What is a Vocational Program?

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Today’s students are looking for alternatives to the traditional college experience. As an investment, four-year degree programs don’t always hit the mark. Training is an investment, so it should teach relevant skills that meet your career goals.

What Is a Vocational Program?

Vocational programs are practical, job-focused training courses offered by career, trade, technical and vocational schools. Tracing back to Colonial America where young adults developed occupational skills through apprenticeships, they’re nothing new.

The first modern-day vocational school that combines classroom learning with hands-on experience was established in the 19th century. Since then, the concept has been refined to apply to a wide range of training options with an emphasis on meeting labor market demands. Vocational schools train people for jobs that are available now.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School?

Vocational schools offer personal and practical benefits for diploma and degree students, such as:

Accessibility

The college application process is complex and often cumbersome, beginning a year or more before enrollment. Applications are lengthy, students are asked to fill out forms, write essays, take standardized tests, provide transcripts, and submit letters of recommendation. It’s overwhelming, and most institutions receive more applications than they have openings. So, even well-qualified candidates are left behind despite having met the requirements.

Vocational schools recognize that all students deserve a quality education without the hassle. Admissions are less competitive for most programs, and the entire process is streamlined. Students benefit from fewer deadlines, less paperwork and an enrollment schedule that accommodates last-minute applicants.

Career-Focused Training

Career-focused training programs eliminate most of the enrichment courses required by traditional colleges. You won’t waste time taking classes that don’t teach job-relevant skills. Students in diploma programs can graduate in a fraction of the time it takes to get a degree. You’ll be work-ready in 1-2 years or less.

A Competitive Advantage in the Workforce

In a perfect world, people could get on-the-job training without sitting in a classroom. But it’s expensive and risky for employers who prefer well-trained applicants with proven skills. The learning curve is too steep to get most jobs without an education or experience. A certificate, diploma or degree from a vocational school is the competitive advantage you need to land your dream job, especially when you’re competing with experienced candidates.

Certification and Licensing Preparation

Professional certifications and licenses demonstrate competency. There’s no better way to show prospective employers that you’re a good investment.

For some jobs, such as nursing, a license is required. Other fields rely heavily on certifications. Vocational school programs prepare students for licensing and certification exams by incorporating the test material into courses.

Small Class Sizes

The hustle and bustle of college isn’t for everyone. Some students prefer a personalized learning environment where they can feel more connected to their peers.

Because hands-on training requires more individual supervision, vocational classes are smaller. Instructors have more time to spend with each student, and students have more opportunities to engage with classmates.

Career Services

Vocational schools do more than train you for a career, they help you find a job. By partnering with local businesses, they have an inside track to positions that may not be publicly posted. Career advisers work with both students and employers to find matches. The best vocational schools offer lifetime support.

What Are Some Examples of Vocational Programs?

Vocational programs include job-specific training in occupations, such as computer operations, administrative assistant, cosmetology and more. But many of the most meaningful are in the medical field. The healthcare system is expanding, and with it comes a rare opportunity, vocational schools are seizing the day by preparing the next generation of healthcare workers.

Programs include:

Medical Assisting

Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare offices, working with medical professionals and administrators to deliver top-quality care. Job responsibilities include scheduling appointments, managing medical records, rooming patients, billing, and coding, and performing diagnostic tests.

Medical Assisting programs offer a broad curriculum designed for beginners. You’ll learn about:

Anatomy and physiology — how the body is made and how it functions at the cellular and systemic levels.

Pharmacology — the study of medications and how they’re used to prevent or treat medical conditions

Clinical procedures — instructors walk you through how to take vital signs, give shots, and perform diagnostic tests.

Phlebotomy — you’ll learn how to draw blood and process samples.

Laboratory procedures — topics include how to collect biological samples and use laboratory equipment, including microscopes, centrifuges, and autoclaves

Infection control — how microorganisms cause disease and what you can do to protect yourself and patients.

Billing and coding — the use of medical codes for reimbursement purposes

Medical law and ethics — a review of the regulatory and ethical concerns common in healthcare offices

Office procedures — faxing, filing, electronic communication, and recordkeeping systems

Students are prepared for nationally recognized certifications and entry-level positions in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and other medical facilities.

Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing and coding specialists handle health insurance claims and billing duties in medical offices. Responsibilities include submitting insurance claims, tracking payments, creating invoices, and light accounting. You’ll work with administrators and peers to keep accounts in order. This program teaches:

Medical terminology — the language of medicine, including acronyms and abbreviations

Anatomy and physiology — topics are related to medical billing and include common conditions, related diagnostic tests and treatments.

The principles of health insurance — the inner workings of public, private and group health coverage systems

EHR — how to research electronic health records for medical data

Billing and coding — billing practices and the coding systems used to categorize conditions and medical services

Medical law and ethics — billing restrictions and patient privacy regulations

Graduates are prepared to work for healthcare facilities, private practices, insurers, and billing services.

Medical Office Administration

Medical office administrators handle the front-office work in healthcare facilities. They work with patients, clinicians, and administrators to direct workflow. Duties include taking phone calls, managing the schedule, checking in patients, and collecting payments.

The curriculum covers:

Medical terminology — you’ll be familiarized with the terms you’ll hear from clinicians and callers

Scheduling — how to use software to keep track of employee schedules, identify scheduling conflicts, and improve efficiency.

The check-in process — you’ll learn to collect, enter, and correct personal and insurance data

Communication —topics include electronic communication equipment, cultural competency, conflict resolution, and professionalism.

Billing and coding — the role of medical office administrators in the billing process

Regulatory compliance — how to follow rules, regulations, and best practices in medical settings

Nursing

Vocational schools may offer more than one type of nursing program. Those that are designated as colleges may offer nursing diplomas or degrees. All programs share common elements.

Student nurses learn about:

Anatomy and physiology — this is an introductory course, but the instruction is more in-depth than it is for medical assistants or medical office administrators. Students take a deeper dive into biochemistry and genetics.

Pathophysiology — how doctors identify the causes and effects of illness and disease

Pharmacology — medication administration is a large part of a nurse’s job. This course covers drug classifications, administration methods, side effects, and safety protocols.

