentially in as little as ten weeks. You’ll take classes like Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Nutrition and Wellness, Communication Skills, and many others — all of which will provide you with an unmatched skill-set ready to land your dream job. Here at Lackawanna College, we look forward to taking the first step with you. To request more information about our medical assisting certifications or to apply today, follow this link.

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