Medical Assistant Career Accelerator Program: Home

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Eleanor Truex

eleanor.truex@amitahealth.org

Your Fast-Track to a Career in Healthcare

The Medical Assistant Career Accelerator Program is a hybrid work/education program sponsored by AMITA Health Medical Group in conjunction with Oak Point University. It’s never been faster or easier to start a rewarding healthcare career. Let us invest in YOUR future in healthcare!

AMITA Health is seeking candidates for their fully-paid Medical Assistant Career Accelerator Program that will prepare you for this rewarding career while providing full-time pay and benefits. Trained Medical Assistants are in demand and represent one of the fastest-growing occupations in the healthcare industry.

The 6-month training program is free and prepares you to take take a medical assistant certification exam, increasing earning potential and opening the door to limitless opportunities in the healthcare field! Trainees like you will attend classes daily while gaining work experience in a clinical setting. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be placed in a medical assistant position within AMITA Health Medical Group.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have earned a high school diploma or GED. That’s it! No work experience is necessary. Just finishing up high school? Great—let’s talk about upcoming sessions.

Find out more!

What is a medical assistant?

Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Medical assisting is one of the nation's careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributing job growth to the following:

• Predicted surge in the number of physicians' offices and outpatient care facilities
• Technological advancements
• Growing number of elderly Americans who need medical treatment

Job Responsibilities

Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties.Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law):

• Clinical Duties (may include, but not limited to):
  • Taking medical histories
  • Explaining treatment procedures to patients
  • Preparing patients for examination
  • Assisting the physician during exams
  • Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
  • Performing basic laboratory tests
  • Instructing patients about medication and special diets
  • Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
  • Transmitting prescription refills as directed
  • Drawing blood
  • Taking electrocardiograms
  • Removing sutures and changing dressings
• Administrative Duties (may include, but not limited to):
  • Using computer applications
  • Answering telephones
  • Welcoming patients
  • Updating and filing patient medical records
  • Coding and filling out insurance forms
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
  • Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping
• Patient Liaison
  • Medical assistants are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and often explain the physician's instructions.
• PCMH Team Member
  • Medical assistants are essential members of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team. According to a survey by the Healthcare Intelligence Network, medical assistants ranked as one of the top five professionals necessary to the PCMH team.

Skills Needed to be a Successful MA

• Take medical histories and record vital signs 
• Explain treatment procedures to patients 
• Prepare patients for examination 
• Assist the physician during the examination 
• Collect and prepare laboratory specimens 
• Dispose of contaminated supplies and sterilize medical instruments 
• Instruct patients about medication and special diets 
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician 
• Authorize drug refills as directed and telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy 
• Draw blood 
• Prepare patients for x-rays and take electrocardiograms 
• Remove sutures and change dressings 
• Arrange examining room instruments and equipment 
• Purchase and maintain supplies and equipment 
• Keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean 

Frequent Required courses found in MA certification programs

• EKG Administration 
• Laboratory & CLIA-Waived Tests
• Phlebotomy & Specimen Handling 
• Medications & Pharmacology 
• Patient & Exam Room Preparation 
• HIPAA & Patient's Rights
• Standard Precautions & Safety 
• Medical Terminology 
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Injections & Wound Dressing
• Professionalism & Office Tasks 
• Medical Coding