Nursing fundamentals —include the many processes and procedures nurses participate in based on their level of education. In this course, students learn to assist patients with hygiene and mobility, manage medical equipment and perform procedures, including wound care and catheterization.

Medical law and ethics — students explore the many legal and ethical questions surrounding clinical practice from patient privacy to end-of-life care.

Massage Therapy

Not all healthcare workers wear scrubs. If you have a passion for wellness and an interest in complementary medicine, massage therapy may be the field for you. Massage Therapy programs cover the theoretical knowledge and hands-on techniques necessary to perform different types of bodywork. The curriculum covers:

Anatomy and physiology — students learn about the effects of massage on different body parts.

Infection control and safety — you’ll learn to create a safe working environment through proper hygiene, sanitation, and safety protocols.

Pathophysiology — you’ll study the common disorders and injuries for which clients are often referred. You’ll learn to recognize contraindications and safety issues.

Massage techniques — how to perform the most popular types of massage including Swedish, deep tissue and sports massage.

Business and communication skills — you’ll learn about the business aspects of running a massage therapy practice such as marketing, client retention, recordkeeping, and financial management.

After graduation, you can practice independently or partner with a healthcare provider.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready for a new career without the wait and pressure associated with going to a 4-year college, take a closer look at what vocational schools can offer, comprehensive training, lifestyle-friendly programs and a better future.

Want to Learn More?

Are you ready to start a new vocational career in business, legal studies or healthcare at Gwinnett College? Because you are making the commitment to seek career-focused technical training and vocational education, we commit ourselves to providing you with exceptional customer service each step of the way.  

Contact Gwinnett Colleges & Institute today to learn more about attending a vocational school.

What Can I Learn at a Healthcare College?

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Vocational colleges offer a broad range of healthcare training options for students with different aptitudes and aspirations. The goal is to prepare the next generation of healthcare workers for today’s most relevant careers. Healthcare programs are particularly popular because jobs in the medical field are plentiful. To meet the growing demand for qualified applicants, some vocational institutions teach students about medical assisting, nursing, medical billing and coding. Regardless of your interests, there’s a program for you.

Why Do People Enter the Healthcare Field?

People choose careers in healthcare for both personal and practical reasons, such as:

Making a Difference

Many students are drawn to the healthcare field because of a genuine desire to serve others. They want to alleviate suffering and promote wellness in their communities. Some were inspired by personal experiences and want to give others the same quality care they once received. While people can have an impact on the world in any industry, it’s easier in the medical field because it touches everyone’s lives.

A Passion for Science and Medicine

Students with a passion for biology, chemistry, anatomy, and similar sciences are drawn to the healthcare sector because it plays to their strengths and interests. Even non-clinical roles have a scientific aspect that appeals to the amateur researcher. If the human body fascinates you, and you’re motivated to contribute to the healthcare community as a clinical or an administrative specialist, a career in the medical field may be just what the doctor ordered.

Career Stability

The demand for healthcare services continues to expand as the population ages and grows. Jobs in the healthcare field are secure, so the training you invest in won’t be obsolete. Unlike some careers that are disappearing in favor of technology, careers in medicine will remain uniquely human.

Intellectual Challenges

Too many workers feel underutilized in their roles. But healthcare professions are challenging, requiring critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. If you like to lead, there’s no shortage of opportunities in the medical field. There’s always something new and exciting to do.

Advancement Potential

The healthcare field offers countless opportunities for professional growth. If you’re willing to learn and specialize, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. As a healthcare professional, you can pursue different career paths from a single starting point by developing your skills. Employers and professional organizations make it easy with continuing education opportunities.

How Do I Become a Practical Nurse or a Medical Assistant?

Medical assisting and practical nursing are two similar careers with different pathways. But both begin with graduating from a healthcare college’s training program. Full-time students graduate in a year or less, prepared for licensing or certification. There’s no better value in education today.

What Can I Learn at a Healthcare College?

Many healthcare colleges offer three diploma and degree programs, medical billing and coding, medical assisting, and practical nursing. Which you choose should reflect your career goals.

Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing and coding specialists manage health insurance claims and light accounting duties in healthcare facilities. It’s a rewarding career for someone who loves medicine but doesn’t want to be a hands-on healthcare provider.

Specialists work with administrators and healthcare professionals to handle facility finances so clinicians can focus on healing. The work involves filing insurance claims, tracking reimbursement, invoicing, and collections. Although it’s a non-clinical role, medical billing and coding require clinical training because they have a strong research component.

Medical billing and coding programs cover:

Medical terminology — you’ll learn to make sense of complex terms by breaking them down into parts.

Anatomy and physiology — geared for the non-clinician, this course helps you interpret medical reports by familiarizing you with basic body structure and function.

Health insurance models — topics include the healthcare revenue cycle, public and private insurance plans, and reimbursement strategies.

Medical coding — you’ll learn to use ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS systems to code medical data for billing purposes.

Health information technology — how to access, store, share and secure electronic health data for billing and referral purposes.

Medical billing procedures — how to prepare claims, troubleshoot denials and handle appeals within a regulatory framework.

Healthcare law and ethics — students discuss the ethical considerations and professional standards relevant to medical billing and coding from patient confidentiality rules to communication skills.

Medical Assisting

Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare settings. Part of the healthcare team, they partner with administrators and medical professionals to deliver quality care.

The role is largely clinical but with significant clerical and billing components. Duties include managing the schedule, taking vital signs, performing diagnostic tests, infection control, and phlebotomy. As a student, you’ll learn about:

Anatomy and physiology — how the body is made and how it works at the cellular, organ and systemic levels. A more in-depth course than what medical billing students take, it dives deeper into each topic, giving medical assistants a scientific foundation upon which to base their practice.

Pharmacology — medical assistants administer many medications in outpatient environments. This course covers the most common drugs and how they’re used to treat diseases. Topics include medication classifications, therapeutic benefits, side effects, and safety issues.

Infection control — students learn how microorganisms cause disease and how to control their spread in healthcare settings.

Clinical procedures — in this hands-on class, instructors teach you how to obtain vital signs, perform diagnostic tests, and administer injections using the same equipment found in medical offices.

