Traits of a Medical Assistant

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Traits of a Medical Assistant 

If you are thinking of a career as a Medical Assistant, you could be on track to a rewarding career with great job prospects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for Medical Assistants through 2022 is expected to be a whopping 29 percent growth rate, much faster than average compared to other jobs. But do you have what it takes to be a part of this rewarding profession? Here are the essential traits you’ll need:

1) Compassionate: Do you like to help others? A caring and compassionate nature is one of the most important qualities you’ll need as a medical assistant. When patients are sick, in pain or just scared about what’s happening to them, they really want a friendly face and caring attitude. Could this be you?

2) Good Communicator: Medical assistants often serve as a liaison between patients and other caregivers. You’ll need to be a good listener, so you know your patients’ concerns and a good communicator to relay that information to others. You may also need to translate what doctors and other health care providers are saying so patients really understand.

3) Ethical: Everything you see and do as a medical assistant may be protected under rules of patient confidentiality, so you really need to be able to keep a secret. Patients are sometimes at their most vulnerable when they come to see their doctor. They shouldn’t have to worry that something they say or do will be shared inappropriately.

4) Organization Skills: Whether you’re helping in the front office with patient appointments and insurance information or taking patient histories, you need to keep everything you do well-organized. Small mistakes can cause big problems and one of the best ways to avoid them is to stay organized!

5) Outgoing: You’ll need to interact confidently with a lot of different people throughout your day as a medical assistant. You may also want to speak up on behalf of patients who aren’t feeling well or aren’t able to speak for themselves. Medical assistants often serve as patient advocates and help them understand all that’s going on around them.

6) Adaptable: Healthcare environments are often fast-paced and quickly changing. You may need to assist several patients or just one at a time. And what may work well in one situation may not be as effective in another. Your ability to roll with the punches will help you help your patients!

 7) Team Player: The best of today’s healthcare systems is run like good teams where everyone has their job to do, but they all work together as a team. If you’re a true  team player, you’ll be able to follow directions, do your job well, and always place the needs of the patients first.

Are you thinking about a new career as a medical assistant?  If so, please contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become a part of the Allen School family.  Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Benefits of becoming a Medical Assistant

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Benefits of becoming a Medical Assistant

If you’re looking to start your career in the healthcare sector, why not consider a career as a medical assistant?  With quick training periods, competitive salaries, dependable job growth, and fast-paced working environments, medical assistant training is an excellent route for people who are fresh to healthcare or who already have hands-on experience.

1. Get into the Job Market Fast

Between an undergraduate degree, medical school, and residency, it can take surgeons more than 15 years to obtain their full licenses. On the other hand, most medical assistant courses take less than a year before you can work in a professional setting. While there are no formal requirements to work as a medical assistant, most employers prefer applicants who have attended and graduated from an accredited medical assistant program. Completing a certified medical assistant program is often a requirement to get hired.

2. This Is a Career That Makes a Difference

Well-trained and professional medical assistants make a huge difference in a patient’s hospital or clinic experience. From administering medicine to helping patients navigate insurance policies to preparing patients for examinations, many professional medical assistants find their work incredibly rewarding.  Medical assistants often mention their wide range of patient-facing responsibilities as a reason why they’re proud to be part of this field.

3. Training Options Are Flexible

Multiple options for medical assistant programs exist throughout the country.  In many cases you’ll be able to fit classes around your schedule. This offers many students the flexibility and opportunities to raise their family, hold a job, or attend extra classes while completing their medical assistant training.

4.  Learn with Exciting and Applicable Classes

Medical assistants are healthcare professionals who work between administration and treatment. During medical assistant training, students will study patient care, anatomy, sterilization techniques, and basic pharmacology.

5. There Isn’t One Standard Work Day

The medical assistant job description is so varied that it’s impossible for your shifts to be boring! Medical assistants are trained to perform a wide range of duties and are required to step in where they’re needed the most. On any day, you could be speaking with an insurance agency, drawing blood, managing the front desk or helping take patient’s vital signs. The job itself teaches you a valuable set of skills, including flexibility, analytical thinking, and the ability to work effectively within a team.

