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Two Innovative Medical Careers Physician and Medical Assistants

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:20:25 +0000

In the United States, Physician Assistants (PAs) are non-physician clinicians licensed to practice medicine with a physician’s supervision. This supervision, in most cases, need not be direct or on site and many PAs practice in remote or underserved areas in satellite clinics. PAs can treat patients and, in most states, prescribe medicine, and in some states in the US they carry a DEA number that gives them authority to prescribe controlled medications like narcotics. PAs in surgical practices also serve as first assists in surgery. PAs provide medical services that are reimbursed under Medicare and third party insurances.

Physician Assistants held about 65,000 jobs in 2005. The number of jobs is greater than the number of practicing PAs because some hold two or more jobs. For example, some PAs work with a supervising physician, but also work in another practice, clinic, or hospital. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, there were about 58,665 certified PAs in clinical practice as of January 2006.

Just over 56 percent of PAs worked in the offices and clinics of physicians in 2005, either allopathic or osteopathic. About 36 percent were employed by hospitals. The rest were mostly in public health clinics, nursing homes, schools, prisons, home health care agencies, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, about 17 percent of all PAs provide health care to rural communities and those with fewer than 20,000 residents, in which physicians may be in limited supply.

In 2006, there are more than 130 accredited PA programs in existence in the United States. They are all accredited by one body — the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). A majority of them are master’s degree programs (requiring GRE for entry), but some are available as an undergraduate major. A number of these undergraduate programs are making a transition to graduate level training.

A Physician Assistant may use the post-nominal initials PA, RPA, PA-C or RPA-C, where the R indicates Registered and the C indicates “Certified.” The “R” designation is unique to only a couple of states; most Physician Assistants use the PA-C. The certification is granted by one certifying body, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners both provide similar services in most states, the major distinction being that nurse practitioners are registered nurses by trade. Nurse Practitioners require more training than physicians assistants, such as a Masters Degree in nursing. Both are also known as Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) or mid-level practitioners (MLPs).

PAs should not be confused with Medical Assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks in a physician’s office. A Medical Assistant (MA) is a multi-skilled allied healthcare practitioner who is competent in both a wide variety of clinical and laboratory procedures, as well as many administrative roles. Medical assistants have been described as healthcare’s most versatile, multifaceted professionals. Medical Assisting is an allied health profession whose practitioners function as members of the health care delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures.

Formal education of medical assistants usually occurs in vocational or technical institutes, community colleges, proprietary schools, or junior colleges. The course length usually ranges from 1 to 2 year programs, complete with externships. The curriculum presented must always be accredited if its graduates plan to become either certified or registered. In 2002, there were 495 medical assisting programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and about 170 accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School (ABHES). Accreditation by either CAAHEP or ABHES usually requires that the schools curriculum provide sufficient classroom, lecture, and laboratory time (if applicable) to each of the courses below.

Administrative Courses

Computer Applications

Manual Recording of Patients’ Data

Scheduling Appointments

Maintaining medical Records

Word Processing/Typewriting/Keyboarding

Coding/Insurance

Telephone Triage

Personnel Management

General Courses

Anatomy and Physiology

Behavioral Psychology

Pathophysiology

Medical Terminology

AIDS/HIV

Patient Education

Medical Law and Ethics

Clinical Courses

Phlebotomy

l Medical Asepsis/Infection Control

Pharmacology/Administration of Medications

Assisting Techniques/Physical Examination

Assisting with Minor Surgery

Basic Laboratory Procedures/Routine Blood and Urine Testing

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

X-Ray Theory and Positioning

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

Certification is a voluntary process which is strongly backed by the AAMA and a number of other well respected certification bodies in the USA as a way to guarantee competency of a medical assistant at a job-entry level. However, in order to be eligible for certification one must attend a school which has been accredited by either CAAHEP or ABHES.

Certification is usually achieved by taking a test issued by the National Board of Medical Examiners and AAMA, or AMT, or NHA and is offered twice yearly, simultaneously, at over 200 different test sites across the United States.