Laboratory procedures — you’ll learn to collect biological samples, process specimens, and use laboratory equipment, from microscopes to centrifuges, with an emphasis on safety.

Phlebotomy — students learn how to draw blood samples step-by-step, from equipment selection to patient assessment.

Billing and coding — a less comprehensive course than what medical billing specialists receive, this helps medical assistants fulfill their role in the billing cycle by coding services as they’re provided.

Office procedures — medical assistants coordinate with the front office team to handle tasks that require both clinical and administrative know-how, so you’ll learn to manage electronic communication, recordkeeping systems and other administrative duties.

Medical law and ethics — the healthcare industry is held to the highest regulatory and ethical standards. This course covers professionalism, cultural competency and ethics plus health information, patient privacy, and billing regulations.

Graduates of medical assisting programs are work-ready but encouraged to apply for certification. While a certificate isn’t required to work as a medical assistant, it makes you a more valuable job applicant and sets the stage for career growth by demonstrating proven skills.

As a career, it’s a good fit for students who enjoy engaging with patients without a nurse’s schedule or responsibilities. And through specialization, you can chart your own course through continuing education in specific areas of medicine, including cardiology, gerontology, and mental health.

Practical Nursing

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is an entry-level nursing professional. They share many of the same responsibilities as registered nurses, but their duties are more practical, consisting of bedside care supervised by an RN or a physician.

The work includes assisting with activities of daily living, administering medications, performing treatments, and protecting patient safety. The practical nursing curriculum covers:

Anatomy and physiology — nurses need a broader foundation in anatomy and physiology than medical assistants, so this is a comprehensive course that touches on biochemistry, genetics and physiatry, the study of disease and injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Pathophysiology — nurses are integral to a patient’s recovery, so understanding the cause and effects of disease, pathophysiology, is critical. Topics include the risk factors and manifestations of disease, including genetic, social, and cultural influences.

Human growth and development — nurses care for individuals from birth through end-of-life. This course explores nursing interventions based on age and developmental milestones.

Pharmacology — medication administration is among a nurse’s foremost responsibilities. But unlike medical assistants, an LPN works with patients who are acutely ill, so more training is needed. Nursing courses cover the basics, plus medication interactions, administration techniques, and safety considerations.

Nursing fundamentals — in this course, students practice the fundamentals of nursing care, from assisting patients with hygiene and mobility to performing catheterizations.

Additional topics include wound care, tube feedings, IV maintenance, feeding techniques, assistive devices, mobility aids, therapeutic exercises and how to manage medical equipment such as oxygen tanks, nebulizers, and ventilators. Classroom instruction is reinforced during clinical rotations in which you’ll spend time caring for real patients in healthcare settings.

Medical law and ethics — nurses grapple with the same regulatory issues as medical assistants and billing specialists. But as patient advocates, they encounter more ethical issues. Expect lively classroom discussions as students examine challenging issues, from patient autonomy to end-of-life care.

Upon graduation, students are ready to sit for their state’s licensing exam, you can’t practice without a passing grade. But don’t be intimidated because vocational colleges support you.

As with medical assistants, the job market for practical nurses is bright with openings in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, private homes, and hospices.

Final Thoughts

Careers in the healthcare field are as diverse as the people who fill them. Whether you’re a people-person who loves science and medicine or a dedicated number cruncher with a knack for finance, there’s a healthcare program for you.

Healthcare Programs

Ready to start a new career as a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers a Medical Assistant Program, LPN Program, and Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Program to gain essential skills and training in the healthcare field.

Contact Gwinnett Colleges & Institute today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant, LPN or medical billing and coding specialist.

 

How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Georgia?

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Successful career transitions begin with quality training. For medical assistants in Georgia, that means getting a diploma or an associate degree. Your choice should reflect your career goals and how much time you can dedicate to school. How long it takes to become a medical assistant is up to you, but both pathways have advantages depending on your circumstances.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants manage a broad range of clinical and administrative responsibilities in healthcare settings, hospitals, clinics, private practices, and long-term care facilities. Unlike medical office specialists who have non-clinical roles, medical assistants are part of both the front and back-office teams, supporting patients, peers, administrators, and clinicians.

Job descriptions vary, but the work typically includes:

Phone Triaging Care Requests

Medical assistants assess and prioritize care requests based on the urgency of the patient’s condition. Using standardized protocols, they inquire about:

  • Symptoms — duration, character, and severity
  • Medical history
  • Self-care measures and other relevant details

The goal of phone triage is to accurately identify the urgency of the situation and direct the patient to the most appropriate healthcare physician or resource for further evaluation and treatment. It’s the foundation of timely, high-quality care.

Preparing Exam Rooms

Medical assistants prepare exam rooms for patients and physicians by:

  • Stocking the necessary medical supplies including bandages, cotton balls, tape, and scissors to name a few
  • Sanitizing shared surfaces to prevent the spread of illness
  • Providing comfortable seating for patients and guests
  • Ensuring that emergency equipment is in proper working order
  • Protecting patient privacy

Updating Health Records

Accurate records of the foundation of quality care. Medical assistants update patients’ health records at each visit, noting changes in:

  • Demographics including contact information
  • Diagnoses
  • Surgical history
  • Current medications and allergies
  • Family health history
  • Social history, including occupation and lifestyle habits
  • Current complaints

Timely updates ensure that doctors have the most up-to-date information with which to make clinical decisions.

Conducting Heath Screenings

Health screenings help physicians identify health risks. As part of a routine or sports physical, medical assistants may perform basic assessments of:

  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Mental health
  • Cognitive function
  • Home safety needs

Taking Vital Signs

Vital signs are measurements of the body’s most basic physiological functions. Before each visit, medical assistants obtain the patient’s:

  • Temperature
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Respiratory rate
  • Oxygen saturation level

Abnormal readings can point to acute illness or chronic disease.

Measuring Height and Weight

Changes in a patient’s height and weight can mean trouble. Height and weight measurements help doctors to:

  • Diagnose medical conditions, such hypothyroidism and diabetes
  • Identify developmental delays in pediatric patients
  • Spot risk factors for chronic diseases, such as heart failure and osteoporosis
  • Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) — a ratio used to calculate many prescription drug dosages

Performing Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests

Medical assistants perform a variety of lab and diagnostic tests, such as:

  • EKGs — tracings of the electrical activity in the heart
  • Urinalysis — a chemical and microscopic examination of urine sediment
  • Audiometry — hearing acuity testing
  • Blood glucose screening — an essential test for diabetes
  • Urine pregnancy screens

Patients save a trip to the hospital and doctors get the answers they need faster.