6. Different Working Environments

Some people like the fast pace of a surgical ward, general medical hospital, or trauma center. Others may prefer the quiet setting of a private physician’s office. Smaller practices tend to rely on their medical assistants to handle both administrative and clinical duties, while medical assistants at larger practices and hospitals tend to focus on one or the other. Outpatient care centers, community health clinics, dental practices, and assisted living facilities also require medical assistants to provide quality care. Whichever you choose, if you’re a desirable candidate, you’ll have the flexibility of choosing one that best fits your personality and needs. 

7. A Great Start into the Medical Industry

In the medical world, experimenting with different career paths is a high stakes game. Training as a nurse or a doctor takes incredible time and effort, and it is not unheard of for these medical professionals to later discover that their chosen field wasn’t the best fit. Why not start with a job that allows you to experience a wide range of aspects within healthcare? Medical assistants have an unbelievable vantage point which enables them to quickly learn whether patient care or medical administration is more their speed. Many go back to school to gain their nursing degrees or choose another specialty in the medical field.  If you are ready for more responsibility, many medical assistants move onto careers like sonography, nursing, and hospital management.

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

-Allen School

Being Positive in School Can Make a Difference

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Being Positive in School Can Make a Difference

Don’t let school get you down! Whether you’re frustrated with your performance or dreading your next exam, a positive attitude towards school can go a long way! Think about all the positive improvements an education can have on your life. Having a positive attitude increases your chances of better academic performance. The Allen School of Health Sciences knows how a positive attitude can brighten a student’s day and help them make the most out of their educational experience. We offer students seven steps for maintaining a positive attitude towards school.

Step #1: Think positively

Positive thinking is a powerful tool! You can succeed at school if you put in the effort and attitude that your education needs to thrive. Do you have a habit of thinking negatively? Your first step is to replace any negative thoughts you may have with positive ones. You can think about the positive aspects of what you have learned from a negative situation. Start by turning negative phrases into positive ones. Use these examples to help you turn your attitude:

  • “I can’t” becomes “I can try”
  • “I can’t learn this” becomes “Can you explain that again?”
  • “I hate this class” becomes “This class is hard for me, but once I learn the material, I can appear more capable and knowledgeable.”
  • “This is too much homework” becomes “The more I do my homework, the more knowledge I can gain.”
  • “This teacher assigns too much homework” becomes “This teacher really wants us to learn how to succeed.”
  • “I’m not smart enough to learn this” becomes “I can try and practice until I succeed.”

Step #2:  Be proud of yourself

You can build a positive approach to school if you compliment yourself on your achievements no matter how small. Students learn new material every day. Remember to compliment yourself on the small achievements throughout your training program. When you do well on a homework assignment, congratulate yourself on a job well done. When you see yourself try, improve, or succeed in your technical skills or test scores, treat yourself to something you enjoy. Staying positive towards your skills and effort can help build your self-esteem and enhance your academic career.

Step #3: Share your positivity with friends

You may have friends with whom you complain about school. Sometimes our friends’ negative attitudes and frustrations bring down our own experiences. You may want to help them see the bright side of situations. Tell your friends that having a negative attitude towards school won’t help their situation. Show them how to use positive affirmations and comments to turn around their outlook on school. Let them know that staying positive towards school may help their education open doors to success. You can also move the topic to positive topics. If your friends or classmates are having trouble, organize a study group. Try to make friends with people who can positively influence you and your environment.

Step #4: Take a pause before reacting

It is helpful to maintain a positive and peaceful environment at school. Some people may complain constantly about tests or homework. Other people may get emotional during tense situations. Try not to jump to conclusions and stay level-headed. Catch yourself if you start complaining about a project or thinking the rules were better the old way. Take a pause and a deep breath before you react negatively. Instead, re-focus your reaction and give yourself time to react positively to the situation.

