Medical assistants are employees who help medical professionals in either and administrative or clinical capacity. The trick is, of course, to find the best medical assistant schools and programs in order to make sure that you are being properly qualified for the position. There are several medical assistant schools out there, but you have to make sure that you choose the best one.

Training At A Medical Assistant School

You will soon realize that many positions do not require you to have any training, but you will find it a lot easier to get a job if you do have a qualification form one of the medical assistant schools and programs. With a little more time and effort you can become a certified medical assistant, which will give you a higher status and open up more opportunities for you than you would otherwise have as merely a medical secretary or something similar.

Training at a medical assistant school will qualify you to assist a medical professional or work at a medical institute of practice in the capacity of a clerical or clinical administrator. Because there has been such an enormous growth in the health care sector recently, programs and schools that offer medical assistant training for becoming a medical assistant are becoming increasingly more popular. The growth of this industry is projected to continue, making it a very safe industry and career path to become involved in.

Finding The Best Medical Assistant Schools

In general finding medical assistant schools and programs is as easy as logging on to the internet and clicking a few buttons. There are so many programs out there for you, but finding the best one is a little trickier. Using the internet as a resource to kick-start your career as a medical assistant makes perfect sense, and it is a very easy thing to do.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

Learning online can be easier and it can also open up more doors for you. For example, if you already have a full time job that you are looking to leave, you will be able to study online in the evenings without jeopardizing your position in the employment market. For people who don’t have time or who live too far away from institutes that offer medical assistant programs an online program may the answer and you will soon find that you will be able to complete the qualification easily and quickly.

There are many advantages to studying online:

• The program will be easily accessible
• You will be able to work on your course at any time of the day
• There is a lot more flexibility
• There are usually no time limits and deadlines, or at least not very strict ones
• The fees are usually very reasonable and can be afforded by many people
• The courses will be created with the aid of medical professionals

There are, however, some important things to keep in mind when considering online medical assistant schools:

• Is the school or program accredited and certified? If not then your chances of becoming a medical assistant may be lowered (although in many cases a formal qualification is not a strict requirement)

• There are many different specialized programs, so choose carefully. If you have no interest in dentistry than don’t become a dental assistant
• These types of online courses will usually only offer preeminent training

It is true that you could become a medical assistant by getting a degree at a university or through a vocational school, but if you want to stand the best chance of getting the best jobs in this industry, you should go to an institute or enrol in a program that offers specialized medical assistant training.

Associate Degrees vs. Certificate / Diplomas

There are some important differences between an associate’s degree and a specialized medical assistance degree or certificate.

Associate Degree: Advantages

• You will earn credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree. So this means that you will have the opportunity to study further and go back to school for a stronger qualification. This is something that those applicants looking for a life-long career in the industry should definitely consider. There are many people who have kick-started their careers in this way.

• You will be seen in a better light with an Associate Degree. In general you will be taken more seriously if you have a ‘more serious’ qualification. This is what you will achieve if you get an Associate degree as this means that you are showing prospective employers that you are serious about the job you are applying for and that you want to make the effort to be a great and well-qualified employee.

Associate Degree: Disadvantages

• The time commitment is very high, about 2 years. So if you embark on this degree you will be making quite a long term commitment. It is very important that you consider how much time you able to dedicate to your qualification.
• It is more expensive
• It is more demanding

Certificates And Diplomas: Advantages

• You will get into the job market a whole lot quicker. This means that if you are looking to get a job now, then this is the best course of action for you. This suits people who need to get working as soon as possible.

• It will take less time and money. This is always a big advantage. It is not always possible to pay the high rates that are demanded by universities, so it is a cheap way to get yourself a good and secure job.

Certificates And Diplomas: Disadvantages

• You will not be as highly thought of with this qualification, but bear in mind that you will still most likely be able to get a job. Having an Associate’s degree only increases chances that are already very good.

Basically you can see that there are pros and cons for each of these types of qualifications. The type of school you choose will depend on what your aims are with your course, what you want to achieve and where you want your qualification to take you. The point of your qualification, and such things as whether you plan to do it a temporary job or a full time career, will influence your choice of school greatly.

Important Factors To Keep In Mind When Looking For A Medical Assistant School

It is very important that you make the right decision in this regard. There are a few basic tips that will help guide your decision. Because of the sudden increase in popularity of medical assistant schools, there have been schools that have literally been appearing in a matter of weeks. The quality of these schools may be called into question, and it may be in your best interests to go with a school that is more well-established. However, on the other hand, established schools and programs are becoming swamped with the number of new applicants and are struggling to accommodate them. Finding the best school can therefore be quite a challenging task.