Phlebotomy

Blood tests help physicians identify diseases, monitor therapeutic drug levels, and assess the success or failure of treatments. Medical assistants can draw blood in office settings, managing the entire process including:

  • Equipment selection, from needles and blood collection tubes to tourniquets and bandages
  • Patient positioning for comfort and safety
  • Performing the venipuncture
  • Processing samples for testing and shipping
  • Patient education

Phlebotomy is among a medical assistant’s most valuable skills.

Assisting with Surgical Procedures

Doctors need hands-on assistance when performing minor surgical procedures. Medical assistants help by:

  • Preparing equipment
  • Passing instruments — handing tools to the surgeon as needed
  • Positioning patients
  • Providing emotional support
  • Bandaging incisions
  • Breaking down and disinfecting the surgical suite
  • Sterilizing instruments
  • Aftercare, including suture or staple removal

Managing Referrals

Some patients are referred to specialists, necessitating the exchange of medical information. Medical assistants streamline the process on the patient’s behalf by:

  • Obtaining prior approval from insurers
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Forwarding the necessary personal and health data, including doctor’s note, diagnostic test results and surgical reports

Billing and Coding

Medical billing specialists manage most financial responsibilities in healthcare offices, but medical assistants may participate in many ways, such as:

  • Coding superbills
  • Completing insurance forms
  • Filing claims
  • Collecting co-payments
  • Light bookkeeping

Regulatory Compliance

Healthcare offices are regulated by local, state, and federal authorities. Medical assistants collaborate with the clinical and administrative teams to ensure compliance with:

  • Patient privacy rules
  • Billing restrictions
  • Workplace safety laws
  • Environmental regulations

Inventory Management

No one knows more about the clinical supplies’ healthcare offices need than medical assistants. Inventory management duties include:

  • Monitoring supply levels
  • Discarding expired items
  • Tracking the supplies, they use
  • Reordering items when necessary

Communication

Medical assistants are physician liaisons, managing communication on the clinical team’s behalf by:

  • Returning patient phone calls
  • Reaching out with lab results
  • Offering appointment reminders
  • Reviewing instructions for diagnostic tests and procedures
  • Coordinating referrals
  • Writing correspondence

How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Georgia?

Georgia students have two ways to become medical assistants. The first is to get an associate degree. This is a comprehensive, two-year program that includes general education courses designed to enrich students and broaden their horizons.

The second is a diploma program that takes less than a year to complete. Graduates qualify for the same certification and many of the same jobs, but some employers prefer applicants with an associate degree. You may be eligible for jobs with greater responsibility if you have a degree or relevant experience.

For students, it’s a balancing act. Should you sacrifice a year in the workforce for more education or choose the shorter path to a new career with fewer employment options? If you have responsibilities at home and can’t afford to pursue a degree right now, start with a diploma and build on your education later. If you have the flexibility to spend two years in school, getting a degree expands your opportunities.

What Do You Learn in a Medical Assistant Program?

Medical assistant programs cover everything you need to know for an entry-level job in the field. The degree program curriculum is more in-depth, but diploma programs teach the same practical skills. You’ll learn how to perform these fundamental tasks including:

Preparation of Exam Rooms

Medical assistant programs cover the basics of patient hospitality, infection control, and safety. You’ll learn about healthcare equipment, supplies, sanitation, and inventory management. Graduates are prepared to manage the workflow in and out of exam rooms.

Measuring Vital Signs

Instructors in medical assistant programs work side-by-side with students, teaching them to measure vital signs using the latest equipment. The emphasis is on accuracy and reporting. You’ll practice with peers and patient volunteers during clinical externships, supervised work experiences in real-world settings.

Updating Medical Records

Today’s medical records are more than paper charts. Stored electronically in a digital format, they can be shared across different healthcare settings through network-connected information systems.

Medical assistant programs cover electronic health records (EHR), electronic medical records (EMR) and paper recordkeeping systems. You’ll learn to access, update, store, and share data securely. Concepts include how to take medical histories, reconcile medication lists, and verify insurance coverage.

Preparing Patients for Exams

Medical assistants play a key role in office resource management. By preparing patients for exams, they save the doctor’s time. You’ll learn to build rapport through education and hospitality while improving the quality and efficiency of exams through planning.

Performing Diagnostic Tests

Medical assistant programs cover the theory and practical skills required to perform diagnostic tests. Degree students get a more comprehensive view of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pharmacology. Diploma programs are more job-focused, addressing these topics as part of your hands-on education. All students will learn to do ECGs and other testing with advanced diagnostic equipment, from ECG machines to microscopes.

Drawing Blood

Phlebotomy is part of both degree and diploma programs. Students learn to draw blood in office settings. You’ll practice on simulators and volunteers, studying the science and techniques integral to phlebotomy, including the purpose of blood tests, equipment selection, and patient preparation.

Communicating with Patients, Peers, and Professionals

Communication is the cornerstone of therapeutic and workplace relationships. Students are taught techniques that cultivate their interpersonal skills. Topics include active listening, communication barriers, and cultural competency. Graduates are well prepared to engage with patients, collaborate with peers, and team up with professionals.

Students also develop better communication and other soft skills simply by being students in degree or diploma programs. The small class sizes offered by technical schools are ideal for adult learners. A relaxed atmosphere is conducive to creativity and making friends, you’ll learn about teamwork through projects and other classroom activities.

Connecting with fellow students and instructors reinforces therapeutic communication techniques. The connections you make may last a lifetime. Whether you leave campus with a degree or a diploma, you’ll be a good medical assistant, a better communicator, and a more well-rounded person.

Final Thoughts

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16 percent growth of demand for medical assistants through 2031, it’s a secure and rewarding career choice. But how you become a medical assistant is less important than getting the education that supports your personal and professional aspirations. Gwinnett College in Georgia offers convenient, comprehensive, and lifestyle-friendly options.

