The healthcare field offers one of the leading areas of opportunities for career growth today. Within healthcare, medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates 14% growth and 114,600 new job opportunities between now and 2032. According to the BLS, medical assistants earn an average annual salary of $38,270 (as of May 2022). Indeed.com reports that the average wage for a certified medical assistant in the U.S. is $45,061 per year as of December 17, 2023.

WHAT DOES A CERTIFIED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CCMA) JOB INVOLVE?
Medical assistants are critical members of healthcare teams in a variety of medical settings. As a CCMA, you are often the first and last person a patient interacts with, making a lasting impact on the patient's experience. CCMAs are flexible, performing a variety of tasks such as:

• Taking patient vital signs
• Assisting providers with exams and procedures
• Administering injections or medications
• Performing EKG, phlebotomy, and other essential laboratory procedures
• Checking patients in and out upon arrival and departure
• Answering phone calls and questions
• Updating and maintaining electronic health records (EHR)

ARE CCMAs THE SAME AS CNAs?
While CCMAs may serve in a variety of roles in the healthcare setting, including office processes, clinical procedures and patient management, certified nurse assistants (CNAs) work full-time with patients and may help with basic care activities such as dressing, bathing, and moving patients while they are under medical care.

DO CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANTS NEED CERTIFICATION?
The healthcare environment operates based on professionalism, precision, and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. The NHA estimates 89% of employers require or encourage certification. Earning a certification such as the CCMA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.

IN WHAT FACILITIES DO CCMAs WORK?
Certified clinical medical assistants commonly work in hospitals, physicians' offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities, according to the BLS.

• Learn the necessary skills to function as a vital member of the healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
• Understand ethical behavior, therapeutic communication, protecting the privacy of patient information
• Demonstrate the importance of a first impression, maintaining a safe office environment
• Identify medical terminology, and clinical procedures
• Summarize the importance of the revenue cycle, the role of a practice manager, and the undertaking of risk management strategies to achieve medical practice efficiency
• Identify the professional traits that a medical assistant must possess
• Learn the various administrative and clinical job duties of a medical assistant
• Summarize the techniques and best practices for obtaining a medical assisting position
• Prepare to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam through the NHA

There are no prerequisites to take the course. 

Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she re-cruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

Carline Dalgleish
Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Ap-proved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Sharon L. Blackford
Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a master's degree in organizational management, a bachelor's degree in business management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active-duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff Col-lege and was promoted to Campus Director.

Stacey O'Brien
Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare Advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.
 

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