Medical Assistant Schools in Arkansas
The state of Arkansas may have a number of opportunities for those that want to become medical assistants. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities are looking for affordable ways to make the best use of doctors’ time, provide patients with excellent care, and increase the range of their services. As a medical assistant, you can collect patient history, draw blood, ask about symptoms, and carry out other tasks to help out medical personnel.
You will find a full listing of all the medical assistant schools in Arkansas below. Contact those you are interested in to learn more about starting this rewarding career.
The growing need for medical assistants and support staff is clear when you look at the state’s fastest growing industries. Discover Arkansas reports that nursing care facilities, medical and surgical hospitals, and health practitioner offices are some of the fastest-growing work places in the state.
Another reason to get into this field is the growing amount of people with health insurance. The Washington Post reports that health insurance costs are down in Arkansas, allowing more people to get the care they need.
Medical Assistant Education in Arkansas
Becoming a medical assistant requires competence and knowledge in many different aspects of the health care system, which is why an Associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate can be very helpful. Of course, one of the most significant parts of your training relates to clinical work. Courses in this area can help you learn about medical language, master basic exam room tasks, and get experience in a medical laboratory. Clinical courses often include Medical Laboratory Techniques, Examination Techniques, and Surgical Procedures. To really learn these skills, you need clinical experience. As a result, many schools require externships, practicum hours, and clinical rotations.
You may also be expected to work in an administrative setting, which may involve checking in patients, processing insurance, and billing patients. In this part of your curriculum, you’ll likely be expected to develop an understanding medical coding, medical billing, and health insurance. Plan on taking courses like Clinical Aspects of Coding & Billing, Medical Administrative Procedures, and Front Desk Procedures.
The courses you take should give you enough book knowledge and practical experience to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam. This certification is optional, but if you wish to pursue it, make sure that the program you choose is CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited.
As Arkansas health care institutions try to increase the amount of medical assistants they hire, many state organizations and employers are trying to attract new people to the field with scholarships. Be sure to begin the scholarship application process early, since they tend to close applications about halfway through the previous school year. Scholarships of over $3,000 are awarded by the White River Health System Foundation. The Arkansas Public Health Association funds scholarships of $1,000 for Arkansas students in a public health field. In addition, they award a $500 scholarship each year. Students in Washington County or Benton County can apply for the Murray T. Harris Scholarship, which is awarded by the MANA Charitable Fund.
Medical Assisting Careers in Arkansas
Once you graduate from your medical assisting program, you may have a good job outlook to look forward to. O*Net predicts a 23 percent increase in jobs between 2012 and 2022, leading to almost 100 new jobs per year throughout the state.
Students and MAs in Arkansas can join the Arkansas Society of Medical Assistants. This group outlines the scope of practice for medical assistants, offers continuing education courses, and helps MAs network.
Send a request for more information to the medical assisting schools listed on our site to get program details.
Listed below are all of the schools offering Medical Assistant programs in Arkansas. As a rule, you should contact at least 3-5 schools during the course of your research, and ideally more. There are important differences between the programs in terms of cost, admissions requirements, and other characteristics, and, as with many things in life, the way to find the best Medical Assistant program for your needs is to spend some time shopping around.
Here Are The Medical Assistant Schools…
Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.