Medical Assistant Program

Ready to start a new career as a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact Gwinnett Colleges & Institute today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant.

What Education Do You Need to Become a Medical Assistant?

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Most jobs in the medical field take years to train for. It is time that some people just don’t have. But what if there was a secure and meaningful healthcare career you could start in months? Would you be interested? If you’re ready to join a vibrant and growing industry in an essential role, why not turn your passion for health into a rewarding future as a medical assistant?

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants play a critical role in healthcare settings, performing both clinical and administrative tasks to support patients, healthcare providers, and administrators. They serve as a vital link between patients and their doctors, helping to ensure that patients get the care they need in a timely and effective way.

Job descriptions vary based on employment settings, but responsibilities typically include:

Scheduling

Medical assistants collaborate with the front and back-office teams to manage provider schedules. You’ll keep things running smoothly by:

  • Making appointments for routine office visits, diagnostic tests, and procedures
  • Adjusting appointment times, handling last-minute cancellations and no-shows
  • Triaging phone requests
  • Confirming appointments and reviewing any required pre-appointment preparation
  • Preregistering patients over the phone to save time at check-in

Rooming Patients

“Rooming” is the process of preparing patients for examinations. The goal is to save the provider time by performing essential clinical and recordkeeping tasks, such as:

  • Reviewing patients’ medical histories, including primary complaints and any changes in allergies, medications, or health status
  • Conducting health screenings, including vision and hearing tests, and mental health questionnaires
  • Helping patients change into a gown for physical exams
  • Taking vital signs; blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation level
  • Measuring patients’ weight and height to determine their Body Mass Index (BMI), a metric doctors use to diagnose illness, assess risk for chronic diseases, and calculate high-risk medication dosages
  • Collecting urine or stool specimens for testing following rigorous laboratory guidelines

Administering Medications

Medical assistants can administer most types of medications under a licensed healthcare provider’s supervision. The task includes:

  • Educating patients about their medications, including their purposes, potential side effects, interactions, and contraindications
  • Describing the administration process
  • Obtaining informed consent for treatment
  • Applying topical treatments, including ointments and patches
  • Giving injections, such as childhood immunizations, seasonal vaccines, and allergy shots

Drawing Blood

Drawing blood, or phlebotomy, is a routine procedure in many healthcare offices. As a medical assistant, you will:

  • Draw blood samples for diagnostic testing
  • Process specimens per laboratory guidelines
  • Perform in-house testing or prepare samples for shipment
  • Manage phlebotomy supplies and workstation sanitation
  • Counsel patients on home care for adverse effects, such as bruising and discomfort

Performing Diagnostic Tests

Medical assistants do a variety of diagnostic tests in office settings. It’s a convenience for patients and an important source of revenue for private practices.

You may perform:

  • ECGs, tracings of electrical activity in the heart
  • Urinalysis, a chemical and microscopic examination of urine
  • Blood glucose screening
  • Occult blood stool testing
  • Urine pregnancy tests
  • Strep screens
  • Fetal heartbeat monitoring
  • Tuberculosis testing

Assisting with Treatments and Procedures

Doctors rely on medical assistants for help with treatments and minor surgeries. It’s a hands-on role that includes:

  • Preparing instrument trays
  • Setting up emergency equipment
  • Positioning and draping the patient
  • Passing instruments during procedures
  • Monitoring the patient’s comfort, safety, and privacy
  • Offering physical and emotional support
  • Aftercare, including specimen collection, bandage changes, and suture removal

Infection Control

Medical offices are reservoirs for dangerous pathogens. Medical assistants safeguard patient health by:

  • Screening patients for symptoms of contagious disease
  • Sanitizing shared equipment and hard surfaces between visits
  • Sterilizing surgical instruments

Coordinating Referrals

Many patients are referred to a specialist by their primary healthcare provider. You’ll assist in the process by:

  • Obtaining insurance preauthorization on the patient’s behalf
  • Scheduling the appointment
  • Facilitating the flow of health and financial information between providers

Managing Inventory

Medical assistants manage inventory, ensuring that medical and clinical supplies are readily available. Responsibilities include:

  • Stocking shelves
  • Performing manual inventories
  • Tracking supplies with inventory software
  • Disposing of expired or recalled products
  • Placing orders

Billing and Coding

How involved medical assistants are in billing and coding depends on where they work. Some coding is integral to clinical duties while other billing issues are handled mostly by the back office. In general, you’ll participate by:

  • Verifying the patient’s demographic data and insurance coverage
  • Coding superbills – documents used to track the services rendered and supplies used during examinations and treatments
  • Collecting coinsurance payments
  • Filling out insurance claim forms
  • Requesting service pre-authorizations

Communication

Medical assistants serve as liaisons between patients, peers, and providers, coordinating communication within the office. Duties include:

  • Writing correspondence
  • Calling patients with lab results
  • Relaying messages between providers and colleagues
  • Phoning in prescriptions
  • Clinical documentation

What Education Do You Need to Become a Medical Assistant?

While some medical assistants hold associate degrees, vocational school training is the norm. Comprehensive yet career-focused, diploma programs are the preferred option for most students.

Students benefit from perks that only vocational schools offer from an intimate learning setting to career services that support graduates in the job hunt. There’s no better value in education.

What Do You Learn During a Diploma Program?

