Monday, May 23, 2005

Medical Assistant Certification

What is Medical Assistant Certification?

National and state certification for the Medical Assistant is available, but only 15% percent of medical assistants obtain it.

What is the American Medical Assistant Association? AAMA Mission Statement
The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to enable medical assisting professionals to enhance and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and professionalism required by employers and patients; protect medical assistants' right to practice; and promote effective, efficient health care delivery through optimal use of multiskilled Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs).

What is the American Medical Technologists? is a national agency
that certifies health practitioners as: Registered Medical Assistants.

What is the National Association of Healthcare Providers? This multi-speciality group offers Class B certification to Medical Assistants.

Many other certifing boards have now opened their doors and welcome Medical Assistants.

In the interests of cost-effectiveness and efficiency, family physicians are hiring more medical assistants (MAs) to help them manage the increasing complexities of patient care and practice management. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects it to be the fastest growing occupation for the 2002 to 2012 period.1

Meidcal Assistant responsibilities can be tailored to the needs of a practice. They can manage front-office functions and patient flow and handle a wide range of tasks that would otherwise be performed by receptionists, practice managers, nurses and physicians. Many physicians are unsure of what tasks are appropriate to assign to an MA and do not help the Medical assistant to their full abilities and potential. This article should help you to better understand the Medical Assistant role and prepare you to make staffing decisions that will make your practice more productive.

Formal training is helpful if you plan to work as a medical assistant: Because there are no standard educational criteria for medical assisting, it is important for employers to determine each applicant's skill level and certification type. Medical Assistant programs such as that developed by St. Augustine Medical Assistant School offers employers a unique method to train their staff using newer distance education technoloty.

Medical Assistant: Online medical assistant classes are offered at St Augustine Medical Assistant School.