Can you graduate high school today and become a medical assistant tomorrow? Presumably not, but this goal can be highly achievable by making an academically sound decision to obtain a medical assisting diploma. In just 18 months, students enrolled in the diploma track can walk away with an array of clinical, administrative, and general skills that naturally transfer into their new career as a medical assistant. You might ask yourself, is this too aggressive? The answer is no.
According to Mark Frederickson, Waconia High School Principal, and member of the Rasmussen College Medical Assisting Advisory Board, “this is what our students want.” A good portion of Waconia High School students are seeking out a medical career. Mark is an advocate for the Rasmussen College Medical Assisting diploma option as it provides an attainable, realistic, and achievable goal and skill set for student to actually be able to get out into the job market.” Getting an education is just as important as getting the job. With a diploma in medical assisting, the latter should be that much quicker to obtain.
Education
Behavioral Health, Interoperability and eConsent: Meeting the Demands of CMS Final Rule Compliance
In a webinar on April 16 at 1pm ET, Aneesh Chopra will moderate a discussion with executives from DocuSign, Velatura, and behavioral health providers on eConsent, health information exchange and compliance with the CMS Final Rule on interoperability.
Achieving your career goals as a medical assistant is straightforwardly achievable through a medical assisting diploma program. Enrolling in a diploma program is a desirable choice for those interested in becoming part of a growing healthcare career. Carefully mapped out, a diploma program provides an in-depth skill set that fully prepares you for the rigor and excitement of the clinical setting. Those interested in careers in medical assisting will find the diploma program to be very hands-on in nature. Many courses throughout this program are designed to meet the needs and characteristics of a future medical assistant. The courses in a diploma program will challenge students not only in the areas of psychomotor, but cognitively and affectively as well. Medical assistants are well rounded and multi-skilled healthcare providers, and a diploma program is designed to hone these skills and knowledge.
Career Opportunities
Look out your window. Chances are pretty good that you can point to a clinic, family practice or specialty practice, and more than likely you will find more than one. Clinics or ambulatory settings, as referred to in the medical world, are almost on every corner. This should be music to medical assistant’s ears! Not only is healthcare thriving, but clinics all over the nation are recognizing more and more how valuable and versatile a medical assistant can be for their clinic. Everything from checking a patient in, drawing their blood, to setting them up for their follow-up visit; medical assistants are trained and prepared for whatever comes their way. Employment is not limited to the variety of clinical settings; hospitals also enjoy the benefits of employing medical assistants in their environment.
As healthcare continues to grow; so will the need for medical assistants in a variety of clinical settings. If you or someone you know has an amazing bedside manner, a desire to help others and a yearning for a career in healthcare, then a diploma in medical assisting may be exactly the answer.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
About the Author: Amanda Steinhoff, CMA, AAMA, is a Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Medical Assisting degree program at Rasmussen College at the Bloomington, MN college campus. She has worked in the field of Medical Assisting for more than seven years. Amanda also has an A.A.S. in Medical Assisting from Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and a B.S. in Healthcare Management from Rasmussen College. Amanda is currently President of the Minnesota Society of Medical Associates (MNSMA) South Suburban Chapter and President Elect for the State of the Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants. In addition, Amanda also serves as a site surveyor for the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