Medical assisting programs teach the front and back-office skills you need to be a team player in any medical office. The curriculum covers:

Medical Terminology

A grasp of basic medical terminology helps medical assistants communicate with patients, insurers, and medical professionals. Topics include:

  • Acronyms, abbreviations, and units of measure used in medical documentation
  • How to decipher complicated medical terms by breaking them down into prefixes, suffixes, and root words
  • Common conditions, tests, and medical slang
  • How to use a medical dictionary

Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and physiology are the studies of human body structure and function. Students explore:

  • Cellular structure — how the biochemical processes in cells support life
  • Tissue — the role of connective, epithelial, muscular, and nervous tissue
  • Organ systems — the 11 body systems, including their organs and function
  • Pathology — the cause and effect of disease and injury
  • Nutrition and therapeutic diets
  • Human growth and aging, including physiological changes and development benchmarks
  • Common medical conditions, injuries and treatments encountered in medical offices

 

Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of how medications work. Concepts include:

  • Drug classifications — how medications, such as analgesics, antibiotics, anticoagulants, and bronchodilators, are categorized by use and effect
  • Side effects, interactions, and safety concerns
  • Dosage calculations — factors affecting how dosages are determined
  • Medication administration methods, including how to give subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intradermal injections
  • Managing serious adverse reactions, such as anaphylaxis
  • How to teach patients about their medications, including safety, storage, and self-administration techniques

Phlebotomy

Medical assisting students learn the art of phlebotomy, including the theory and practical skills needed to draw blood. Topics in this hands-on course cover:

  • Universal precautions — how to protect yourself, patients, and peers from bloodborne pathogens using personal protective equipment
  • Laboratory safety rules
  • Venipuncture — how to obtain blood from veins, practicing on simulators and volunteers
  • Phlebotomy equipment — the needles, collection tubes and other supplies required to draw blood
  • Sample processing — how to label, prepare, and ship specimens

Electrocardiography

Electrocardiograms are essential tests for diagnosing heart problems, including heart attacks, cardiomyopathy, and life-threatening dysrhythmias. Step-by-step, students learn to:

  • Position patients for testing
  • Place electrode pads and leads
  • Take and record tracings
  • Care for equipment, including calibration and troubleshooting
  • Identify abnormal readings

Medical Office Procedures

Medical offices are held to a higher standard than most businesses, so procedures vary significantly. Programs cover both the theory and practical skills necessary to succeed in a healthcare environment, including:

  • The healthcare revenue cycle — how medical providers are paid
  • Public and commercial insurance models
  • Medical coding systems — ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS
  • Billing — how to fill out insurance forms and submit claims
  • Basic accounting principles
  • Practice management software
  • Inventory and waste reduction strategies
  • Recordkeeping systems, including Electronic Heath Records (EHR)
  • Customer care — how to build rapport with patients
  • Setting up telehealth consultations
  • Regulatory compliance — the environmental, safety, privacy, and billing regulations integral to a medical assistant’s responsibilities

Clinical Procedures

Medical assistants participate in a broad range of clinical procedures. Programs offer a clear overview of:

  • Infection control principles, including medical and surgical asepsis
  • Sanitation, disinfection, and equipment sterilization techniques
  • Specimen collection
  • How to take vital signs
  • Intake interviews
  • Instrument selection for surgical procedures
  • Operative protocols, including instrument handling
  • Exam room equipment and supplies
  • Equipment maintenance, care, and calibration
  • Patient safety
  • Emergency response

Medical Law and Ethics

There are many legal and ethical issues to consider in healthcare facilities. Medical assisting students discuss:

  • Medical guardianship and healthcare powers-of-attorney
  • Advanced directives
  • Patient rights and responsibilities
  • Informed consent
  • Federal regulations for the security and use of health information
  • Billing restrictions and illegal practices
  • Mandatory reporting
  • Cultural competency
  • Communication and burnout issues
  • Ethical issues, such as euthanasia

Final Thoughts

Training for a healthcare career can seem like a dream to people who can’t spend years in a classroom. But not all roles require a college degree. With vocational training, you can become a medical assistant in less time than it takes for some flowers to bloom. Isn’t it time for you to blossom?

Medical Assistant Program

Ready to start a new career as a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact Gwinnett College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant.

How Do I Become a Nurse in Orlando?

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Central Florida is America’s destination for fun in the sun. However, it’s also home to world-class medical facilities and nurse education programs. Technical colleges in the Orlando area offer practical nursing diploma programs and networking opportunities with local healthcare providers. If you’re ready for a rewarding career in the nursing field, there’s no better place to live, learn and work than Orlando.

What Does an LPN Do?

Licensed practical nurses (LPN) are entry-level healthcare professionals who provide basic nursing care under the supervision of a doctor or a registered nurse. Employed by hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and home health agencies, their responsibilities include:

Personal Care

Practical nurses help patients with activities of daily living, eating, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet safely.

Patient Monitoring

LPNs observe patients for changes in condition, reporting any abnormal findings to an RN or physician for follow-up.

Medication Administration

Nurses step in when patients can’t take their medications safely, administering drugs and monitoring for side effects. In Orlando, LPNs can give all types of medications, including most IV preparations.

Pain Management

Practical nurses assess patients for pain considerations, administer medications and employ non-pharmacological interventions as needed.

Wound Care and Treatments

Practical nurses perform complex wound care and a wide range of treatments under a physician’s order, such as:

  • Vital signs
  • Urinary Catheterization
  • Specimen collection
  • Blood glucose testing
  • Tube feeding and nasogastric tube care
  • Ventilator management
  • Pacemaker checks
  • Tracheostomy care
  • Oxygen administration
  • Enemas
  • Bandage changes
  • Suture removal
  • First aid and CPR
  • Colostomy care

Emotional Support

LPNs provide emotional support to patients and their families, offering comfort, sympathy, and reassurance during tough times.

Documentation

Documentation is an important legal and professional responsibility for nurses. LPNs write notes to convey their observations about a patient’s condition, ensuring continuity of care from day to day.

Supervising Paraprofessional Staff

Practical nurses supervise paraprofessional team members, such as nursing assistants and dietary aides, keeping everyone accountable and on the same page.

Patient Education

LPNs provide health education to patients and their families, offering guidance on safety, medications, preventive care, and chronic disease management.

How Do I Become a Nurse in Orlando?

Nurses have decisions to make when it comes to education, but for practical nurses, it’s a simple choice. Technical colleges in Orlando offer diploma programs that prepare students for licensure and employment in any healthcare setting. The curriculum is as comprehensive as any other nursing program. Graduates qualify for most of the same jobs as their peers with degrees, but you’ll be out of the classroom and into the field in half the time.

What Will I Learn in an LPN diploma program?

Practical nursing programs cover these topics and more:

Vocational Role and Functions for Practical Nurses

State boards of nursing set training requirements for the nursing field, determining the scope of practice for practical, registered ,and advanced practice nurses, regulations are a little different in Orlando versus Atlanta. And while RNs and LPNs work collaboratively in most settings, their responsibilities vary based on their level of education.