Step #5: Use the Golden Rule

Treat others as you would like to be treated. Being petty, aggressive, or mean to others only causes negative consequences at school. Don’t waste your time on toxic relationships. When you act kindly and treat others the way you want to be treated, you can make friends and surround yourself with positive energy. You will also need these traits in your professional career.

Step #6: Practice Gratitude 

Showing gratitude helps you stay grounded and appreciate what you have in life. Make a list of positive aspects in your life, even if they are small. They can be as simple as enjoying a TV show or playing with your kids. Numerous psychological studies suggest that gratitude can improve your attitude towards life and improve emotional and physical health. What are you grateful for in life?

Step #7: Interact with the World Around You

Are you constantly plugged into your phone? Many of us use our phones for various reasons throughout the day and sometimes it can distract us from the outside world. If you spend the school day on your phone, you aren’t taking advantage of your education. Be present and prepared for school each day. Focus on learning, participating, and listening at school. You can become more passionate and engaged with your school work when you concentrate. You may like your studies more!

Do you think you have what it takes to become a medical assistant?  If so, contact the Allen School today! We are currently enrolling for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family.  Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more about a rewarding career as a medical assistant.

-Allen School

A career as a Medical Assistant

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Medical Assisting as a Career

 

Have you considered medical assisting as a career? If so, it’s good to get your facts straight. Here at the Allen School of Health Sciences, our training program provides a foundation of knowledge and skill that can help position you for a satisfying career as a healthcare professional.

  • The option to choose a specialty. Medical assisting offers a lot of options. In this job you can work with many different kinds of doctors and medical practices. Are you interested in pediatrics? Podiatry? Ophthalmology? Depending on what practices are in your area, there may be various job opportunities for you to specialize.
  • A leadership role. As a medical assistant, you have a lot of control over what happens in a doctor’s office—from the time the patient leaves the waiting room until they see the doctor. You are the key connection between the receptionist in the front office and the nurses and doctors, and play a vital role in communicating and transferring patients efficiently. If you work in a small office, you may even handle many of the front office duties as well, including scheduling patient appointments.
  • You can make changes during your career. Maybe you will have an externship in one kind of healthcare environment, but then would like to choose something different later on. You can choose an office that is larger or smaller, or that focuses on a different specialty. In the future you may decide to pursue work as a nurse, or even a physician assistant. This training can open doors to a range of choices down the road.
  • Always something new to learn. Even if you stay in one position for a long period of time, there are always new things to learn in the changing world of healthcare! So, you won’t get bored if you’re focused on learning and adapting to new information, technology, and other innovations that will be coming your way all the time.
  • You can find meaning at work. Helping people is a big part of this profession, and if you have a compassionate, nurturing nature, then you are likely to find satisfaction in work that can help to better people’s lives.

Interested in learning more about developing the skills and attributes of a medical assistant? Are you ready to start a Medical Assistant Program? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Choosing a career in the Medical Field

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Choosing a Career in the Medical Field

Figuring out what type of career you want to pursue is not an easy decision. It’s important to take a lot of things into consideration. If you’re thinking about a career in the medical field, you should consider the advantages it offers. Consider some of the awesome things about working in the medical field.

  • You’ll be in Demand. Certain jobs in the medical field, such as medical assistants, home health aides and nurses, are in high demand in different parts of the country. It’s nice to know when you graduate; you have a strong job market to go into.
  • Stability. The world may change; there will most likely always be medical jobs. Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, there will continue to be illness and disease, which means there is a need for healthcare professionals. In addition, a change in the economy does not affect medical jobs the same way it affects other fields.
  • Meeting Interesting People. Many jobs in the medical field, such as medical assistants, therapists, and nurses involve patient care. As a healthcare professional, you’ll have the chance to meet all types of people in various situations. If you’re a people person, a healthcare career might be for you!
  • Make an Impact. If you’re looking for a job where you can help people and make an impact, healthcare is a good choice. From helping bring a baby into the world to treating patients, medical workers make a difference every day.

