Medical Nov 08 2016 Author: Michelle
Blake Austin College offers both Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting programs. You might be wondering what the difference in the two are, or you may be wondering which one is the right program for you. Here is a brief overview of the two programs and some qualities that people in these fields have.
Clinical Medical Assisting
Clinical assistants often work on the patient side of things. During the program through Blake Austin, you can learn general body systems like the lymphatic, skeletal, and muscular. Our clinical program also offers students the chance to learn phlebotomy on top of the regular assistant program. These jobs often include working with cardiologists doing stress testing and other procedures. Clinical medical assistants work doing tasks similar to that of a nurse.
People who enjoy this type of work usually have these qualities:
– They love helping people.
– They enjoy working independently.
– They like to work in close proximity to people.
– They are task oriented.
– They are good at communicating.
– They are
proficient in working with computers and medical terminology.
– They have fun learning at while work.
– They are good problem solvers.
You could work in several types of medical settings with an education in clinical medical assisting. Such as:
– Hospitals.
– Doctor’s offices.
– Medical offices.
– Labs.
– Clinics.
Clinical medical assistants are not limited to these areas either! There are many other professional settings in which they can work. The average
salary for medical assistants in the state of California is $41,000, according to indeed.com. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you will or won’t make that salary. It all depends on where you work, how hard you work, and a variety of other factors.
The job outlook for medical assistants is fantastic. The employment of those in the field is projected to grow 23% from 2014-24, as per the BLS. This is much faster than the average of other careers.
Do you like the sound of potentially working in a hospital? Do you have a few of the characteristics on the list above? Check out our Clinical Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy program!
Administrative Medical Assisting
Our administrative assisting program is focused on preparing students to work as a receptionist or assistant for a doctor’s office, clinic, or another professional setting. Medical filing, reporting, record management, protocol, and front office support are some of the skills future admin assistants can learn. People in this career often work more in the office rather than with a patient. However, they do handle patient records.
People who work in this career
often have these characteristics:
– They have excellent people skills.
– They feel comfortable working behind a desk and at a computer.
– They are very organized.
– They are detail oriented.
– They like creating and maintaining a schedule.
– They enjoy being on the phone and working directly with patients.
– They can get comfortable working with legal documents.
Administrative medical assistants can work in a variety of office settings such as:
–
Physician’s offices.
– Medical centers.
– Nursing homes.
– Medical billing offices.
– Hospitals.
With an education in admin medical assisting, you can potentially work in many places; you don’t have to be limited to these! On average, administrative assistants in the medical field make about $37,000 a year according to indeed.com. However, that doesn’t mean that
they always make that amount. Admin assistants can earn more or less depending on position, place of work, and a multitude of other factors.
According to the BLS, there were over 3 million jobs available in admin medical assisting in 2014.
Do you want to work in medical office as a receptionist or assistant? Check out our program.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant [CCMA] and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant [CMAA] are credentials that show employers that you’re qualified to fill the role of a medical assistant or medical administrative assistant. However, there are distinct differences between these two NHA certifications — and strong reasons to achieve both.
The difference between CCMA and CMAA
CCMA and CMAA certifications prepare you for a rewarding career in health care. The key difference is that the CCMA emphasizes clinical knowledge/skills with a secondary focus on administrative knowledge and skills, while the CMAA goes into greater breadth and depth on administrative skills only.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant [CCMA]
Earning your CCMA credential prepares you for jobs with titles including medical assistant, certified medical assistant, and clinical medical assistant. CCMAs work directly with patients. They may gather patient information, take patients’ vitals, obtain their medical history, record symptoms, and draw blood for testing. Depending on the office setting, they may also perform administrative tasks such as answering phone calls and questions and updating electronic health records [EHR].
The CCMA exam covers seven domains — which includes
administrative medical assisting — but most topics are focused on direct patient care or clinical background knowledge:
- Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Patient Care
- Patient Care Coordination and Education
- Administrative Assisting
- Communication and Customer Service
- Medical Law and Ethics
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant [CMAA]
CMAAs can perform jobs with titles including medical administrative assistant, medical office assistant, and medical office secretary. These professionals often work at the front desk of health care facilities and are vital to running the office smoothly. CMAAs greet patients, update patient records [EHR], schedule appointments, order supplies, answer calls, review and answer practice correspondence, operate computer systems, and more.
The CMAA exam also covers seven domains, but all are focused on the administrative side of health care:
- Scheduling
- Patient Intake
- Office Logistics
- Compliance
- Patient Education
- General Office Policies & Procedures
- Basic Medical Terminology
Why you should earn both CCMA and CMAA credentials
Greater flexibility means more opportunitiesMedical assistants are in high demand. The employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, the type of medical assistant in demand in your particular area may vary at any given time. The CCMA and CMAA certifications provide flexibility because you’re qualified to excel in administrative and clinical roles.
Expand your job searchWhile larger hospital systems typically prefer specialized medical assistants, smaller clinics and practices often hire medical assistants with well-rounded skills who can perform clinical and administrative duties. If you think you’d like to work in a smaller office now or in the future, having both certifications is advantageous.
Stand out among the competitionShowcasing both CCMA and CMAA certifications on your resume shows potential employers that you’re willing to go the extra mile. They will see that you are ready to work in multiple areas and that you’d be a versatile employee who could add value to their organization.
More opportunities for career growth and changeAbout half of the U.S. workforce changes jobs every 1 – 5 years. If you have clinical and administrative knowledge and skills, more doors will be open for you. Whether you’re seeking higher pay, a greater challenge, a different setting, or a new health care career that requires additional training, you’ll be positioned well to work toward your career goals.
Ready to get #NHACertified?
Whether you want to achieve your CCMA, CMAA, or both, it’s clear that having a certification is critical: 89% of employers require or encourage certification for medical assistants.
If you’re ready to start or advance your career as a medical assistant, learn more about NHA’s medical assistant certifications and training tools:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant [CCMA]
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant [CMAA]
- MA SkillsBuilder™: Clinical
- MA SkillsBuilder™: Administrative [Coming Fall 2022!]