RNs assume higher levels of responsibility, coordinating the care provided by LPNs and other healthcare team members. LPNs manage most bedside care, tackling less complex clinical tasks while supervising paraprofessional aides.

This course reviews the practical nurse’s vocational role and how LPNs function in different healthcare settings. Topics include nurse education and licensure, rights and responsibilities, continuing education requirements, and leadership opportunities.

Body Structure and Function

Body structure and function training explores the anatomy and physiology of the human body in ways that relate directly to an LPN’s responsibilities. Topics include anatomical structure, basic physiological processes and pathophysiology, changes in anatomy and physiology due to disease or injury. A foundational course, it examines the science behind what nurses do.

Foundations and Fundamentals of Nursing Care

The foundations and fundamentals of nursing care encompass the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and competent basic nursing care. Through a fusion of classroom work, laboratory exercise and clinical experiences, you’ll learn about:

  • Basic nursing skills, such as taking vital signs, performing physical assessments and wound care.
  • Patient safety and adaptive equipment use.
  • Communication and interpersonal skills – how to connect with patients and collaborate with peers.
  • Health promotion and home care strategies.
  • Cultural competency – how to care for people from diverse backgrounds while respecting their cultural beliefs, values, and practices.
  • Professionalism and ethics – nursing standards, codes of ethics and the regulations governing nursing practice.

Infection Control

LPNs play a vital role in infection control. This course delves into the protocols and guidelines that minimize the spread of infections in healthcare settings.

Topics include:

Microbiology — the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi and how they spread disease.

Personal protection — the use and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental sanitation, and transmission-based precaution measures.

Infection assessment — how to interpret signs and symptoms, including abnormal laboratory results.

Treatments for infections, including antibiotics, debridement, and other surgical interventions.

Outbreak management — how outbreaks are detected, reported, managed, and investigated at the public level.

Human Growth and Development

Human growth and development are a broad topic covering the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of humans, from infancy to old age. You’ll be well-prepared to care for people of all ages. Discussion includes:

  • Human development theories
  • Developmental milestones
  • Age-related physical and psychosocial changes
  • The effects of chronic illness
  • End-of-life care

Personal and Family Care in Multiple Environments

Practical nurses work in a broad range of healthcare settings with unique medical, safety, and regulatory challenges. LPNs learn to provide personal care across multiple environments. Topics include:

  • Activities of daily living – bathing, dressing, and grooming.
  • Recreation and transportation needs.
  • Palliative and end-of-life care.
  • Mobility and transfers, including the use of assistive devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs, and the techniques, body mechanics, and ergonomics necessary to transfer physically dependent persons.
  • Nutrition and hydration – therapeutic diets, tube feedings and healthy eating habits.
  • Home care – patient independence and autonomy, individual and family support, care coordination and community services.

Mental Health Concepts

Many US adults are living with a mental health disorder. This course equips practical nurses to provide safe, effective, and holistic care to patients with psychiatric or behavioral issues. You’ll learn how to:

  • Conduct a comprehensive mental health assessment
  • Recognize common cognitive, psychological, and behavioral disorders
  • Communicate with patients in crisis
  • Manage drug and behavioral treatments
  • Employ mental health promotion strategies

What Are the Benefits of Getting a Diploma Versus a Degree?

There are two ways to start working in the nursing field. You can enroll in an associate or bachelor’s degree program to become a registered nurse, or you can be work-ready in months, not years, with a vocational school diploma.

Which you choose should reflect your aspirations and career goals, but diploma programs are:

Shorter

Technical college diploma programs take about a year to complete. It can take 2 or more years to get an associate degree.

If your heart is set on becoming a registered nurse, enroll in a degree program. However, if you plan to opt out of school after a year and apply for LPN credentials, you’re wasting time and money. Fulfilling the prerequisite, elective and general education courses alone can take a full year before starting core nursing classes.

Easier to Get Into

Nursing degree programs are highly competitive, there are far fewer openings than students seeking training. Most colleges have stringent academic requirements that many students don’t meet, you may have to retake the chemistry class you barely passed in high school to reach the minimum grade requirement.

And wait lists are long, even for the most qualified candidates. Technical college programs are easier to get into because the curriculum is streamlined, so the admissions process is more flexible. New programs may start quarterly instead of annually.

Career-Focused

Some students become practical nurses to make money or gain experience while studying to be registered nurses. For others, being an LPN is their calling. If you want a more intimate nursing role providing bedside care, why spend the time to cultivate skills you don’t need? Technical college programs focus on the skills applicable to a practical nursing career.

Hands-On

Practical nursing is an experiential field in which skills are built through observation and practice. Vocational schools emphasize hands-on learning and clinical experiences, so students who learn best by doing will thrive.

Lifestyle-friendly and Cost Effective

Vocational school programs are typically more cost-effective compared to degree programs. Tuition costs may be similar, but you can save on extracurricular fees and additional expenses, like room and board.

And lost wages as a result of sitting in a classroom longer than necessary can be significant. How much can you make in a year? Technical college training is ideal for anyone with financial obligations to meet.

Job Placement Services

When you graduate from a university, you’re on your own. Technical colleges are much more active in helping students find gainful employment. Technical colleges pride themselves in helping graduates find a job they are passionate about.

Final Thoughts

Vocational nurses are in demand throughout Orlando. The population of retirees with preventive healthcare needs is high. However, the Orlando area has the most to offer, from culture and nightlife to nature and theme parks. It’s a welcoming area to live in and perfect place to begin a nursing career.

Practical Nursing Program

Are you looking for Practical Nursing training classes in Central Florida that prepares you to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN)? Gwinnett Institute in Orlando offers a Practical Nursing diploma program that trains LPN students for positions delivering basic bedside care to patients. The Practical Nursing diploma program provides the didactic and skills training needed to take the NCLEX-PN examination.* 

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam. College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN in Orlando at Gwinnett Institute.

Where Do Most Medical Coders Work?

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Medical coders play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare services. As administrative professionals, they ensure that medical facilities and providers get paid. There are employment opportunities in virtually every healthcare setting from hospitals to private practices to name a few. If you have a passion for wellness, good organizational skills and an aptitude for research, why not explore a career as a medical billing and coding specialist?