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

-Allen School

     

Tips for Medical Assistants working with a physician

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Tips for Medical Assistants Working with Physicians

  • Remember the physician is a person, just like you.

Working with a physician for the first time can be intimidating to some new medical assistants. Physicians’ authority and experience can make them seem like the end-all point of knowledge in the workplace, but it’s important to remember that the physician you work with is a person with thoughts and feelings, just like you. Make an effort to get to know them outside of work-related communications.

You can do this and still maintain a very professional demeanor in your job — just ask a few questions about their hobbies, where they studied, or other interests. Before you know it, you’ll have found a common topic to help you build a friendly sense of camaraderie. This can-do wonders in medical assisting, just like it does in any other field, because professional collaboration is always stronger when there’s a foundation of goodwill and friendliness to support it. It may make you nervous to break the ice the first time, but you will most likely find that reaching out to find common ground is well worth the nerves.

  • Practice active listening.

Between patients, physicians, and other colleagues, it can be too easy to tune out the constant stream of information arriving from all directions throughout your day as a new medical assistant. But despite the volume of communication coming your way, you’ll quickly learn to tackle all of it with ease and grace if you make a conscious effort to listen actively.  To be an active listener, check in with yourself when gathering information from doctors and patients to make sure you’re not distracted by thoughts about your next meal, your personal life or any other scenario unrelated to the present moment. One way to become an extra-skilled active listener is to repeat back what you hear to the person speaking. While it may sound robotic, it’s actually a great way to make people feel that they’ve been heard and understood. There are plenty of ways to become a better listener and medical assistants become better collaborators the more they improve this skill.

  • Set the physician up for success at every visit.

One of your main tasks as a medical assistant will be managing the beginning and end of patient visits. This means you will need to take measurements and vitals, gather information from patients, explain medications and other treatments that patients will administer themselves, and handle other tasks that make up the practices of wellness that patients seek medical care for. Your physician will be grateful to arrive into the room with the patient if you do your part to gather all the necessary information and record it in a clear, concise, and timely manner.

When you fill the physician in on the symptoms the patient is experiencing, try to imagine what you would want to know from their perspective. Put an effort toward giving the physician just the right amount of detail — not too much and not too little. And of course, it goes without saying that taking accurate measurements and recording them properly is central to your success as a medical assistant. Making sure to set the physician up for success will improve your collaborative relationship and ultimately put the health of your patients at the best possible odds as well.

  • Speak up confidently when you see an error.

Wherever you choose to work as a medical assistant, minding the details is one way in which you can make a real impact. Just because the physician you’ll be working with has tons of professional experience doesn’t mean that they will have 100 percent accuracy as far as prescriptions, charting, and other documentation goes. Don’t be afraid to mention something if you see it being overlooked. It might take a bit of courage, but it’s worth it to know you’re acting in your patient’s best interest.

  • Be self-sufficient.

Sometimes the strongest collaborators are those who know how to find answers to their own questions. You’ll be in regular communication with physicians as a medical assistant, but sometimes it’ll be a win to their workday for you to exhaust other sources before bringing them in to help solve a problem.

The trick is discerning between which specific situations require the physician’s attention and which don’t. This distinction might take a little time, but being proactive and self-sufficient will make you a huge asset to any medical team; it’s a great way to collaborate by holding your time management and prioritization to a strong standard. To learn more about our health care programs and externships, contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family.

Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

Guiding loved ones as they head back to School

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Health Care: Tips to help your loved ones go back to School

Do you have a loved one currently attending school? Are they considering returning back to school to start a new career? Here are easy tips you can follow to give the students in your life the support they need for their upcoming class start:

  • Believe in them. Enrolling in a health care program for the first time, or returning to school after a long absence, takes a leap of faith. Believing and vocalizing support in your loved one’s ability to succeed as a student can help boost their confidence when they have doubts.
  • Be a cheerleader. Deliver encouraging messages in person, text, email or even social media! Sharing words of support such as “You can do it!” or “Thanks for working so hard!” may seem small, but if you cheer your loved one on frequently and with feeling – they will have no doubts about your desire to see them succeed.
  • Celebrate milestones in a big way. Another module complete – toast to your loved one’s success! Share the excitement.
  • Be inspired. It’s inspiring to see someone you love overcome challenges, or doubts towards reaching an end goal. Going back to school is not easy, but it is temporary.
  • “Like” the small achievements. Have a Facebook or Instagram friend who is going back to school? Pay attention to their news feed. If they mention studying for an exam, send an encouraging note. “Like” their education achievements big and small – from handing in a paper on time, to learning about their externship. Let them know you are paying attention and care about their success.
  • Watch the kids. School experts agree that one of the single biggest challenges facing parents going back to school is consistent childcare. Whether your loved one is your spouse, your friend, your sibling, or your child – offer up regular help with the kids, and honor your commitment. You will be amazed how much studying an adult learner can do in 4 hours of kid-free time on a Saturday morning.
  • Make a school schedule – together. Going back to school as an adult requires serious time management skills. Create a family calendar. Block off times for work and school. Block off time for homework and study. Block off times for family and fun. Get the kids on a regular bedtime routine. You are in this together.
  • Some days your loved one may feel like going back to school is an impossible goal. On those days, your ability to listen may be all that matters.

 Ready to start working towards a career you can love? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Advantages of joining the Healthcare profession

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 Advantages of Joining the Healthcare Profession

Have you considered medical assisting as a profession? If so, it’s good to get your facts straight. Here at Allen School, our accelerated training program provides a foundation of knowledge and skill that can help position you for a satisfying career as a healthcare professional. Here are some basic facts about medical assistants to help you

The option to choose a specialty Medical assisting offers a lot of options. In this job you can work with many different kinds of doctors and medical practices. Are you interested in pediatrics? Podiatry? Ophthalmology? Depending on what practices are in your area, there may be various job opportunities for you to specialize.

A leadership role As a medical assistant, you have a lot of control over what happens in a doctor’s office—from the time the patient leaves the waiting room until they see the doctor. You are the key connection between the receptionist in the front office and the nurses and doctors, and play a vital role in communicating and transferring patients efficiently. If you work in a small office, you may even handle many of the front office duties as well, including scheduling patient appointments.

You can make changes during your career Everyone who attends the Allen School of Health Sciences will have an externship in different kinds of healthcare environments, but you can choose your path to choose something different later on. You can choose an office that is larger or smaller, or that focuses on a different specialty. In the future you may decide to pursue work as a nurse or a physician assistant. Even if you decide to stay at the same practice for many years, you could pursue other positions, such as an office manager. This training can open doors to a range of choices down the road.

Physicians can train you for specific duties. Since medical assistants work directly under medical doctors, once you work at a practice, the doctor can teach you to perform any number of duties.  For example, you might do more than prepare patients and take their vital signs. A doctor could also teach you to handle additional duties, even ones you may not have trained in at school.

Always something new to learn Even if you stay in one position for a long period of time, there are always new things to learn in the changing world of healthcare! So, you won’t get bored if you’re focused on learning and adapting to new information, technology, and other innovations that will be coming your way all the time.

You can find meaning at work Helping people is a big part of this profession, and if you have a compassionate, nurturing nature, then you’re likely to find satisfaction in work that can help to make people’s lives better.

Ready to start working towards a career you can love? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our spring classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Fearful of going back to school?

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Are You Afraid to go Back to School?

Create a ‘Why Statement’ To Help Fight the Fear About Going Back to School

How do you feel about going back to school? Do you dream where it might take your career?  If you fear that because you are a working mom you won’t have the time or energy to go back to school. But fear has this funny way of holding us back from things that could be exceptional for us. You can think of many reasons not to take on this challenge like the additional workload, the time and energy it’ll take, and, the biggest one is the fear of failure.

