Allen School Graduate spotlight

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My name is Deirdre and I am a former student of the Allen School, Jamaica campus. It was a blessing for me to have been able to attend Allen and finish the program. During my attendance I met two of the most remarkable people, Mrs. Emmanuella Young and Ms. Tamara Jackson- from the Career Services department.

While attending the Allen School I experienced some very trying and challenging times, some of which were extremely personal, but I got through them. Mrs. Young and Ms. Jackson encouraged and helped me in every way that they could. Through long talks, tears, pats on my shoulder, cheering me on; through strict but loving and caring stares followed by words such as,” you will not give up”, “you will finish”, and “you can do this”. I felt the genuine love and care of them and saw they are truly dedicated to helping the students at the Allen School achieve their goals; not just pertaining to the experience at the Allen School but far beyond that.

I am grateful that I meet these two exceptional human beings on this journey called life. They have made a beautiful, unforgettable and blessed impression upon my life.

Medical Assisting at the Allen School of Health Sciences! A career to get you places!

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Medical Assisting at the Allen School of Health Sciences!  A career to get you places!

Most people who want to work in the healthcare field likely aspire to be doctors or nurses. However, Medical Assistant, or MA, is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. The MA career path offers many of the same benefits as other healthcare professions, in addition to perks of its own.

The American Association of Medical Assistants describes a Medical Assistant as someone who works alongside doctors, usually in a clinical or office setting. Though the description may seem similar to that of the nursing field, there are some key differences.

An MA commonly handles tasks such as checking vital signs, showing patients to their rooms and various administrative duties. A licensed practical nurse, on the other hand, provides basic care measures like catheterization and prescription administration. While Medical Assistants often work in clinics and ambulatory care, licensed practical nurses more commonly work in settings like nursing homes and hospitals.

Starting Work Sooner

Medical Assistants can begin working in the healthcare field sooner than students who attend nursing programs at a four-year university. At the Allen School of Health Sciences, our accelerated program allows you to graduate in less than a year.

There is no additional waiting to complete residency because externships can be completed at the same time as the coursework. The Allen School of Health Sciences prepares students with an externship as part of their program. Having these hands on, real world experiences as part of your medical assisting program can help bolster an MA’s job prospects.

MA’s graduate with the knowledge and experience needed to excel in the healthcare industry. They are trained in both clinical and administrative tasks that are critical to running an office or clinic.

With a vast array of skills at their disposal, an MA can explore different areas of medicine and discover what they are passionate about. They have the opportunity to specialize in a certain type of medicine, teach students who also want to be medical assistants or even become office managers.

Diverse On-the-Job Experiences

An MA is capable of performing many different tasks needed to keep the clinic or office open in addition to treating patients. Their versatility also ensures they will not be bored on the job because there is always something they can do. Additionally, the patients who come in to be treated and what they are seeking to be treated for varies daily. Every day on the job is different than the one before.

Helping People

Medical Assistants help physicians run their offices, but they also provide patients with compassion and understanding while doing so. Like their fellow healthcare professionals, an MA takes satisfaction in knowing they are helping patients and changing their lives for the better.

Will it be easy? Nope. Will it be worth it? Absolutely. The Allen School of Health Sciences offers the essential resources medical assisting students need to excel in the classroom, in their externships, and in the workforce to help care for patients. Interested in learning more about developing the skills and attributes of a medical assistant? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our winter classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

The future begins here! Medical Assistant skills & attributes

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The future begins here! Medical Assistant skills & attributes

Medical Assistants are held to a higher standard of professionalism than employees in other industries. The way the medical assistant approaches the job and interacts with patients is critical to the success of the physician’s practice, hospitals, outpatient clinics and other healthcare facilities. Patients expect professional behavior and put trust and confidence in those who are professional in demeanor. There are a specific set of skills and attributes that shape a medical assistant into a professional.

Medical Assistant Professional Skills

There are many skills that contribute to the professionalism of medical assistants. Medical assistants should work on being loyal, dependable, courteous, initiative driven, flexible, credible, confidential, and optimistic.

