It’s no secret that the healthcare industry is one of the biggest industries in America. What might not be as obvious is the fact that you can have a prosperous career in the field without becoming a doctor or nurse. One occupation students might want to consider is that of a Medical Assistant.

A Medical Assistant, or MA, is someone who aids doctors, typically in offices and healthcare clinics, with administrative and clinical tasks, according to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). An MA can check blood pressure, direct patients through the office, and perform a myriad of administrative tasks. Other common responsibilities of an MA include maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, sanitizing medical equipment and helping physicians with examinations. Let’s examine a few traits that successful MAs embody in their job:

Medical Assistants Need Good Communication Skills

Communicating is a fairly significant part of an MA’s job. Medical Assistants communicate with doctors, patients and each other to keep the office or clinic functioning effectively. Medical Assistants who work more on the administrative side may serve as intermediaries between the doctor and patients or the doctor and health insurance companies.

Medical Assistants are Team Players

Medical Assistants are, in many ways, the glue that holds physicians’ offices and healthcare clinics together. With this in mind, it is important that they are team players and willing to do the work that is necessary to efficiently provide patients with the proper care. Feeding off the prior point about communication, part of being a team player is communicating with those with whom you work with. Being a team player can increase synergy among you and your co-workers, in addition to the obvious advantage of completing the work required to run the office or clinic.

Medical Assistants Have Strong Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail is another quality that successful MAs exemplify in their work. This is not limited to cases in which an MA is permitted to administer drugs to patients and need to accurately measure the dosage. It is also crucial in the maintenance of patient records, scheduling and taking vitals; to name a few other examples.

Medical Assistants Have Compassion

Compassion is another trait that successful MAs embody. Medical Assistants are often responsible for ensuring that patients are comfortable during their visit to the office or clinic. As mentioned earlier, Medical Assistants serve as a point of communication between patients and doctors. Offering compassion and understanding of a patient’s concerns can go a long way towards their overall satisfaction with medical care. Medical Assistants can take comfort, pride and satisfaction in knowing that they helped change a patient’s life for the better.

Medical Assistants Always Have a Willingness to Learn

Medical Assistants are responsible for performing a multitude of different tasks throughout doctors’ offices and healthcare clinics. They are skilled in both clinical and administrative aspects of running an office or clinic. With this in mind, it is important for an MA to show the willingness to learn new skills as required by the doctors under whom they work. Changes such as new technology used in offices and clinics necessitate an MA to adapt to such updates. Being a “jack of all trades” can provide Medical Assistants with a degree of variety in the everyday happenings of their jobs. In many cases there are things within an office or clinic that an MA can help with, even though they might not be in the job description.  Armed with an array of skills, Medical Assistants can work in many different realms of medicine, exploring different disciplines and discovering what they are passionate about. Medical Assistants have the opportunity to specialize in a certain type of medicine, teach students who also want to be Medical Assistants or even become the office manager. Many also go back to school to expand on what they learned as an MA and land an even better job.

Launch your Medical Assistant career at the Allen School of Health Sciences! Perhaps you feel that the traits in this post describe you and you are now thinking of studying to start your career as a Medical Assistant. For prospective Medical Assistants there is one clear choice for an accelerated training program: Allen School of Health Sciences.

The Allen School of Health Sciences Medical Assistant program thoroughly prepares you to enter the healthcare field as a Medical Assistant. The program can be completed in less than a year.

 To learn more about our health care programs and externships, contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our classes starting soon! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

A Guide To Successfully Interviewing For A Medical Assistant

Are you preparing for a job interview for a Medical Assistant position? Familiarizing yourself with these common interview questions will help you have answers ready and feel more comfortable. When attending the Allen School of Health Sciences, our career services team will assist you using these questions to give you a practice interview:

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

This is a basic interview question that can be tough to answer due to its open-ended nature. Instead of sharing hobbies or personality traits, keep your answer focused on your professional experience and education.

Example: “I recently completed my Medical Assistant program at Allen School of Health Sciences, where I learned to work with patients while taking their vital signs and assisted doctors in physical exams and other procedures. I especially enjoy communicating with patients and helping to make their experience easy and comfortable.”

1. How much experience do you have as a medical assistant?

If you have prior experience as a Medical Assistant, tell them where you have worked, and how long you worked there. If you are new to the Medical Assistant field, tell them about your experience with the Allen School and the 275 clinical hours earned from your internship (which is part of the Allen School of Health Sciences Medical Assistant program.)

Example: “I recently completed a 275-hour internship at City Medical, where I got valuable hands-on experience in the responsibilities of a medical assistant. Now that I have graduated and completed my internship, I am looking forward to finding a full-time position and continuing my professional growth.”

1.  What are some of your strengths?

When answering this question, it’s important not to brag. Simply discuss the areas that you feel you are strongest in.