How can you put these fearful thoughts aside and truly judge if it’s time for you to go back to school? School should give you something you’re missing. Why do you want to go back to school?  What is missing in your life right now that school could provide? What will furthering your education bring you? A promotion, growing your competency about the work you do, or perhaps changing your career track?  When you can articulate your reason or your “Why statement” you can use it to fight back your fear. When you begin to doubt yourself, remember your “why statement” to leave your fearful thoughts behind.

Get Your Support System to Back You Up 

There will be times when you need help with your home life responsibilities. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the extra workload think about who is your support system and how they can help you accomplish your goals? Identify what you need help with. Will you do homework at night, early mornings, or on the weekends at the library?  

Next, get your support system on board. People in your support system are people like your spouse, partner, parents, neighbors, kids, and friends. Share with them why you’re going back to school. Then share any areas you need help with. You’ll feel less fear knowing that your support system has your back.

Find Extra Time Blocks in Your Day

Do you feel like you won’t have enough time or energy to do homework? Then try this.  Throughout your day tomorrow make it a priority to look for small blocks of free time. Did you spend too much time surfing the net during lunch? You could do work then.

Keep a lookout for these blocks of time where you could give up something to make room for school work. School won’t last forever and making some sacrifices will be worth it. 

It’s hard to contain excitement and anxiety over what will happen once you get that degree or certificate. But all good things come to those who wait or work hard.

 When fearful thoughts creep up when you think about going back to school, take a deep breath and put them aside. You have many options for making it work for you and you could reap some big benefits if you go for it. Following these tips is a way to “go the extra mile”. If you follow these guidelines, you can improve your approach to going back to school. Ready to start working towards a new career? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Career Advancement in Medical Assisting at Allen School

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How Can a Medical Assistant Advance Their Career?

 

If you’re right out of medical assisting school, you’re likely to join the workforce as an entry-level CMA. Gaining experience, becoming proficient in skills, and widening your medical knowledge base are all tools you’ll need to advance in your career as a medical assistant. You may decide to aim for a management job, work in a competitive area of medicine, or go into teaching. No matter your goals for career advancement, a few extra tools may help you successfully work toward advancement opportunities.

Different Career Specialties in Medical Assisting

No matter if you work in medical administration or clinical practice, choosing a specialty can be a wise choice for future career advancement opportunities. Some medical specialties require more knowledge and skills than others and may offer opportunities for better pay and additional responsibilities. Healthcare is a multi-dimensional field. The vast array of medical specialties and sub-specialties provide the certified medical assistant with limitless employment opportunities. Though you may begin your career in a clinic or outpatient center, you may want to specialize in another area of medical assisting at some point. Luckily, medical assistants can work in many specialty areas.

Clinical Specialties

Medical assistants have many medical specialties to consider as a career. Some specialties allow you to earn additional certification, while others rely on experience and hands-on training. If you’re currently a medical assisting student, consider working in a medical specialty during your externship.

Administrative Specialties

If you feel that administrative medical assisting is more to your taste, you can specialize in non-clinical areas, as well. Opportunities for branching out into administrative areas may come as you gain more work experience. You may be required to take additional classes; however, the administrative procedures you learned during medical assisting school will be a good foundation to build on.

Medical specialties like these can be demanding and have a higher learning curve. Because of the demands, employers may have a harder time finding qualified medical assistants to fill open positions. If you’re currently working in an entry-level medical assistant position, moving into a medical specialty may offer better opportunities. The longer you work in a specialty practice that you enjoy, the more valuable your skills and knowledge will become to your employer. Remember, because medical assisting is so versatile, opportunities to specialize will continue to grow. The more experience and continuing education you have, the more doors may open for you to work in other areas. To learn more about our health care programs, externships, and job placement contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our summer classes and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School