Loyalty – Medical Assistants should be devoted to the success of the medical practice and hold the belief that being a medical assistant at the medical practice is in their best interest. Loyalty should be reciprocal and if a medical practice is offering equal pay for equal work, the medical assistant will feel like the medical practice is doing its best for them as well.  Medical assistants can go one step further and be committed to the medical practice if they support the employers’ strategy and objectives

Dependability – a dependable medical assistant not only shows up for work on time but also produces consistent work. A medical assistant must follow through when the physician gives an order. The dependable medical assistant will also be counted on and given more responsibility.

Courtesy – the medical assistant should be friendly and kind to patients at the medical practice. Attention should be given to the patient as they arrive at the medical facility. The medical assistant should offer a warm smile and friendly attitude to the arriving patient.

Initiative – the medical assistant should be self-motivated and ambitious. Medical assistants that show initiative have a take charge attitude. The medical assistant should observe a need and make themselves available, rather than wait for a supervisor to direct them to an area that needs attention.

Flexibility – the medical assistant should have the willingness and ability to respond to changing situations and expectations. Flexible medical assistants will modify their approach to tasks based on the unique demands of each situation, especially in an emergency. In a medical facility the patient comes first, and every medical assistant should lend a hand where ever they are needed

Credibility – trust is a vital component of the medical assistant and patient relationship, and the credibility of the medical assistant should be strong. The information that is given to patients must be accurate as the patient may see medical assistants as an agent of the physician.

Confidentiality – Patients are entitled to privacy under the HIPAA act. Confidentiality extends to the home and other environments outside of the medical office. The medical assistant is prohibited from discussing confidential patient information to family and friends. Consequences will be enacted if the medical assistant breaches patient privacy.

Medical Assistant Professional Attributes

The medical assistant will need specific attributes to be a professional while working with colleagues and dealing with patients. These attributes include teamwork, time management, prioritization and goal setting.

Teamwork – medical staff must work together for the benefit of the patient. The medical assistant should accept the tasks given to them by their supervisor unless they are illegal, unethical, or place patients in danger.

Time Management – the medical assistant should use their time efficiently and concentrate on the most important duties first. They should make a schedule, prioritizing tasks and allowing for emergencies along the way. The key to time management is prioritizing.

Prioritizing – a form of triage should be used by the medical assistant to sort tasks into the must, should and could categories. Of course, the medical assistant needs to attend to emergencies, but they also must anticipate what will do the most good and in what order those tasks should be completed to benefit the most.

Setting Goals – if the medical assistant doesn’t set goals, they will never know when the goals have been achieved. Setting goals can also help the medical assistant accomplish what they want or need to each day, giving them more motivation to achieve those goals. Learning never ends as a medical assistant and that is what makes this career so rewarding. Interested in learning more about developing the skills and attributes of a medical assistant? Don’t let your old career keep you down. Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our winter classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.   -Allen School   CONTACT US

New Year resolutions for the Medical Assistant

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New Year Resolutions for the Medical Assistant

The right resolutions can improve your mental and physical health, and maybe even your future career! These five resolutions can start your 2020 off right.

1. Take better care of yourself   Healthcare students from all fields — you know who you are — tend to go hard, a little more than most. At clinicals or your externship, you’re often on your feet, assisting patients or moving equipment, and then hurrying back to class or to study for the next exam. Add family and personal responsibilities to the mix, and you don’t have much time left for you. That’s why eating well, exercising, and getting quality sleep should take a larger precedent in the New Year. Make New Year’s resolutions that push your health in the right direction to create a better you. Devoting a little more focus and time to your essential needs can result in less stress, more productivity, better outcomes in school, and a more balanced life.   2. Eye on the prize   As you go deeper into your studies, you may lose sight of why you wanted to go to school in the first place. The New Year means a clean slate in many ways, but it’s also a time to realign yourself with your big-picture goals. Resolve to talk regularly with the people who inspired you to go to school. At the Allen School of Health Sciences, we have been helping students for nearly 60 years. Encouraging, coaching and assisting students with their career and life goals. In addition, revisit other reasons you wanted to enter healthcare. Write them down, and stash them away in a safe place. Better yet, carry them with you on the go. This way, when the going gets tough in 2020 you’ll always be reminded of why you’re in school, close at hand.   3. Open up your ears and listen   As healthcare students, we want to share what we’ve learned with the world. We go through grueling hours of study and hands on training, so when the time comes to show off a little, it’s easy and fun to spout our new knowledge at parties, to our instructors, or to anyone who will listen. But often, by keeping our mouth shut and our ears open, we actually learn more.

This doesn’t only apply to the classroom. Become an active participant in your friendships through active listening. Not only will you build stronger relationships, you’ll also build necessary skills to become a better caregiver in the future

4. Laugh a little more each day   Humor has its place in the day-to-day lives of healthcare practitioners for a reason. Even though we’re doing what we love, we see some things most people will never witness at any point in their lives. Our jobs take a physical and emotional toll on us, and without finding something to laugh about daily, it’s easy to succumb to all the pressure. By adding a few extra chuckles to your routine, you can reap the of lower blood pressure, less stress, and increased blood flow. And, let’s face it, laughing makes us feel better.   5. Stay positive    There will be days when all you want to do is stay in bed and watch your favorite movie instead of facing the challenging day ahead. It’s important that, even in the darkest of moments, you try and stay positive. We know hearing “hang in there” is the last thing you want to hear when you’re having a bad day, but the alternative can have a negative impact on your health, your performance, and your surroundings. When you graduate and become a Medical Assistant, you’ll continue to face many challenges. If you make a resolution to create a habit of positivity, those hard times will be a little easier.   What are your resolutions for the New Year? Are you ready to put your new years resolutions into action? Having a new year’s resolution of starting a new career in healthcare? Contact the Allen School of Health Sciences today! We are now enrolling for our winter classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.   -Allen School

New Year Resolutions for a Medical Assistant

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The right resolutions can improve your mental and physical health and maybe, even your future career. Try these six resolutions to start your 2021 off right.

Take better care of yourself

Healthcare students from all fields (you know who you are!) tend to go a little harder than most. At clinical or on your externship, you’re often on your feet assisting patients or moving equipment, and then hurrying back to class/study for the next exam. If you add family and personal responsibilities to the mix, there’s not much time left for you. That’s why eating well, exercising, and getting quality sleep should take a larger precedent in the new year. Make a resolution that will ensure good health is in the forefront, which in turn will make for a better you. Devoting a little more focus and time to your essential needs can result in less stress, more productivity, better outcomes in school, and a more balanced life.

Get in tune with your future

As you go deeper into your studies, you may lose sight of why you wanted to go to school in the first place. The New Year means a clean slate in many ways, but it’s also a time to realign yourself with your big-picture goals. Resolve to talk regularly with the people who inspired you to go to school. At the Allen School of Health Sciences, we have been helping students for 60 years; Encouraging, coaching and assisting students with their career and life goals. Revisit other reasons you wanted to enter into healthcare and write them down, stash them away in a safe place. Better yet, carry them with you on the go this way when if going gets tough in 2021, you’ll always be reminded of why you began school in the first place.

Open up your ears and listen

As healthcare students we want to share what we’ve learned with the world. We go through grueling hours of study and hands-on training, so when the time comes to show off a little, we spout our new knowledge to anyone who will listen. But often, by keeping our mouth shut and our ears open, we actually learn more.

This doesn’t only apply to the classroom; become an active participant in your friendships through active listening. Not only will you build stronger relationships, you’ll also build necessary skills to become a better caregiver in the future.

Laugh a little more each day

Humor has its place in the day-to-day lives of healthcare practitioners for a reason. Even though we’re doing what we love, we see some things most people will never witness at any point in their lives. Our jobs take a physical and emotional toll on us, and without finding something to laugh about daily, it’s easy to succumb to all the pressure. By adding a few extra chuckles to your routine, you can reap the benefits of lower blood pressure, less stress, and increased blood flow. And, let’s face it, laughing makes us feel better.

Stay positive

There will be days when all you want to do is stay in bed and watch your favorite movie instead of facing the challenging day ahead. 2020 was not an easy year to say the least but it’s important that even in the darkest of moments, you try and stay positive. We know, hearing “hang in there” is the last thing you want to hear when you’re having a bad day, but the alternative can have a negative impact on your health, your performance, and your surroundings. When you graduate and become a Medical Assistant, you’ll continue to face many challenges so if you make a resolution to create a habit of positivity, those hard times will be a little easier.

What are your resolutions for the New Year? Ready to put 2020 in the rearview mirror? Are you ready to put your new year’s resolutions into action? Having a new year’s resolution of starting a new career in healthcare?  In order to protect our community during the COVID-19 crisis, The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit  www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

The New Year Brings a New Career in Medical Assisting

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The New Year Brings a New Career in Medical Assisting

The New Year is traditionally a time for change, promises, goal setting and resolutions. Some of them personal, and some professional. Some realistic… and some made with the best of intentions.

Tired of doing the same old thing month after month at work? Looking to move into a role where you can thrive in doing something you love, or contribute back to society? If your New Year goal is to change careers, make the most of your New Year’s goal-setting by motivating yourself to put a plan in place.

Analysis

If you really want to make this year count towards your career goals, you need to think carefully about what it is you want. Between all the social happenings of the festive season, take some time out just for you and think about your career calling.

If you need a little help getting the ball rolling, consider:

  • What did you want to be when you grew up? Maybe a doctor, lawyer, accountant, nurse, Medical Assistant or just working in the healthcare field.
  • What did you love to do as a child, or wished you had more time for now
  • What kind of job would you do if money wasn’t an issue?
  • What careers in healthcare do you always find yourself reading and thinking about

Dedicating time to really think about what you want to do is the crucial first step to a successful career change. For nearly 60 years the Allen School of Health Sciences has assisted and trained thousands of people in their new careers in healthcare.

Research

Are you lucky enough to know what it is you want to do for the rest of your working life? Thinking and dreaming about it is important, but you’ve also got to be prepared to transfer that dream into a plan and make it a reality. It’s time to start researching how you’re going to get yourself into a position to land that much-coveted career.

Read everything you can about leaders in the healthcare industry and follow their example. What did they do to get to where they are? And what do you need to do to make your career change happen?

Upskilling

Why not make a New Year resolution to commit to upskilling your way into your new career in healthcare?

Enroll in a relevant program that will teach you the tools of the trade. Ensure you will receive hands on learning that will give you real world experience and insight. Look for a program that has an externship component. It’s a great way to develop relevant transferable skills, such as anatomy, phlebotomy or learning how to administer an EKG.

Perpetual motion

One of the greatest stumbling blocks for people making any kind of New Year resolution is the loss of momentum and motivation as the year wears on. There is never a good time to change careers or go back to school. Life happens!! Make regular dates with yourself to assess your career changing progress and adjust your goals to stay on track. The one thing in life you can’t replace is time.

Sign up here  www.Allenschool.edu  and learn about our accelerated certificates get the skills and resources healthcare professionals are seeking!

Unwrap Our Holiday Tips to Become a Better Medical Assistant

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Unwrap Our Holiday Tips to Become a Better Medical Assistant

For students in a medical assistant program you may be busy learning about the clinical aspects of the job, such as how to draw blood, administer injections, or take a patient’s vital signs. These are clearly a very important part of your training. But in addition, there are also “soft skills” that are important to your training. Learning to be a reliable employee is a skill that can be used throughout your entire career. Try these tips for getting a strong start in your new career.

1. Be an early bird

Plan to arrive at work 10 to 15 minutes early every shift. You will need this time to put your belongings away and get ready for your work day. This gives you time to review the list of patients who are scheduled and to check on the day’s supplies. It helps you avoid the feeling of having to “hit the ground running” the minute you step in the door. By arriving early, you can start off your work day feeling calm and organized.

2. Stay positive

Work is called “work” for a reason — it’s hard work! Every day there may be tasks that you don’t enjoy, changes that you weren’t expecting, or problems that arise. But rather than griping or complaining, take a positive approach. Remember that handling problems is simply part of the job. Try to focus on the parts of the job that you do enjoy rather than the negative aspects. With a positive attitude, you will find that you inspire others around you.

3. Carry your own weight

As a Medical Assistant, you will be part of a healthcare team in a medical office or a hospital setting. Others on your team might include nurses, office staff, physicians, and other Medical Assistants. They are all counting on you to do your job. If you shirk your responsibilities, someone else will have to pick up your slack. Make sure you take your responsibilities seriously and put forth your best effort to fulfill your duties. As a team member, you should also be proactive. If you see a need that isn’t being fulfilled, see where you can help. This kind of approach helps make you a valuable member of your team.

4. Be respectful to anyone and everyone

Medical offices and hospitals are busy places. In the course of serving patients throughout the day, healthcare professionals can get stressed and overwhelmed. Despite this, try to stay polite and respectful to everyone throughout the day. Showing respect to others will result in receiving their respect in return. This includes everyone you work with, from the newest employees to the head honchos. And most of all, it includes patients—even those who may test your patience. It’s important to remember that they may be acting out of fear. Being a respectful person is a career skill that should stay with you for the entire duration of your career.

5. Keep up your education

In a field like Medical Assisting, you need to be sure that you keep up with your learning. New technologies and medications are being created, and you want to be sure to stay on the cutting edge. Be sure to attend continuing education classes, join a professional association and read their newsletters and blog articles regularly. Having up-to-date knowledge of your career field is something that you can be proud of and something that others will respect.

Following these tips is a way to “go the extra mile” as a Medical Assistant. If you follow these guidelines, you can improve your approach to your work. What’s more, the better you perform on the job, the better you will feel about your career. Ready to walk into the new year with a new career? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our winter classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School of Health Sciences family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Medical Assistant’s guide to working on the holidays

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Medical Assistant’s guide to working on the holidays

If you’re a Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Nurse, or other healthcare professional, there’s a good chance you’ll have to work on a holiday at some point. If you do, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on a major family or social event. It can be hard, but it’s essential. When you have to work on a holiday, this is how you can get through it.

Remember that you’re invaluable

If you work in healthcare, you work in an industry that people need every day, every hour, no matter what. The fact is, people need healthcare regardless of what the calendar says. Sickness doesn’t take a holiday. Heart attacks don’t care whether it’s Thanksgiving or a random Thursday. Cancer needs treating even on Christmas. Babies are born on New Year’s Eve, Halloween, and the Fourth of July.

Healthcare deals with life, death, birth, healing, and things that are often bigger than us. Nurses and Medical Assistants deal with all of it. The families who need to be in the hospital on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve will remember it for the rest of their lives. They’ll talk about the Halloween when they had a broken arm or the Easter when their child was born. You’ll be there not just on a holiday, but on a holiday that was impactful on them. One they’ll always remember.

There are benefits to working holidays

There are some very good things about working in healthcare on a holiday. It’s very possible things will be a little quieter than they normally would be. Patients who can will probably elect to stay at home with their families. What’s more, if your workplace first asks staff to volunteer to work on holidays before assigning days, then saying yes to a holiday shift could be a good way to increase your standing with your co-workers. Other healthcare professionals on staff will be glad you’re working and allowing them to stay home, and supervisors will be glad just to have that time covered. Your boss will also recognize you as a team player which will go a long way. Working on a holiday can also provide a chance for staff to bond. You’ll feel a sense of togetherness with other employees who are putting in time. 

Lastly, there’s also the chance to make some overtime, and when you do clock out, there’s always the chance to celebrate later. You might have missed the calendar day, but the holidays are what we make them. If you have to celebrate with loved ones a day later, that’s just as real as doing it the day of.

Are you ready to start your medical assisting career no matter what the calendar says? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our winter classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School of Health Sciences family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

Reasons why Medical Assistant training is a great profession for ALL ages

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Attending the Allen School for Medical Assisting is a good strategy for young people who wish to embark on a lifelong career in the healthcare industry.  However, individuals fifty years and older, taking a Medical Assistant program is a great option. A recent USA Today article reporting on an AARP survey illustrates why folks in the middle of a lifetime can benefit from a significant career change, leaving behind work in unrelated fields, in favor of Medical Assistant training and other healthcare-related jobs.

It is not a secret that the employment market has lately favored the younger worker for his/her willingness to work for less, leaving many middle aged workers unemployed for long stretches of time thanks to the economic downturn.  The AARP survey of 2,492 people, ages 45 to 70, which had been unemployed at some time during the past five years, showed that people who were unemployed for a longer period were more likely to take a job in a different occupation than those who were unemployed for a shorter time.  Careers in Medical Assisting are a good choice for more seasoned workers looking to transition into a new field and here are three reasons – based on the AARP survey data – why this makes sense.

1)  Better Pay – 51% of respondents to the AARP survey said they earn more in their new jobs than their old.

2)  Better Work Environment – About half (49%) of re-employed workers say their working conditions at their new jobs are better than the jobs that left them behind

3) High Job Availability – 71% of the respondents said the biggest barrier to landing a new job is that there are none available; 60% reported the need to stay in the area where they currently live; 57% said that employers think they’re too old.  The medical field is one of the most robust sectors of the economy and will remain so for at least a decade according to US Dept. of Labor statistics and there is a need for healthcare in all 50 states.  Older workers beginning new careers in this exciting field can easily find work wherever they live and there are always positions in solid supply.

If you’re an older worker considering a new career path to get back into the workforce, Medical Assistant training could be the option for you. Call us today! 

Medical Assistant: What are your options?

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Medical Assistant: What are your options?

Becoming a Medical Assistant is one of the quickest ways to enter the world of healthcare. If you’re looking to get a good job in a growing field fast, becoming an MA is the way to go. But after you’ve completed your program and working in the position, what then? What are the career advancement options for a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistants can choose from several specializations

Healthcare is a field of almost unlimited specializations, and Medical Assistants are no exception. Finding an MA specialization is one of the best ways to make yourself more in-demand. It also means finding a field that truly interests you and that you enjoy working in. Medical Assistants specialize in everything from internal medicine to transplant surgery and oncology. It would be impossible to name all their options, but every branch and level of medicine has to have specialized experts carrying out daily administrative and clinical tasks. Your choices for a specialization are as vast as healthcare itself!

You’ll have a leg up on further medical education

If you want to become a nurse, the education and experience you’ll get as a Medical Assistant will make a difference in your training. You’ll probably find clinicals and coursework more manageable than other students who go in without experience. Much (though not all) of the material you’ll encounter will look familiar. As a veteran of the medical world, you’ll probably be much more at ease with the technical and professional aspects of the material, as well as building upon your existing knowledge base. While other students are learning the ropes of the world of healthcare, you’ll be climbing them. After all, you’ve been here before.

Medical Assistants get valuable real-world experience

No matter what you choose to do after your first Medical Assistant job, you’ll always have experience that makes you more dynamic and interesting as both an employee and a person. If you want to become a nurse, your MA experience will serve you well. If you want to enter another field, potential employers will almost certainly think highly of your MA experience.

And, of course, there’s always the option of being an MA for the long haul. After all, medical assistants are in demand and an integral part of our healthcare system. Are you thinking about a new career as a medical assistant? If so, contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our fall classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-ALLEN SCHOOL