Lanier Technical College’s Medical Assistant Program

Lanier Technical College’s medical assistant Program is one of the most popular and well-respected programs in the state of Georgia. The program provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the medical field, and has a proven track record of success.

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What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a person who is trained to perform both administrative and clinical tasks in a medical office setting. They are usually the first point of contact between a patient and a doctor. A medical assistant’s duties can vary depending on the type of medical office they work in, but they typically include taking medical histories, scheduling appointments, taking vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the doctor during exam, and performing routine lab tests.

Lanier Technical College’s medical assistant program is a two-year program that prepares students for this rewarding career. The program offers both classroom instruction and hands-on experience in medical office procedures. Students who complete the program will be prepared to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam, which is required for employment in many medical offices.

What does a medical assistant do?

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health care providers. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative, clerical and clinical tasks to keep the office or clinic running smoothly. They may work in both front and back office settings, or may specialize in one area.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
A medical assistant’s duties vary from office to office, but there are some common tasks that most Medical Assistants perform on a daily basis. These tasks include:

Answering phones and scheduling appointments
Taking and recording medical histories and vital signs
Preparing patients for examination
Assisting the physician during the exam
Collecting and processing lab specimens
Instructing patients on medications and diet
Performing basic laboratory tests
Disinfecting examination rooms

The duties of a medical assistant

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically trained to work in outpatient ambulatory care settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The administrative duties of a medical assistant include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, answering telephones, handling correspondence, filing insurance forms and completing insurance referrals. The clinical duties of a medical assistant include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, explaining treatment procedures to patients, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens and performing basic laboratory tests on the premises, performing electrocardiograms (EKGs), removing sutures and changing dressings.

The medical assistant job description

As a medical assistant, you will be responsible for a variety of clinical and administrative tasks in a medical office or clinic setting. Your specific duties will vary depending on the size and type of facility in which you work, but may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting the physician during examinations, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, and handling billing and coding information. You may also be responsible for instructing patients on medication and special diets, administering vaccinations and other injections, performing routine laboratory tests, and changing dressings. In larger facilities, you may specialize in one or more areas of medical assisting.

The medical assistant salary

The median medical assistant salary is $16.03 per hour, or $33,380 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This means that half of all medical assistants make more than this amount and half make less. The lowest-paid 10 percent of workers in this occupation earn less than $23,490, while the highest-paid 10 percent earn more than $45,710.

The best-paid medical assistants work in the following industries:

Junior colleges, state government, and local government: $19.18 per hour ($39,940 per year)
Outpatient care centers: $17.91 per hour ($37,270 per year)
General hospitals and surgical hospitals: $17.76 per hour ($36,920 per year)
Offices of other health practitioners: $17.32 per hour ($36,010 per year)
Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals: $17.11 per hour ($35 520 per year)

The medical assistant education

The medical assistant education at Lanier Technical College is a two-year program that trains students to work as medical assistants in physicians’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. The program includes coursework in medical office procedures, medical law and ethics, human anatomy and physiology, and clinical skills. Students also complete a externship in a medical office or clinic.

The medical assistant training

Lanier Technical College’s Medical Assistant program trains students to perform both administrative and clinical tasks in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. The program curriculum includes classroom and laboratory instruction in Medical Terminology anatomy and physiology, medical office procedures, insurance billing and coding, and patient care. Students also complete an externship in a medical office or other healthcare facility. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

The medical assistant certification

Medical assistants are unlicensed personnel who perform administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They work under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse. Although their duties vary with the size, location, and type of facility in which they work, most medical assistants perform routine administrative and clerical tasks, such as answering telephones, scheduling appointments, taking and recording medical histories and vital signs of patients, preparing patients for examination, standard laboratory procedures and inch-taking. (“Medical Assistant”)

In order to become a certified medical assistant, one must graduate from an accredited institution with a medical assistant certificate or degree. “Lanier Technical College’s Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).” (“Medical Assistant Certificate”) This ensures that the student will receive quality education that will prepare them for the certification examination and for their future career.

The medical assistant career

The medical assistant career is a great way to start your healthcare career. Lanier Technical College’s Medical Assistant Program will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this growing field.

The medical assistant job outlook

The medical assistant job outlook is very good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the medical assisting field will grow by 29% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the increasing number of aging baby boomers who will need more medical care as they age. The BLS also reports that the median salary for medical assistants was $32,480 in 2017, with the top 10% earning more than $47,350.