Successful completion of the rather intense exam earns the taker the proper credentials to become a Certified Medical Assistant, or CMA. National certification is legally required in order for any medical assistant to adhere to CMA status. The title CMA then follows postnominally.

Recertification must occur every 5 years in order for one to maintain their credentials. There are two ways to do this; one may either continually earn continuing education hours by attending CMA meetings, conventions and seminars, or by completely retaking the initial exam to prove they still possess a certain level of knowledge.

A medical assistant may choose another possible credential over CMA, and become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) instead. Again, credentialing is completely voluntary. The American Technologists (AMT) agency is responsible for certifying MAs who choose this course.

AMT first began offering this certification in 1972 on the months of June and November, through a computerized exam, much like the one offered by the AAMA. AMT therefore has its own conventions and committees, bylaws, state chapters, officers, registrations and revalidation examinations.

To become eligible to hold the title of RMA a student must be at least 18-years-old, pass a medical assisting curriculum at a school accredited by either ABHES or CAAHEP and possess a minimum of 5 years experience. The initials RMA then follow the individual’s name.

RMAs have historically been very active in legislation, seeking protection for medical assistants, as well as continuously encouraging improved educational curriculums.

How to Hire While Traveling in Italy?

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:36:05 +0000

If you are looking forward to hiring a car while touring Italy then a company that provides car hire italy is the best option. The land of pastas and wines along with other gourmet delights is best explored through road.

If you welcome the concept of seeing one of the most beautiful places in the world then you should hire a car from sites like http://www.121carhireitaly.com/ where you can get cars from different corners of the country. These include Car Hire Alghero Airport and Car Hire Ancona Airport along with a lot of other places. Remember that it is not vital to get good rates for the cars but it this is one of the safest options available for travelers. The priority of the website is to ensure that all travelers have a nice journey with least problems.

So you can be assured about getting the best possible services in Italy from this website. Rather than hiring cars at the end moment, which also cost the user much more, you should book your cars in advance. So get set to experience the wilderness of Italy and some of the most delicious cuisines in the world.

Building a Career as a Medical Assistant

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:45:43 +0000

The medical assistant profession has gradually become a major component of the healthcare industry today and brings personal as well as financial satisfaction to the individuals who practice it. It is a challenging task and involves a lot of dedication and responsibility. There are a number of reasons why an individual should focus his efforts towards building a career as a medical assistant. Some of these are given below –

Why to Choose a Career as a Medical Assistant?

• Service of Community: A career as a medical assistant offers opportunities galore to individuals to serve the community. Medical assistants participate actively in providing care and physical and mental support to the patients. The efforts of medical assistants are focused towards improving the overall health of the patients, which is in itself a way to contribute towards the welfare of the community. People look upon medical assistants with regard and the profession is hence considered to be altruistic and noble.

• Personal Satisfaction: Ensuring well being of patients brings a lot of personal satisfaction to individuals. This profession involves lot of communication and interaction with both – the patients as well as other members of the team, which provides an opportunity to learn teamwork, communication skills and motivation. Medical assistants are required to provide moral support to the patients, thereby making it a very demanding profession.

• Financial Stability: A career as a medical assistant is lucrative and provides financial stability to the practitioners. Well qualified and well trained medical assistants may earn as high as $40,000 a year in this profession. And this is just the beginning! The demand for medical assistants is on a rise due to ongoing expansion and development of the healthcare industry. As a medical assistant, one can also qualify for various administrative occupations thereby making it a viable career option.

There are numerous medical assistant schools that offer quality education. But, one needs to choose an appropriate medical assistant school after considering the level of education and training offered, accreditation, fees structure and other related factors.

Medical Assistant Training Programs

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:42:14 +0000

In 21st century America, career security is a hot topic and of great importance. With an aging population and rapid medical advances, medical assisting careers and other similar jobs in the health care field, are expected to grow faster than all other career fields. Medical assistant training program offers you the opportunity for that first and most important step for a stable future.

