Are you interested in becoming a medical assistant but don’t have 2 to 4 years to complete a college degree? Well, the good news is that you get access to all the same opportunities with a diploma from a vocational school. Meridian College offers a medical assistant diploma program that can be completed in under a year. So, what does a medical assistant do?
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
As a medical assistant, you will perform both clinical and administrative duties. The actual duties will vary depending on whether you work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare facilities. However, some of the most common duties may include:
Patient Management
As a medical assistant, you will greet patients, escort them to the exam room, as well as record their information, including health history, medications, and other important demographic data. You will take vital signs, including their blood pressure, respiration rate and temperature. Also, part of patient management involves educating patients on proper health care, nutrition, and other aspects of their health. The medical assistant is the patient’s liaison, and they are the backbone of the medical facility. Patients rely on medical assistants to keep them informed and up to date on all happenings.
Assist Physician
Another duty of a medical assistant includes supporting the doctor with all patient examinations. You will be an extra set of hands for the physician, handing them medical instruments and taking notes. Helping the physician in this way allows them to pay closer attention to the patient, improving patient health outcomes.
Clinical Duties
As a medical assistant, you will perform phlebotomy to take a blood sample from patients and prepare it for the laboratory. You will also administer EKGs and other diagnostic testing to help the physician better diagnose and treat patients. It is an important skill to learn during a medical assistant program because medical errors can cause problems with patient care.
Administrative Duties
In addition to clinical duties, you will also help the other medical staff schedule patient appointments, answer questions, greet patients and perform many other patient related tasks. Managing the clinical schedule, triage phone calls, managing billing and coding, and ordering medical supplies help the medical facility run smoothly and supports the physicians with essential assistance.
How Do You Become a Medical Assistant in Florida?
An easy way to become a medical assistant in Florida is to attend a vocational school like Meridian College. We offer a complete curriculum including what you need to know to start working on day one and to prepare for a certification exam if you choose. So, what do you learn in a medical assistant program?
What Do You Learn in a Medical Assisting Program?
Medical assisting programs give you the knowledge and skills to be successful in an entry-level position. Coursework includes:
Medical Terminology
During a medical assistant program, you learn how to talk like a healthcare professional. You don’t need to memorize all the terms, because we give you the tools to decipher the medical terminology. Whether it is a suffix, prefix or root words, we educate you about how medical terminology is created and allow you to decipher its meaning. This comes in handy when taking notes for patient records, assisting with insurance claims or managing many of the clinical and clerical duties that you perform day-to-day.
Medical Office Procedures
As a medical assistant, you will support the medical staff with clerical tasks. Whether it is answering phones, greeting patients, ordering supplies or anyone of the tasks that you will be responsible for as a medical assistant, learning proper office support will allow you to support the medical staff and improve health outcomes in the process.
Anatomy and Physiology
To work as a medical assistant, you must understand both anatomy and physiology. It helps you take vital signs, code electronic health records, and educate patients on pre- and post-care. During a medical assistant program, you learn how the body is made and how it works. This includes the many common diseases and disorders of the 12 body systems. Understanding how the body systems work together helps you better perform your duties as a medical assistant successfully.
Laboratory Procedures
Once only done in hospitals, medical assistants are increasingly becoming responsible for processes blood and specimen in the lab. Whether it is phlebotomy, urine samples, biopsy sample, or other lab specimen, during a medical assistant program you will learn how to process, prepare for delivery, and analyze specimen to help doctors diagnose and treat patients.
Health Information Resources
Most patient charts are transforming from paper to digital. Electronic health records have revolutionized the industry, allowing physicians to better collaborate and reduce the number of medical errors. A medical assistant will learn how to use the medical software that relates to health information resources to better manage health care for their patients.
Medical Coding
Medical coding is shorthand used to condense data on insurance forms. Without it, a simple claim could be pages long. As a medical assistant, you assist with claims or code clinical forms so medical billers knows who to bill. In this course, you’ll learn about the three primary coding systems, including:
ICD-10 – the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, has been used worldwide since 1977 to classify medical disorders. Codes are alphanumeric sequences used for billing and by the global health authorities for disease surveillance.
CPT – Common Procedural Terminology codes are five-digit numbers describing surgical procedures and diagnostic tests. The American Medical Association developed this system in the 1960s for data collection and reimbursement purposes.
HCPCS – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, was developed in 1983 for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services but is used by other insurers as well. Seventeen classifications cover billing for medical support services and products like durable medical equipment
Medical Billing and Insurance
During this medical assistant program, you will learn about medical billing and insurance. From submitting insurance claims to processing patient billing, you learn medical billing inside and out.
Externships
One of the great opportunities you gain while attending a vocational school is an ability to learn hands-on in real world situations. You will have the opportunity to enjoy an externship at a local Florida medical facility, to not only get work experience but it also looks great on a resume. Take the time to shadow a medical assistant in a real clinic and understand where you fit in this exciting industry.
What Are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School in Florida?
There are many benefits to attending a vocational school in Florida. Some of these benefits include:
A Complete Curriculum
By attending a medical assistant program, you are getting a complete curriculum without knowledge gaps. Whether you will be responsible for the task in your role or not, you learn what you may need to know to perform your duties as a medical assistant. You may consider a clerical role in the beginning but decide to focus more on the clinical tasks as you progress in your career. Getting a complete curriculum from the start will make that possible.
Learn from Your Mistakes
Unfortunately, medical errors happen. However, if you make a mistake while you are at school, you can use it as a teaching moment. While you attend a vocational school in Florida, you can prefect your skills so as you are working with a patient, you are error free. Take the time to learn from your mistakes, your patients will be happy you did.
Hands-On Experience
During your medical assistant program, you will spend time in the classroom for lectures, but you will also practice your skills with classmates, in school labs, and during externships. Whether you perform phlebotomy, administer an EKG or take vital signs, you will be able to perfect your skills while at the same time being supervised by your instructor. This will also help you build your confidence for your first day on the job.
Industry Expert Instructors
Another great benefit of attending a formal education is that you are taught by industry experienced instructors. They will have worked in the industry and may even have ties with the Florida communities around Meridian College. They will understand what you need to be successful and allow you to stand out in a sea of candidates.
Career Services
One of the best benefits of attending a vocational school in Florida is the career services that we offer our graduates. We look for the job that fits your knowledge and passion. If you are happy while you work, then we did our job. We also help you build a resume, prepare for interviews and connect you with Florida employers that have job openings. We stride to find a job for you that fits your passion, so you don’t work a day in your life.
Final Thoughts
Do you want more than a job, but a career? If so, Meridian College wants to help you become a medical assistant. We help you, and you help others. It’s a win-win.
Want to Learn More?
Meridian College offers hands–on Medical Assistant training from experienced school faculty who know how to prepare you for the daily challenges you’ll face on the job. From assisting doctors with patients to important administrative tasks, our experienced Medical Assistant program teachers will train you for a rewarding new career.
In addition to receiving training from school instructors with real-world experience, you will also complete a school externship in a physician’s office, clinic, or related healthcare facility under the supervision of a physician, nurse, or health services professional to further develop your skills.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant.