If you are ready to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare, you first need to decide which type of healthcare career is the best choice for you. ATA College offers healthcare career training for both clinical and administrative medical fields. At ATA, you can choose between training for a hands-on career as a Medical Assistant or EKG Technician or an administrative healthcare career as a Health Information Technician. Each of ATA’s hybrid-online healthcare programs can be completed in a relatively short amount of time, so you can get to work in your new healthcare career, sooner! The first step is to determine which kind of healthcare career is right for you; read on to learn more about these specialized healthcare careers, and how ATA can train you for success in these fields. If you have any questions, contact us today!
An Integral Part of Any Healthcare Team
Medical Assistants, EKG Technicians, and Health Information Technicians are all allied healthcare careers and are specially trained medical personnel. These professionals are integral parts of medical care teams, working with and alongside doctors. These healthcare professionals are responsible for performing vital tasks, freeing up doctors’ and nurses’ time. Here is a deeper look into each of these medical careers:
Medical Assistants play a vital role in the healthcare field and are responsible for a variety of 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.
Medical Assistant Career
At ATA, you can train to be a Medical Assistant in as few as 8-months! ATA’s Medical Assistant program teaches real-world, practical skills, so students are prepared for the realities of their future position. Students who complete this 8-month (34 weeks, 33 semester credits) program receive their Medical Assistant diploma and have the option to continue in the Medical Assistant, Associate of Applied Science degree 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.
EKG Technician Career
Similar to Medical Assistants, EKG technicians are hands-on, patient-centered medical professionals. These specialized healthcare workers work in healthcare facilities alongside doctors and specialize in electrocardiogram (EKG) testing for patients. EKG machines are complex devices that monitor the heart’s performance through wires and electrodes attached to a patient’s chest, arms, and legs. Trained specifically to operate these sophisticated devices, EKG technicians monitor the readings, make sure the machine is attached properly and in working order, and record the results of the EKG tests.
At ATA, you can train to be an EKG Technician in the EKG technician training program, a three semester, 60 clock hour program. Due to the accelerated nature of ATA’s EKG technician program, there is a prerequisite of either having taken the Medical Assistant program or have working experience in the healthcare field. Under the supervision of experienced faculty, students in ATA’s program learn how to administer EKG and ECG diagnostic examinations and report results to the treatment team. Students also develop their interpersonal skills, including the communication skills required to work with patients as well as others in the workplace. Upon completion of this program, students are prepared to test for professional certification.
Health Information Technician Career
Health Information Technicians are also specially trained healthcare professionals but perform a primarily administrative role. Health Information Technicians are responsible for critical clerical and administrative tasks necessary to keep medical systems functioning effectively. Health Information Technicians manage health information data by ensuring that it maintains its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper files and electronic systems. These administrative healthcare professionals use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patient’s medical and treatment histories.
ATA can train you for this rewarding administrative healthcare career in as few as 8-months! In ATA’s Health Information Technician program, students learn the essential skills for entry-level employment. After completing the 8-month (34 weeks, 36 semester credits) program, students receive their Health Information Technician diploma and have the option to continue in the Health Information Technician (HIT), Associate of Applied Science degree 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 courses in billing and coding.
Hybrid-Online Classes Available.
At ATA College, in El Cajon, California, each of these healthcare career training programs is offered in a hybrid online format, making career training more accessible than ever before. ATA’s hybrid online classes enable students to complete the majority of the coursework online while receiving hands-on skills training through regularly scheduled on-campus labs. Through this hybrid-online format, students receive the practical experience they need, in a safe manner that adheres to all local, state, and federal health guidelines.
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in training for a truly rewarding healthcare career you can be proud of, give ATA a call at (619) 596-2766 today! Our friendly and helpful Admissions Representatives can help you determine which healthcare program is right for you and will tell you more about ATA and our hybrid-online programs. They can even help you begin the enrollment process! There is no reason to put your future on hold any longer, make your healthcare career goals a reality – with training from ATA College!