The first step in becoming a medical assistant is a good education – Most aspiring professionals attend a medical assistant college or training program to get the textbook knowledge and job skills they will need for a medical assisting career. Medical assistant classes provide knowledge that is relevant and necessary to the duties you will perform on the job. With the inclusion of practical career skills, you will be prepared for all aspects of a medical assisting career.

Because health care careers are growing steadily, it is an asset to be able to train in different medical fields. With a medical assisting certification, you have a foundation for a variety of medical careers. You can build upon medical assistant training by taking additional college courses to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or a registered nurse (RN). If you like to help people, attending medical assisting class can help you realize your career dreams.

A Medical Assisting certification program is versatile

You can follow many career paths after attending medical assisting programs:

• Medical assistants are urgently needed in all 50 states; you’ll likely be able to work anywhere. Additionally, medical assistants have a wide variety of choices in the workplace. You could work for a small community care clinic or for a world-famous medical research center.

• By helping the attending physician complete job duties, and providing personalized attention to patients, you will be making a difference with your medical assisting career, you will be helping people.

• With a medical assisting certification, you’ll have the knowledge and discipline to get more credentials in a related health care field.

• You will be embarking upon a secure and challenging career path — medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing and most secure career areas in the nation.

What will I learn when enrolled in a Medical Assisting Program?

The short answer: a lot! With numerous classes targeted to the medical assisting career, you’ll learn the following skills, and more:

• Physician assisting skills and duties

• Medical assistant specific administrative and clerical tasks, such as insurance billing and maintenance of medical records

• Phlebotomy practices and techniques

• Common on-the-job laboratory processes

• A professional vocabulary of medical terminology

• Human anatomy and physiology

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) techniques and skills

• Pharmacology and drug dosing

• Career search coaching

• Industry standard computer software that will make you a more attractive job candidate

• The professional demeanor required for a medical assistant career

Most importantly, you will combine the knowledge from your medical assisting classes with a four-week, real-world externship at a doctor’s office or clinic. When hiring candidates for medical assistant positions potential employers value education, but they also value hands-on, practical experience. With on-site clinical experience and a comprehensive education, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding medical assistant career.

Medical Assistant Career’s Are What They Want

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:32:52 +0000

More and more people are interested in certified medical assistant training that can provide them the healthcare career they want. A certified medical assistant is a respected member of the community and is the perfect job if you want to help people. A medical assistant has the advantage of returning from work with a smile even after a busy and tiring day. After you complete a certified medical assistant training you will be able to give your help to others which the most significant aspect. If you apply for a certified medical assistant training you can be assured that your career will only have more opportunities to improve. If you are a certified medical assistant you have more chances than otherwise to be selected by medical offices or hospitals. All the health care establishments want for the most qualified individuals to work for them so it is essential for your career to complete a certified medical assistant training. Certification is usually voluntary but you have to know that your career has only to gain if you are a certified medical assistant. You will be preferred by anyone if you would have passed the certification exam. If you completed a certified medical assistant training you demonstrate that you have the knowledge and the experience needed to succeed in this occupation.

If you finish with a certified medical assistant training you will be seen as professional because you made a bigger effort than others to improve your education. Many people have the opinion that being medical assistant is a very easy task. That is false because administrating the front office is by far not the only thing that a certified medical assistant does.

You conclude with success a certified medical assistant training to gain skills in administrative procedures but also in the clinical aspect. A certified medical assistant is capable to solve a diverse range of tasks. The clinical duties of a certified medical assistant are various: he takes medical histories and gets the patient ready for the consult. After you accomplish a certified medical assistant training you will be also able to assist the physician during the consult of the patient and to explain the medical procedures. As a certified medical assistant there will be no problem for you to administer drugs or perform lab tests. The certified medical assistant training should provide you diverse and quality information that connects with the healthcare area.

If you become a certified medical assistant you will often work with doctors and you have to be capable to manage with different tasks. One moment you could remove some stitches and the next moment you could draw blood or take an EKG. It is very important once you made the choice to be a certified medical assistant to have patience and always be very careful with your duties. And this is exactly what a certified medical assistant training should prepare you for.