ALBANY, GA – Albany Technical College will have a special refresh presentation highlighting the Medical Assisting Program Wednesday, February 24, at 10:00 AM in the Nathanial Cross Health Technology Building (HCT), room 128. This event will be live on Facebook. A small group of College leadership and faculty and students or graduates will be on hand to comment and discuss the Program.
Several factors are creating a brighter outlook for the Medical Assistant job outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected employment growth from 2019 to 2029 is expected to be 19%, much higher than the average for all occupations in the United States. Baby Boomers will be affecting this twofold. There are currently millions of boomers employed in the medical industry, and their retirement will mean fewer healthcare workers. As these boomers get older, they will require more medical care. The average life span is 75 years now and will continue to increase with better technology and medical advancements. With these longer lifespans comes the need for improved and affordable managed healthcare.
Latonya Harris, Program Director, Medical Assisting Chairperson/ Instructor at Albany Technical College, stated, “I like to look at the Medical Assisting Program as a gateway career because it provides the foundation for a lot of the medical programs that we offer. This Program has a clinical and an administrative portion. In the clinical portion, the students learn to draw blood, and they learn to give injections, learn to perform a urinalysis, assist patients, and check vital signs. In the administrative portion, they learn to communicate with the insurance companies, help the patient to fill out insurance papers, schedule appointments and things of that nature.”
The Medical Assisting Program currently offers a degree in applied sciences and also a diploma. Graduates that finish the Program are allowed to sit for the certification exam. Graduates even can sit for the Phlebotomy certification as a part of completing the Medical Assisting Program. The Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Harris goes on to say, “We do have an externship. The final semester, the students get to go out to various clinics here in Albany, and they can perform the skills they have learned here in labs. The students do not get paid, but they receive a grade. Depending on how well the students do at their clinical setting, most of the time, they are offered a position before they graduate.”
“There will be swift job growth across the healthcare industry in the near future. With the right training and certifications, this means that a medical assistant can grow a career and earn a good living because of their valuable experience in the healthcare industry over time,” said Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Technical College.
Qualified graduates are eligible for positions such as medical assistants, certified medical assistants, and phlebotomy technicians. The Program is ideal for students interested in working in the medical field but undecided on which area or capacity to choose. This Program offers basic training that can lead to expanded education opportunities such as nursing, surgical, radiology, and pharmacy.
Students who choose to continue their education may earn a bachelor’s degree. Albany Technical College currently has credit transfer agreements with many four-year schools.
Photos attached: Latonya Harris, Program Director, Medical Assisting Chairperson/ Instructor at Albany Technical College (ATC), teaches students in her lab on the campus of ATC.