Online Studies. Do you want to study online? There are many opportunities out there for students who want to engage in distance learning through online courses. In this modern day and age it is not always necessary for you to actually go to a university or institute in order to complete your qualification. This is perfect for people who don’t have time. However, there are also many advantages to studying offline, such as having access directly to lecturers and teachers and being in an environment where you can interact and learn together with other students. In both cases you need to check that the school you are considering is certified and that they have a good reputation, whether you decide to study online or offline. However, once you have made this first choice, you will be able to minimize the number of schools that you need to consider.

Standard of Education. What kind of teachers does the medical assistant school provide? Obviously you want to go to a school where the teachers have a good reputation. You want only the best. You will not always be able to afford the best schools, but remember that there are plenty of medical assistant schools out there that are affordable, and that also have excellent teachers. You just need to take the time to consider all of the options and look for the perfect school for you. This ties in with the quality of the medical assistant programs offered. It is very important that you attend a school that will provide you with the qualifications, skills and knowledge you need to do your job as a medical assistant well. Look for schools where students and teachers are screened for suitability rather than schools where anyone is accepted, because this may indicate lower quality and standards.

What is your budget? There is a belief that the more expensive the school the better the school is. However, this is not always true. Many schools trade on their name rather than on their quality. Most people are working within a budget, and it is definitely possible to find an excellent medical assistant school or program at an affordable rate. You need to look at what past pupils from the school have achieved as that is a better indication of the school’s quality than the price of the tuition.

Qualification. You need to be sure of what sort of qualifications your state requires for you to work. These qualifications vary drastically. Some states will accept practically any program or certificate related to becoming a medical assistant, while others have very strict rules indeed. Make sure that you know what sort of qualifications you are aiming for before embarking on a course. This will save you time and money in the long run.

Time Frame. The amount of time you want to commit to a program will also guide your choice. Most formal programs will take one to two years, while on the other hand you will find many online programs that will claim to qualify you in a matter of weeks, usually no more than eight. This of course also has an effect on the quality of the program, so you need to decide if money and time are more important than quality.

Keep the Curriculum in Mind. There are some basic things that you will have to learn to become a medical assistant. If these are things that don’t interest you, then you should probably consider pursuing a different qualification. On the medical side of things you will most likely have to study such subjects as pharmacology, lab techniques and procedures, first aid, physiology, CPR, anatomy and medical terminology, while on the administrative side you will most likely have to learn the skill of keeping records and books, doing insurance coding, and doing medical billing and coding. Some programs will vary, but these are the basics.

Certification. Remember that graduation does not equal certification. You will still have to apply with the appropriate bodies, namely the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the American Medical Technologists. You will then have to sit an exam electronically to become certified. This is an important step in your qualification so don’t forget about it.

Job Offers? Some schools will help you find a job after you have completed training. If the school meets all of your other requirements than this may be a useful criterion to use in order to make your final decision. Anything that makes it easier for you to enter the workforce should be treated as a bonus.

In short, this is not a decision you should make lightly. Any education you embark on must be considered carefully. You need to be certain that you are making the best choice possible; otherwise you will have wasted your time and money.

The post What You Need To Know About Medical Assistant Schools appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

More people are living longer due to technological advances in the medical field and because more trauma victims and newborns with disabilities are surviving. This therefore means that more people require medical attention for longer, which means that the job prospects for physical therapy assistants are excellent. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA jobs are projected to grow by 35% in the 2008-2018 time-span.

Requirements For Physical Therapy Assistants

Although most states have their own rules and requirements for Physical Therapy Assistants, most of them are basically the same nationally:

Education:

• In order to become a licensed PTA, you will need to obtain an associate degree at an accredited physical therapy assistant school.
• The program is approximately 2 years long.
• Classes consist of both academic classroom work at the PTA school and hands-on clinical experience, which most of the schools for physical therapy assistant courses organise for their students.
• Subjects include pathology, human anatomy, and physiology amongst others.
• Some states require additional training such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, first aid, and blood-borne pathogens training.

Clinical Experience:

• Most physical therapy assistant schools and physical therapy assistant colleges require that students participate in clinical rotations.
• These hand-on clinical stints allow the student to practise what they learn in class in a real-life situation.
• Various tasks such as documenting care, administering treatments, and educating patients will be undertaken during these periods of clinical work.
• Students are also exposed to various modalities such as sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics, and geriatrics, which can assist them to decide whether they want to specialise or not.

National Physical Therapy Assistant Exam and Licensure:

• All graduates of PTA schools have to undertake the NPTAE before they can practise as physical therapy assistants.
• This is a core requirement in order to get licensure.
• The exam is four-and-a-half hours long and consists of 200 questions.
• Only subjects which have been covered in the physical therapy assistant training will be covered in the exam, and generally include pathology, physiology, documentation, professional skills and anatomy.

