What is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant?
Contents
- Understanding the role of a certified clinical medical assistant
- The duties and responsibilities of a certified clinical medical assistant
- The educational requirements for becoming a certified clinical medical assistant
- The skills and qualities that are necessary to be a successful certified clinical medical assistant
- The different settings in which a certified clinical medical assistant can work
- The salary and job outlook for certified clinical medical assistants
- The benefits of becoming a certified clinical medical assistant
- The challenges that certified clinical medical assistants may face
- 10 things every certified clinical medical assistant should know
- Advice for those considering a career as a certified clinical medical assistant
As a certified clinical medical assistant you will be responsible for performing a variety of tasks in a medical office setting.
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Understanding the role of a certified clinical medical assistant
A certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) is a health care professional who works in collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other health care providers to provide care to patients. CCMAs are specially trained to perform both administrative and clinical tasks in a variety of outpatient settings, including physician offices, hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers.
The duties of a CCMA include patient history taking, vital sign measurement, electrocardiogram (EKG) administration, blood specimen collection, documentation and charting of patient information, performing diagnostic tests and minor therapies under the supervision of a licensed health care provider, and scheduling appointments. In addition to these duties, CCMAs also provide instruction to patients on self-care procedures such as wound care and disease prevention.
Becoming a CCMA requires completion of an accredited medical assistant training program and passing the national Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam (CCMAE). Some states have additional certification requirements for Medical assistants
The duties and responsibilities of a certified clinical medical assistant
A certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) is a medical assistant who has been certified by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to become certified, an individual must pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination.
The duties and responsibilities of a CCMA include but are not limited to: assisting physicians with patient exams, taking and recording patient histories and vitals, performing basic laboratory tests, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, and providing patient education. In addition, CMAs may also be responsible for coding and billing insurance claims.
The CMA (AAMA) credential is recognized as the gold standard in medical assisting. The AAMA confers the credential of “CMA” (Certified Medical Assistant) to those individuals who successfully complete the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination and meet all other eligibility requirements.
The educational requirements for becoming a certified clinical medical assistant
To become a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA), you must complete an accredited medical assisting program and pass a certification exam.
Medical assisting programs are offered at community colleges, technical schools, and some four-year colleges. Most programs take about two years to complete and include courses in Medical Terminology anatomy and physiology, and medical office procedures. Many programs also include an externship, which gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a medical office or clinic.
Once you have completed a medical assisting program, you can take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam administered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA). The NHA offers two different versions of the CCMA exam: one for those who have completed a traditional medical assisting program and one for those who have completed an accredited online program. To be eligible to take the traditional version of the exam, you must have completed a medical assisting program that included at least 720 hours of classroom instruction and an externship. To be eligible to take the online version of the exam, you must have completed an accredited online medical assistant program that included at least 600 hours of academic instruction and an externship.
The skills and qualities that are necessary to be a successful certified clinical medical assistant
The skills and qualities that are necessary to be a successful certified clinical medical assistant include being compassionate, detail-oriented, organized, and able to handle a fast-paced environment. In addition, certified clinical medical assistants must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, as they will be responsible for interacting with patients, families, and other healthcare providers on a daily basis. Finally, certified clinical medical assistants must be able to effectively use a variety of electronic medical records systems in order to document patient care activities.
The different settings in which a certified clinical medical assistant can work
There are many different settings in which a certified clinical medical assistant can work. These include but are not limited to:
-Hospitals
-Clinics
-Doctor’s offices
-Laboratories
-Pharmacies
The salary and job outlook for certified clinical medical assistants
The median annual salary for certified clinical medical assistants was $32,480 in May 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health care services will continue to increase as the population ages.
The benefits of becoming a certified clinical medical assistant
certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) is a healthcare professional who has been certified by an accredited organization to perform various tasks in a medical setting, including taking patient histories, preparing patients for examinations, assisting with procedures, and providing instruction on follow-up care.
There are numerous benefits to becoming a CCMA, including the ability to work in a variety of medical settings, the opportunity to perform a variety of tasks, and the potential to earn a higher salary. In addition, many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants because they have demonstrated their commitment to the profession and have received formal training.
The challenges that certified clinical medical assistants may face
While the majority of certified clinical medical assistants find work in outpatient care centers or doctor’s offices, some may work in hospitals or other inpatient care facilities. In these settings, they may encounter more challenging situations, such as having to deal with acutely ill patients or managing multiple tasks at once.
10 things every certified clinical medical assistant should know
Medical assisting is one of the nation’s fastest-growing careers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for qualified candidates is only expected to grow in the coming years. Those who pursue a career in medical assisting can find work in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics and other healthcare facilities.
A certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) is a medical assistant who has been certified by an accredited organization, such as the National Healthcare Association (NHA) or the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the certification exam, candidates must first complete an accredited medical assisting program.
There are many things that a CCMA should know in order to be successful in their career. Here are 10 things every CCMA should know:
1. Anatomy and physiology: A CCMA should have a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology, including body systems and common medical terminology.
2. Medical office procedures: A CCMA should be familiar with common office procedures, such as scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage and filing Medical records
3. Patient relations: A CCMA should be able to effectively communicate with patients and provide them with high-quality customer service.
4. Administrative duties: A CCMA is responsible for various administrative tasks, such as coding invoices and completing insurance forms.
5. Clinical duties: A CCMA performs various clinical tasks, such as taking patient vital signs and administering injections.
6. Phlebotomy: A CCMA may be responsible for performing venipunctures and collecting blood samples for lab testing.
7. Infection control: A CCMA must adhere to strict infection control protocols to protect patients from harmful bacteria and viruses.
8. Emergency procedures: A CCMA should know how to properly handle medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrests and strokes.
9 – EKGs: As part of their clinical duties, CCMAs may also be responsible for administering electrocardiograms (EKGs).
10 – X-rays : In some cases, a CCMA may need to take X-rays under the supervision of a licensed radiologist
Advice for those considering a career as a certified clinical medical assistant
The medical field is an ever-changing and growing industry, which means there are plenty of opportunities for those considering a career in healthcare. One of the many positions available is that of a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA). If you’re thinking about becoming a CCMA, here’s what you need to know.
A CCMA is a multi-skilled allied health professional that works under the supervision of physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals. They perform both administrative and clinical duties in a variety of healthcare settings, such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and more.
Becoming a CCMA requires completing an accredited medical assisting program, as well as passing the Certification Exam for Medical Assistants (CMA). Once you have your certification, you will need to renew it every few years by completing continuing education credits.
The duties of a CCMA can vary depending on their employer, but they generally include tasks such as taking patient histories and vital signs, scheduling appointments, preparing patients for exams, assisting with procedures, administering medications, and more.
If you’re considering a career as a certified clinical medical assistant, be sure to do your research to ensure it’s the right fit for you. Once you have your certification, you’ll be on your way to an exciting and rewarding career in healthcare!