The duties of a medical assistant extend from the front desk of a medical facility to the patient exam rooms. Medical assistants check in patients, take vital signs, and conduct basic laboratory screenings.
As demand for medical services grows, primary care settings increasingly rely on medical assistants to perform administrative and clinical tasks. Medical assistants also work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other healthcare facilities. Now is a good time to consider attending a medical assisting school in Columbus, Ohio, given the strong potential for employment growth in the area.
What Are the Benefits of Medical Assisting School in Columbus, Ohio?
Attending a medical assisting school in Columbus prepares graduates to meet the high need for medical assistants in Central Ohio. Here are some of the benefits of enrolling in a medical assisting school.
Train for an in-demand career. Medical assistants benefit from strong demand nationally, and Columbus reports an even higher job growth rate. Employment of medical assistants is expected to increase by 15% nationally between 2023 and 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The 2030 Job Outlook report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services projects 22% growth in the Greater Columbus area between 2020 and 2030.
Gain specialized skills. With their blend of administrative and clinical skills, medical assistants take on diverse roles in healthcare settings. A medical assisting school helps students strengthen the medical knowledge and skills required to provide patient care, assist physicians, and keep medical offices running smoothly.
Graduate quickly. Medical assisting training programs can take less time than earning a traditional college degree, and they prepare graduates for entry-level healthcare careers or long-term jobs in medical assisting. Students can complete their credential in under one year, with many programs taking around eight months. That means that graduates complete their education and enter the workforce in less time.
What Will You Learn in a Medical Assisting Program?
The Fortis medical assisting school in Columbus, Ohio, prepares graduates for professional certifications and entry-level healthcare careers. In the medical assisting program, learners strengthen their clinical and administrative knowledge while developing career-specific skills.
Clinical Knowledge
Medical assistants draw on their clinical knowledge to provide direct care to patients and assist physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. Clinical training begins in the classroom with courses on medical terminology, human anatomy, and physiology. Students then learn how to apply this clinical knowledge in various settings.
Students in a medical assisting program develop these clinical skills:
Preparing patients before exams and assisting physicians
Collecting laboratory specimens and performing basic laboratory tests
Administering medications under the supervision of healthcare providers
Providing wound care and following safety protocols
Administrative Knowledge
Healthcare facilities rely on medical assistants to provide administrative support. Medical office assistants specialize in the administrative side of medical assisting. In a medical assisting program, students learn how healthcare offices run, including specialized tasks related to electronic health records (EHRs) and health insurance.
Students in a medical assisting program develop the following administrative skills:
Scheduling patient appointments and checking in patients
Maintaining accurate medical records
Coordinating with hospitals and laboratories
Filing accurate and timely insurance forms
Medical Assisting Skills
In addition to clinical and administrative knowledge, a medical assisting school emphasizes the skills that medical assistants need in the workforce.
Communication: Medical assistants draw on their communication skills to explain information to patients or assist physicians with medical procedures.
Attention to Detail: When recording medical information, updating health records, filing insurance documents, and taking vital signs, medical assistants need attention to detail to ensure accuracy.
Patience: Medical assistants need to be compassionate and calm when helping sick or injured patients and when providing administrative support.
Problem-Solving: Medical assistants analyze medical charts, physicians’ notes, and other complex medical information. They need strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret information and provide exceptional care.
Medical Assisting School Requirements and Program Duration
Medical assisting programs often take less than one year. What are the admissions requirements for medical assisting schools? What courses do medical assistants take? Also, how do medical assistant schools in Columbus provide career preparation?
Admissions Requirements
To get into medical assisting school, applicants typically need a high school diploma or an equivalent. Applicants may need to demonstrate proficiency on an entrance exam. Many programs conduct interviews during the admissions process.
The admissions requirements at Fortis College in Columbus, Ohio include the following:
High school or college transcripts
Passing scores on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam Quicktest (SLE-Q)
An interview with admissions staff
Because medical assistants work closely with patients, students must meet immunization requirements before the completion of clinical placements.
Program Duration
How long does it take to become a medical assistant? Program lengths may vary by school and focus area, but most medical assisting programs take less than one year. At Fortis College in Columbus, Ohio, the medical assisting program typically takes 36 weeks for full-time students.
Medical Assisting Courses
The medical assisting curriculum at Fortis covers medical knowledge, clinical skills, and specialized training.
Medical assisting courses may include the following:
Medical terminology
Anatomy and physiology
Clinical procedures and techniques
Laboratory procedures and techniques
Medical office procedures
In addition to coursework, medical assisting students complete clinical requirements. These experiential learning opportunities allow students to apply their skills in real-world healthcare settings.
Career Preparation
Medical assisting school in Columbus, Ohio, prepares learners for professional certifications, such as the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Those interested in specialized roles, such as X-ray machine operator, also prepare for radiography credentials required by the Ohio Department of Health.
Graduates pursue entry-level roles as medical assistants, medical office assistants, and medical office associates. Some of the best places to work as a medical assistant include doctor’s offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.
Launch Your Medical Assistant Career at Fortis College in Columbus, Ohio
You can help meet Ohio’s need for medical assistants by enrolling in the Medical Assistant program at Fortis College in Columbus, Ohio. Fortis offers a 36-week track in medical assisting.
At the Fortis campus, located 10 miles from Columbus in Westerville, you will participate in classroom instruction, small-group learning, and hands-on skill development. You will learn how to deliver patient care, communicate with doctors and nurses, and perform vital administrative tasks. Contact Fortis to learn more about the medical assisting program.
Recommended Readings
The Critical Collaboration Between Medical Assistants and Physicians
The Important Role of a Medical Assistant
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