Have you considered career training for a career in the medical field? If you are interested in a career in which you can help others and feel good about what you do, medical assisting might be a great choice for you! At ATA we offer a hybrid training program that can prepare you to join this rewarding career in as few as 8 months! At ATA you can learn the administrative and clinical skills necessary to work in both back and front office settings of a doctor’s office. If you are ready for career training to prepare you for a career that is in demand in today’s world, then consider ATA’s Medical Assisting program! Read on to learn more about becoming a medical assistant, with training from ATA College.
What Do Medical Assistants Do?
Medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare field and are responsible for both administrative and clinical tasks in doctor’s offices, hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. Medical assistants work both in the front of the office, handling tasks such as reception and scheduling, and in the exam rooms, taking vital signs, preparing patients, and assisting in exams. Medical assistants also act as patient coordinators, providing a means of communication between patients, doctors, and other health care providers.
Students in ATA’s 8-month (34 weeks, 33 semester credits) Medical Assistant program learn real-world, practical skills, so they are prepared for the realities of their future position. Learning from dedicated instructors with a depth of real-world experience in their field, students are taught to perform the following responsibilities of a medical assistant:
- Greeting patients and answering telephone calls
- Scheduling appointments
- Updating and filing patients’ medical records
- Verifying patient information and health insurance
- Completing and filing paperwork such as surgical permission forms, health check forms, and insurance paperwork
- Preparing the examination rooms
- Measuring patients’ vital signs
- Administering medications and injections
- Recording information in medical recordkeeping systems, such as the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system
- Preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies
- Collecting and preparing specimens of bodily fluids and tissues for laboratory testing
- Preparing the patient for any scheduled procedures, and answering any questions they may have regarding the procedure
How Do I Train to Become a Medical Assistant?
The easiest way to train to become a medical assistant is to attend a vocational school. Vocational schools identify only what you need to learn to become a medical assistant, and nothing else. No need for a Geology elective course; just medical assisting theory and practice. The best thing about training to be a medical assistant at a vocational school is all the experience you will receive. You will train in phlebotomy, sutures, patient exam prep, EKG testing and so much more. The school will not only have a lab for you to learn the practice skills of becoming a medical assistant, but most have an externship where you can learn on the job what a medical assistant does, while supervised by a medical professional.
ATA College’s Medical Assistant Program
ATA’s program offers a hybrid-online format perfect for busy and working students. Students who complete this 8-month program will receive their Medical Assistant diploma. After completing the 8-month diploma program, students will have the option to continue in the Medical Assistant, Associate of Applied Science program. The AAS degree can be completed in an additional 6 months (60 weeks, 64 semester credits) and includes general education courses, along with advanced medical assisting courses and classes in electrocardiography and phlebotomy.
ATA trains students in all of these important, practical skills, so graduates are thoroughly prepared to enter this rewarding healthcare field into a variety of entry-level positions including as a medical assistant, a clinical medical assistant, or a medical administrative assistant. At ATA, you will also be prepared to test for professional certification that demonstrates your skill and knowledge. Upon completion of the program, ATA graduates may test for the Medical Assistant National Certification from the NCCT.
ATA College Career Services
Another bonus for attending ATA College is a robust career services department that is ready to prepare you to find a job in this competitive market. Career Services will train you on proper interview etiquette and building an eye-catching resume. We also have ties to the community and can find out about openings for medical assistant jobs, sometimes even before the public. In addition to training for a growing career as a medical assistant, we find you the best job that fits your talents and skill set.
If you would like to start a promising new career as a medical assistant, then give ATA a call at 619.596.2766 today! ATA College, in El Cajon, California, offers flexible online hybrid programs to train busy people just like you for rewarding careers in the medical field. Our friendly and helpful Admissions Representatives are waiting to answer any questions you have about ATA and our medical assisting program. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our modern campus in San Diego County, or begin the enrollment process. You can train for a successful healthcare career- with training from ATA!