Continuing Education Requirements:

• One of the requirements for license renewal, which needs to be done every 3-5 years, depending on the state, is continuing education.
• The exact kind and amount of educational practises which are required vary from state to state.
• You can either contact your State Physical Therapy Association to find out what their requirements are or the PTA school at which you study should also be able to provide you with the relevant information.

The Physical Therapy Assistant Job

A Physical Therapy Assistant works primarily with those who have suffered trauma or have a medical condition. Physical therapy improves a patient’s fitness, flexibility, strength and mobility, in order to help them to be pain-free and live a fully functioning life.

Physical Therapy Assistant duties:

• They assist patients with rehabilitative exercise routines to lessen the effects of a physical disability or chronic illness.
• These exercises are done to improve mobility, flexibility and strength, as well as to improve their balance and stabilize their walking.
• They monitor a Patient’s response and progress in report their observations to the Physical Therapist.
• The PT and PTA will review the treatments after each session and the PT will determine whether they are giving the patient the correct type of treatment or whether they need to change or adjust it.
• PTAs also monitor and record a patient’s continuing physical challenges and mental and emotional outlook.
• The PTA will help patients to adjust to their circumstances and teach them a new way of performing routine tasks so that they do not re-injure or strain themselves, and improve their healing time.
• The exercises they teach and help their patients with can also rebuild muscle strength or help to restore their full range of movement.
• They coordinate treatments with the Physical Therapist and administer massages, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
• The equipment used by PTAs use can include elastic bands, balance balls, and other simple equipment which the patient can easily use at home to augment the exercise sessions they do with the PTA.
• They fit patients with support devices like crutches, prosthetics, walking frames etcetera and train the patient how to use them.
• They assist patients to move to and from the treatment areas and also to dress and undress if necessary.
• Physical therapy assistants also perform administrative duties such as telephone duties, manning the reception area, ordering supplies, and scheduling appointments for patients.
• They complete insurance claim documentation for patients and record patient information in databases.
• They also keep the treatment area and the equipment clean, tidy and organised.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools

With the demand for physical therapy assistants increasing, there are in excess of 260 recognized physical therapy assistant programs and more than 1 000 schools for PTA training throughout the US. There are various physical therapy assistant degrees and certifications offered by PTA schools:

Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting:

• An Associate of Science program, which is offered by most physical therapy assistant schools, offers a well-rounded introductory education in the fundamentals and general academics of physical therapy.
• The program lasts about 2 years and teaches working with patients who suffer from diseases or who are recovering from accidents, mobility, pain management, and working with physical therapy equipment amongst other subjects.

Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health:

• An allied health degree from one of the Physical Therapy Assistant colleges is beneficial for building a solid foundation in general health care systems and practices.
• The programs are between 1 and 2 years long and prepare students for entry-level work in a medical facility.
• They also provide grounding for more focused study for Physical Therapy Assistants.

Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health:

• Once you have qualified as a physical therapy assistant and have practised as one for a few years you may wish to specialize.
• To get a graduate certificate you will have to go back to a Physical Therapy Assistant school to study further.
• Specializing in something like geriatrics or paediatrics can open many doors.

Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant:

• Occupational therapy is the strain of therapy which deals with patients who have physical and cognitive impairments.
• This course will give you a broader perspective and wider range of skills than a normal physical therapy assistant course and will qualify you to do entry-level Occupational Therapy work.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Courses

Courses in most of the physical therapy assistant schools will include the following subjects:

• Clinical Training
• Geriatrics
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Introduction to Physical Therapist Assisting
• Kinesiology
• Laboratory Practice
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Ethics
• Neurological Disorders
• Orthopaedics
• Pathology
• Pathophysiology
• Patient Communication
• Paediatric Physical Therapy
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy Fundamentals
• Rehabilitation
• Sports Injuries
• Therapeutic Exercises

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Curriculum

Although some of the schools for Physical Therapy Assistant training in various states may have a slightly different curriculum, the core subjects remain basically the same no matter which Physical Therapy Assistant school you attend.

Below is the general curriculum that is followed by many of the physical therapy assistant schools for the associate degree in Physical Therapy Assistance:

MODULE CONTENT:

PTA 101 Introduction to Physical Therapy

• Introduction to physical therapy.
• The role of the PTA in the healthcare team.
• The law as it pertains to Physical Therapy and ethical conduct.
• Patient motivation, interpersonal communication skills, and teamwork.

PTA 102 Physical Therapy Terminology

• Abbreviations & terminology used in PT to describe pathology of the body systems, physiology and anatomy.
• Terminology for patient care, laboratory tests, diagnostics, pharmacology, and surgery.

PTA 103 Applied Anatomy

• Human anatomy; external palpation, identification of structures and relationship to function and the musculoskeletal system.
• Kinesiology, motion, joint range of motion and manual muscle testing.
• The neuromuscular process; respiration.

