A Medical Assistant Diploma can help you prepare for a variety of healthcare opportunities
March 16, 2009
•Brian Brooks
•SBC-Collinsville
• 0 Comments
There are many students every year who are interested in beginning a career in the healthcare industry as a medical assistant. Medical assistants work in a wide range of work environments including: doctors' offices, nursing homes and hospitals. Medical assistants play a critical role in helping medical offices run smoothly and effectively provide patients with the proper care. Medical assistants typically help check in patients, schedule appointments, and manage medical files. Those who have enrolled in medical assistant classes and have received a medical assistant diploma program may also have the added responsibilities of checking vital signs, taking medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to patients, and even assisting doctors and medical researchers in laboratory work. Medical assistants have the opportunity to truly impact a patient's experience.
Where Can Medical Assistants Work?
Medical assistants can work with healthcare professionals in a number of environments including:
- Doctors' offices: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 62% of medical assistants work in doctor's offices. Working in a doctor's office may allow you to choose the type of medicine that interests you the most. Passionate about children? Many medical assistants work in pediatricians' offices. Help make children feel welcome and learn about good health. Interested in women's health? Assist doctors in providing information to women about healthy living, early breast cancer detection and osteoporosis prevention. Medical assistant courses are available to provide students with a medical assistant diploma and help prepare emerging professionals for these important and fulfilling roles.
- Nursing homes: Enjoy working with the elderly? Work as part of a care team at a nursing home. Medical assistant classes can help you train for this critical role. Working with health patients requires a strong foundation in patient care practices and proper training.
- Hospitals: Looking for an exciting and fast paced career? Medical assistants and those with medical assistant diplomas may be able to work in hospitals helping make a difference in departments such as the Emergency Room or Oncology.
Why Work in the Healthcare Field?
Working as a medical assistant allows individuals to participate in the country's largest industry and one of the fastest growing job positions in the nation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant employment opportunities are predicted to grow by 35% from 2006-2016, ranking it as one of America's fastest growing occupations. Medical assistant classes may just be the edge and preparation you need to participate in this rapidly growing industry and to build a rewarding career as a medical assistant.
Getting a Medical Assistant Diploma?
Medical assistant classes and a medical assistant diploma can help you not only prepare for the job market, but provide better care to patients after finding employment. The medical assistant diploma program at Sanford-Brown College-Collinsville (SBC) provides medical assistant courses in subjects such as: medical practice, medical law and ethics, medical communications, medical records, insurance, patient preparation, and basic laboratory procedures and tests. The medical assistant diploma program at SBC also gives students hands-on experience through a supervised clinical externship. To learn more about the medical assistant courses and program available at SBC, click here.
Sanford-Brown College - Collinsville is close to many locations:
Alton, IL - approximately 21.6 miles
Edwardsville, IL - approximately 12 miles
Granite City, IL - approximately 8.4 miles
Madison, IL - approximately 11.2 miles
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Medical Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm (visited February 06, 2009).