Medical Assistant Schools in Washington
Would you like to change the state of health care in the Pacific Northwest, one patient at a time? If so, you may want to consider becoming a medical assistant. You can choose from a variety of medical assistant schools in Washington State. This career can give you exposure to many different medical professionals, including registered nurses, medical doctors, and nurse practitioner, while you serve patients by providing them with basic healthcare services. Find medical assistant certification in Washington for proper medical assistant training to be successful in this healthcare industry and start your career today!
Washington Career Bridge reports that the demand for medical assistants is growing rapidly. The growth rate is higher than the statewide average for all jobs, so Washington Career Bridge lists it as an in-demand job. As a result, you may be able to choose from many different employment opportunities after attending one of the medical assistant programs in Washington State.
As the state rolls out its new and improved health care insurance site in August of 2014, the number of patients seeking primary medical care is expected to increase. This may benefit you as a medical assistant, as doctors may be hiring medical assistants to help minimize patient wait times.
In recent decades, healthcare has become increasingly specialized in the United States. This has created many advantages for patients, but it has also created a huge number of new healthcare jobs. In the state of Washington, you may find that the demand for healthcare providers and assistants is particularly strong in the state’s remote areas, rural communities, and reservations.
If you are willing to work in one of these underserved areas after earning your medical assistant certification in Washington, you may feel good knowing that your daily work makes healthcare more accessible to people in your community. Before you decide on a Washington medical assisting program, think about what your long-term career goals are and what skills you have that make you a good fit for this industry.
To be a great medical assistant, you should have a flexible schedule that allows you to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. You should also be able to work in high-stress situations without panicking or losing your ability to focus. Finally, it’s important to have a strong stomach that allows you to handle difficult medical situations without becoming ill.
Medical Assistant Education in Washington
The first step to becoming a medical assistant and enjoying a rewarding career is choosing the right school for you. There are quite a few technical and community colleges in Washington that offer medical assisting programs. Depending on the options available at schools near you, you may be able to earn an Associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma. These options range from one to two years. While working towards becoming a medical assistant, Washington schools allow you to gain practical experience that can serve you well once you get into the workforce.
Having the correct prerequisites is important. You may be able to use credits earned at other colleges or even in high school to satisfy prerequisite requirements. Most medical assistant schools in Washington state require you to have completed courses like biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
Medical assistant programs tend to have very demanding curricula that fully prepare you for the many aspects of this job. Some of the courses you may take include Medical Terminology, Patient Preparation, Medical Office Skills, and Phlebotomy. As you become more skilled and knowledgeable, you may take classes like Disease Conditions, Diagnostic Testing, Coding and Billing, and Medication Administration. Many courses include a practical experience component, but you can plan on getting most of your experience during your end-of-program internship. This experience helps you put your education to work with real patients.
Upon getting accepted to a medical assisting program in Washington, you can begin applying for financial aid. Of course, federal grants and student loans may be an option for you. However, Washington is also home to many state that can help you gain medical assistant certification; WA options include the Washington Student Achievement Council. This agency awards scholarships to those who dedicate themselves to serving an underserved part of the state. The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship supports students that study math, science, or health care. Students can also apply for the Washington Hospital Healthcare Systems scholarships.
Learn More About Medical Assisting Programs in Your City
Medical Assisting Classes in Washington
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Front Office Basics
- Patient Care
- Sterile Procedures
Many medical assistant training programs in Washington focus on the field of medical assisting as a whole. In this type of degree program, you may learn how to work in a medical office and how to work in a clinical environment. Depending on the needs of facilities in your area, you may split your time between clinical and administrative tasks, or you may be hired for one or the other.
Regardless, you should have the experience you need to confidently handle both of these roles. For that reason, many Washington schools require an internship in an administrative setting and multiple clinical rotations in approved settings.
Billing and Coding Programs in Washington
- Digital Literacy for Healthcare
- Foundations of Health Information Management
- ICD Diagnosis Coding
- ICD Procedure Coding
Finance is one of the most difficult parts of healthcare. As a healthcare finance expert, you may be able to ensure that services are properly coded and build for. This minimizes the risk of underpayment and solidifies the future of a clinic or hospital. Hospitals and clinics use several different coding systems and languages, and you should get experience with all of them before you graduate.
Throughout your training, you may work with different administrative programs and apps to discover how to use them efficiently. You may also learn the standards for billing different entities, including state insurance programs, employer-funded insurance programs, and patients.
Washington Nurse Aide and Patient Care Tech Classes
- Patient Communication
- Restorative Services
- Personal Care Skills
- Infection Control
If you feel most at home in a clinical setting, you may want to start your medical assistant career as a clinical nursing assistant or patient care tech. Nursing assistants are commonly found in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, although many Washington hospitals and clinics also employ nursing assistants.
The role of the patient care technician differs slightly from the role of a clinical nurse assistant. Patient care techs may have experience in a broader variety of specialties, permitting them to go to different wings as needed and provide assistance. While other programs on this list typically last one to two years, CNA and patient care tech programs may only last a matter of weeks.
Medical Secretary and Administrative Med Assisting Programs in Washington
- Medical Office Procedures
- Healthcare Documentation Fundamentals
- Computerized Health Information
- Human Disease for Health Professionals
Look into becoming a medical secretary if you feel drawn to the administrative side of healthcare. Medical secretaries typically report to multiple physicians and nurses, ensuring that they have all the information they need about patients who are checked in and ready to go.
You may also notify supervisors about missed appointments, late appointments, and rescheduled appointments. Depending on how large your facility is, you may be trained in billing and coding as well. As part of your education, you may be required to complete an internship at a local clinic, nursing home, or hospital. This invaluable experience may give you a chance to learn directly from an experienced medical secretary or administrative assistant.
If medical assistant certification in Washington State is in your future, your next step is a medical assistant training program.
Get in touch with local schools today to get more information about your options.
Medical Assisting Careers in Washington
You can benefit from a fairly positive job outlook for MA careers in Washington. If you earn your medical assistant certification, Washington State may have a greater range of opportunities available to you. Certification can help demonstrate your skills and knowledge to potential employers, and may set you apart from other job applicants.
Across the board, job growth statistics in Washington are slightly higher than national averages. Job growth in this state slightly outpaces national job growth because of the difficulty found in hiring and retaining staff in Washington’s remote communities.
In the years between 2014 and 2024, demand for medical assistants may increase 21% throughout Washington (O*Net, 2017). The need for medical records technicians is also growing, so this is an option to consider if you study medical billing and coding. Job openings for medical records technicians are expected to jump 16% by 2024 (O*Net, 2017). Nursing assistants are needed in facilities across the state, leading to an expected 17% boost in job openings by the year 2024 (O*Net, 2017). A 22% increase in demand for medical secretaries is predicted between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017).
The healthcare industry of Washington has seen many significant changes in recent years, a trend that mirrors what is going on around the country. Experts note that healthcare is becoming more of a digital good in this state, permitting patients to connect with doctors online, get care recommendations, and set up appointments without ever having to pick up the phone (XConomy, 2017). This trend may influence the work you do as a medical assistant, particularly if you work in the administrative side of medical assisting.
This may very well be one of the best times to check out your training options in medical assisting and decide on a school that fits your needs.
Check out our list of Washington medical assistant programs and request information from those in your area.
Listed below are all of the schools offering Medical Assistant programs in Washington. 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.