Contributed
A stay-at-home mom, military wife and cosmetologist are the backgrounds among current Medical Assisting program students at Sandhills Community College. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average for other occupations. Offered through Continuing Education, the Medical Assisting program at Sandhills will begin on Aug. 16.
This 11-month, three-part program is designed to prepare students to work under the direction of a physician to perform administrative and clinical/practicum duties. Current students described the program as “the perfect intensive eleven-month program for immediate employment in the medical field.” This program will give you clinical knowledge in taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and more.
Additionally, this program will teach administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Current students found interest in specific areas and will be looking to work in a gynecologist or pediatrics office, and others are planning to work on the administrative side.
Upon completing the Medical Assisting program, students can expect to practice their profession in medical offices, clinics, health maintenance organizations, health departments and hospitals. This program will teach students professional skills they can apply regionally and nationally.
The first part of this program will be held Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning on Aug. 16. The program cost is $187.50 plus the cost of text.
This program is accredited by Commissions on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board, graduates of CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.
For more information on the medical assisting program, visit www.sandhills.edu/ma-program or contact Lori Forrester at 910-695-3913 forresterl@sandhills.edu.
