Medical Assistant Program

To become a certified medical assistant, one must successfully complete a medical assistant program and take a certification examination. However in order to be qualified for certification, one must attend an institution that is accredited by the "Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs" or by the "Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School".

Medical assistant programs are usually offered on technical or vocational schools, colleges, proprietary schools or junior colleges. A medical assistant program usually lasts from six months to two years (externships included). The one must be sure that the medical assistant program that one is interested in taking must be accredited in order to become a certified medical assistant or registered medical assistant.

A graduate of a medical assistant program will be employed as part of a health care delivery. The responsibilities of a medical assistant are to perform either administrative or clinical tasks. Listed below are some of the medical assistant programs accredited by the "Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs" and the "Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School".

* Medical Assistant - a medical assistant performs the routine clerical and clinical chores to maintain a smooth flow of the tasks in the offices of physicians, chiropractors, podiatrist, etc. a medical assistant is responsible for the preparation of a patient for treatment or examination. Usually the medical assistant takes the vital signs of a patient, sterilizes the medical instruments, assists the physician or usually does simple lab tests or cardiograms.

* Claims Analyst - claims analyst are responsible for the processing of the insurance claims of patients.

* EKG Technician - an EKG technician is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the electrocardiographic machines. Notes down the electrical activity of the heart and provide information for diagnosis and treatment of heart ailments by general practitioners.

* Laboratory Assistant - a laboratory assistant duty is to perform simple laboratory procedures and venipunctures to gather blood specimens.

* Medical Records Clerk - manages all the medical records of patients like the patient's recovery or progress notes. Pulls the patient's records on a daily basis.
* Medical Office Assistant - a medical office assistant is responsible for all the clerical duties like typing patients' information, filling, bookkeeping, record keeping, customer relations, and patient's accounts. A medical office assistant also handles telephone calls, general correspondence and appointments.

* Phlebotomist - a phlebotomist draws patient's blood samples for laboratory analysis and blood donations. Also does some specimen processing and patient care.
Some medical assistants learn their skills through "on the job trainings". Formal training is not mandatory but most employers prefer medical assistant who undergo training. If you want to be a medical assistant, it is advisable that you first take a medical assistant program.