PTA 104 Survey of Pathophysiology

• Overview of disease process, the physiology of healing and repair and general pathological responses.
• Systemic origins of musculoskeletal pain.
• Specific diseases and conditions and rehabilitation treatment.

PTA 105 Introduction to Neuroscience

• Introduction to basic functions and structure of the nervous system and their relationship to PT treatment of neurological diseases.

PTA 106 Regional Anatomy

• Function and structure of the human body; nervous, endocrine, and respiratory systems.
• Muscles, respiratory and circulatory systems.

PTA 110 PTA Procedures I (Basic PT Procedures)

• Basic care skills – vital signs, wound care, taping, aseptic techniques, and bandaging.
• Preparation of treatment environment and patient.
• Theory and application of cold, superficial heat, and hydrotherapy.

PTA 111 PTA Procedures II (PT Modalities)

• Theory and application of deep-heat modalities.
• Principles and application of basic massage techniques.
• Introduction to fundamentals of electrotherapy and traction.

PTA 112 PTA Procedures III (Functional Restoration)

• Principles of normal and abnormal movement.
• Functional restoration techniques.
• Ambulation, patient transfers, postural analysis, and bed mobility.
• Use of selected functional rehabilitation activities and assistive devices.

PTA 151 Clinical Experience 1

• Supervised clinical observation.
• Interpersonal communication and patient interaction.
• Written and oral patient progress reporting.
• Effective problem-solving skills.

PTA 201 Issues in Physical Therapy and Health Care

• Survey: psychological, medical and legal issues and the delivery of healthcare by a PTA.
• The achievement of goals of physical therapy and the physical therapy assistant’s influence.

PTA 202 Introduction to Orthopaedics

• Introduction to mechanics and biomechanics of orthopaedic injuries and diseases.
• Fundamentals of orthopaedic terminology.
• Survey: surgical repair; rehabilitation.

PTA 210 PTA Procedures IV (Therapeutic Exercise)

• Introduction to kinesiological principles related to exercise.
• Instruction in therapeutic exercises.
• Specific exercise protocols and their application.
• Selected physical therapy testing procedures.
• Working as a member of a healthcare team.
• Patient motivation.

PTA 211 PTA Procedures V (Rehab Applications)

• Neurologic disabilities: stroke, head injuries, MS, spinal cord injuries, and other neurologic diseases.
• Development of treatment programs for orthopaedic patients; upper and lower extremity dysfunctions, lower extremity amputations and injuries to the spine.
• Developing of specific home programs, and instruction in family training.
• Selection of appropriate selective devices and equipment for geriatric, orthopaedic and neurologic patients.

PTA 212 PTA Procedures VI (Pediatric Rehab)

• Laboratory sessions – facilitation of developmental sequence.
• Human development, pediatric assessment tools, pediatric treatment philosophies

PTA 251 Clinical Experience 2

• Supervised clinical experience in various PT sites.
• Hands-on development of previously learned skills.
• Functional activities, documentation, etcetera previously evaluated in a lab.

PTA 252 Clinical Experience 3

• Supervised rotation in a clinic.
• Skills development in functional activities, patient care and documentation.
• Practical experience of coursework previously covered.

PTA 253 Clinical Affiliation (12 credits)

• Full-time Internship – appropriate application of PT techniques and procedures.
• Hands-on; understanding of clinical responsibilities and supervisory relationships and the application of PT procedures.

PTA 254 Clinical Seminar 2

• Discussion seminar and clinical lecture – cultural competence.
• Verbal and written communication.

PTA 255 Clinical Seminar 3

• Survey: Issues regarding teamwork and patient care.
• Adjustment to disability and grief, patient interaction, and ethics.
• Role and responsibilities of the PT and the PTA.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – List

Some of the best physical therapy assistant schools which offer Associate Degrees are:

• Brown Mackie College – Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina
• Carrington College – Arizona, New Mexico
• Florida Career College – Florida
• Hesser College – New Hampshire
• Herzing University – Florida
• Kaplan Career Institute – Pennsylvania
• Keiser University – Florida
• Medical Careers Institute – Virginia
• MedTech College – Indiana
• New England Institute of Technology – Rhode Island
• Pima Medical Institute – Arizona, Colorado, Washington
• Remington College – Ohio
• Sanford Brown College – Missouri, Virginia
• South College – Tennessee
• South University Campus – Alabama, Georgia, Florida

Online Physical Therapy Assistant colleges

• Bryan College
• Dawn Career Institute
• Fortis College
• Globe University
• Keller Graduate School of Management
• Liberty University
• Ottawa University
• University of Phoenix
• Virginia College

Whichever physical therapy assistant school you choose to attend, make sure that the program is accredited. Not all Physical Therapy Assistant schools are accredited, and if they are not you are wasting your time because you will not be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination, in which case you will not be allowed to practise legally.

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