Example: “Phlebotomy is one of my biggest strengths. I feel confident when drawing blood. I am also good at communicating with patients and making them feel comfortable as well.”

1.  What are some of your weaknesses?

When answering this question, do not put yourself down or say you are bad at something, simply mention areas where you are looking to improve.

Example: “I am currently more comfortable with clinical tasks than administrative responsibilities, but I am good at communicating, so am confident that I can adapt to that role quickly.”

1.  Tell me about your computer skills.

When answering this question, be sure to mention your medical billing and coding training as well as your electronic health records training at the Allen School, as both are very important when employers are looking to hire candidates

Example: “I am trained in Electronic Health Records software, specifically the Example program. I am also trained in medical billing and coding and have learned how to process claims. I am also experienced with all Microsoft Office programs.”

1. Are you experienced in front office administrative responsibilities? Are you comfortable on the phone?

It is common for Medical Assistants to do a combination of clinical tasks and administrative work. Be ready to talk about the office tasks you have been trained to do; this is another good opportunity to bring up your EHR and medical billing and coding training.

Example: “We learned many front office duties in my training program at the Allen School of Health Sciences, with an emphasis on customer service and professionalism. I have been trained on medical billing and coding and Electronic Health Records, and I am comfortable talking to patients both on the phone and in person.”

1. Have you been trained in phlebotomy? Are you comfortable drawing blood?

Phlebotomy is an important part of a Medical Assistant’s job, so employers will want to make sure you are trained and ready to take on that responsibility, even if you have not had any experience in the field yet.

Example: “I am comfortable with drawing blood and all phlebotomy procedures and did well in my training at the Allen School of Health Sciences. I have had a lot of practice drawing blood from fellow students, family, and friends as a core component of my training, and continued receiving experience throughout my internship.”

1. Are you experienced in taking patient vital signs and medical histories?

These are important responsibilities for a Medical Assistant, so be sure to detail the procedures you learned in your training program.

Example: “I have been trained in taking weight, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. We practiced in the lab at school, and I had the opportunity to take these measurements on patients during my internship.”

1. Why do you want to work here?

It’s important to research a company before you interview with them. If this question comes up, have a specific answer about what you can bring to the company. Avoid talking about personal motivations such as the good pay or easy commute.

Example: “Example Hospital’s pediatrics department would be a good fit for me because I enjoy working with children. Working with six different doctors would give me a great range of experience.”

1. Why are you the best candidate for this position?

When answering this question, you do not want to come off conceited. Simply reiterate your training and experience, and that you feel you would make a valuable member of the team.

Example: “I feel that my training, internship experience, and communication skills make me a strong candidate for this position. I am confident in all of the responsibilities in the job descriptions, and my personal skills will allow me to make patients comfortable during their visit.”

Think you might have what it takes, but afraid to ask? Take part in one of our virtual career planning sessions and discover the many healthcare pathways available to you. Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our classes starting soon and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

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As a professional entering the field of health care, there is a lot to consider when searching for a new position. Graduating from the Allen School of Health Sciences you can feel confident knowing you are equipped for employment across the healthcare industry. The proper credentials and experience gained with graduating from the Allen School can make the job search and application process easier.

The next step is tackling the interviews, which can be daunting for even the best-prepared candidate! Prior to sitting down for an interview, consider these tips for securing the position:

Showcase your education and training When you walk into an interview, the ball is in your court. You have the ability to paint a vivid picture of who you are as a person, what professional skills you possess, what your ambitions are and how you would face pressing healthcare issues. Your grades and certifications are already in writing so go beyond that to show the employer the kind of role you would play in their organization or agency. Don’t be afraid to propose new ideas and solutions for current health care challenges.  This can lead to discussions that your interviewer will be thinking of long after you’ve walked out the door. Remember they need you just as much as you want the role!

Incorporate your professional experience Even if you have the highest test scores and certifications, an employer will still want to know about your hands-on training and experience in the field. The Allen School of Health Sciences is a prime example of this. Through hands-on learning and internships at our clinical sites, you can gain the necessary skills needed to work in health care. Using anecdotes to highlight your experience as an intern or volunteer can help showcase the wealth of knowledge and critical thinking skills you have gained thus far. These stories can demonstrate how you think and respond to problems or conflict.

Be prepared with questions for the interviewer One of the most basic rules of any interview, no matter the field, is always to be prepared with a list of questions for your interviewer. Asking career-oriented questions, both personal and organization-based, demonstrates not only your interest in the company, but conveys your ambitious and forward-thinking attitude in the field as well. Take this opportunity to express your excitement about the position and the possibilities for the future. The hiring managers will want to know that their investment in you as an employee is worthwhile and by demonstrating your enthusiasm to take on your new role, they will see that their time and money invested will in fact pay off. Do your homework. Look into the company of which you are applying so you can ask questions pertaining to them specifically.

Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for classes starting soon. We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

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