What Do Medical Coders Do?

Medical codes are alphanumeric sequences that describe symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, durable medical equipment, and ancillary health services, such as ambulance transportation. The primary purpose of coding is two-fold.

Codes are a universal language that simplifies health data. Any healthcare professional, insurer or government agency can cross-reference codes for medical, billing or research purposes without combing through patient records.

Medical codes also reduce the volume of data exchange between insurers and healthcare providers, streamlining communication while protecting patient privacy. Public health officials use codes for benchmarking and disease surveillance.

Medical billing and coding specialists are interpreters in a sense, translating health information into codes from one of several standardized volumes, ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS. Key players in the revenue cycle, medical coders responsibilities include:

Managing Health Insurance Claims

Nearly all medical bills in the United States are covered by insurance companies. Medical coders complete and submit claim forms using the appropriate medical codes. When claims are rejected, they work with patients and providers to fix errors or troubleshoot coverage issues. A healthy cash flow relies on a quick turnaround.

Payment Tracking

Medical billing is complex. It’s not unusual, for example, for patients and two or more insurers to share the burden for a single bill. Medical billing and coding specialists track the debits and credits on patient accounts, adjusting the running balance.

Invoicing and Collections

Medical billing and coding specialists are responsible for invoicing clients once insurers have met their obligations. Patients owe the final balance, so you’ll send them a bill. You may also work with people who can’t pay, setting up installment plans or finding alternative funding solutions, anything to avoid involving collection agencies.

Obtaining Pre-authorizations

Insurance policies vary, no two cover the same treatments. To avoid surprises, medical billing and coding specialists work with insurers to secure preapproval for all but emergency services. Facilities get a guarantee of coverage, and patients can relax knowing that the bill will be paid.

Regulatory Compliance

Few fields are as regulated as healthcare. In the interest of public health, rules for medical billing practices are strict. As experts, medical billing and coding specialists manage regulatory compliance, ensuring that their employers follow the law.

Light Accounting

Job descriptions vary, but most medical billing and coding specialists also have a wide range of other fiscal responsibilities, such as calculating co-insurance payments, tallying credit card receipts and compiling financial reports. You’ll work closely with office managers, accountants, and administrators to safeguard the financial health of your practice or facility.

Client Care

When patients have money questions, medical billing and coding specialists have the answers. You’ll help clients better understand the billing and payment process by explaining the nuances of the revenue cycle.

Where Do Most Medical Coders Work?

There’s no shortage of employment opportunities for medical coders, but job responsibilities vary based on the setting. Where you seek a position should reflect your interests, aptitudes, and preferences.

Hospitals

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of billing and coding specialists, roughly 30%, work in hospitals. Acute care facilities generate billions in medical bills, so it takes teams of staff to manage the reimbursement process.

There are dozens of potential roles, each with a different title. Some jobs have broad responsibilities while others are limited to specific duties. Examples include:

Medical Coder – are responsible for reviewing medical records, assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures and submitting claims for reimbursement. In a busy hospital, they rarely stray from this task.

You’ll spend most of the day in front of a computer, working less with patients and more with providers to clarify documentation. If you want a predictable job that’s more research than math, you’ll thrive as a medical coder.

Coding Auditor – spot-check medical records and claim forms for accuracy and regulatory compliance issues. It’s not a gotcha job, the goal is to identify and correct patterns of error. New graduates won’t qualify for this role, but it’s one that entry-level medical billing and coding specialists can aspire to with experience and ongoing education.

Revenue Cycle Specialist – oversee the entire billing process, from submitting claims to following up on denials and appeals. It’s the next rung on the career ladder for medical coders.

The working environment is similar except that you’ll interact with both providers and insurers to finalize claims quickly. The focus is on getting quick and accurate reimbursement.

Medical Records Technician – hospitals often hire medical billing and coding specialists to manage medical records. Because they’re trained to research charts, they know the ins and outs of paper and electronic medical files.

In general, this is a dedicated position in which you will organize, store and archive records while fielding data inquiries for patients and physicians. It’s an ideal role for anyone with strong administrative and organizational skills.

Patient Account Representative – help clients understand their bills. As advocates, they investigate concerns and clear up misunderstandings. Among the many roles for medical billing and coding specialists in acute care facilities, this job is the most public-facing. If you like making connections with people, it’s a good way to start your career.

In general, working in a hospital exposes you to the widest possible scope of experiences. The claim volume is high, so you’re bound to see unusual cases that you won’t encounter in other settings. You’ll have to start at the bottom in an entry-level job, but it’s a great way to gain experience. Advancement opportunities are plentiful.

Doctor’s Offices

Medical billing and coding specialists employed in private practices have the same responsibilities as their hospital peers. However, they tend to be jacks-of-all-trades. Teams are smaller, so each member has more big-picture responsibilities.

Supervised by a practice manager or an office administrator, you’ll research charts, code insurance forms, submit claims, communicate with patients, and handle other financial tasks. If you like dabbling in different aspects of medical coding and enjoy engaging patients, a job in a private practice may be a perfect fit.

Outpatient Clinics

Freestanding clinics also utilize medical codes for billing purposes. However, the subset is smaller because they provide fewer services. The atmosphere is similar, but the pace is more relaxed, emergencies are rare. Some clinics are affiliated with a hospital system, so it’s an easy way for new graduates to get a foot in the door of a major institution.

Insurance Companies

Insurance agencies depend on medical coders to review claims. You’ll verify their accuracy and make coverage determinations. It’s a research-intensive desk job that requires the spirit of a detective and a keen eye for detail. Excellent communication and coding skills are essential.

The Government

The state and federal governments employ medical coding specialists to perform administrative and research duties. You might, for example, handle claims for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the nation’s largest insurer. Or you could work for a public health department, helping officials conduct disease surveillance through the analysis of coding statistics.

Medical Equipment Dealers

Most health insurance policies cover medical equipment, so pharmacies and sellers hire medical coders to request reimbursement on the client’s behalf. It improves sales and gets the patients what they need faster. The job consists mostly of verifying coverage and submitting claim forms.

Medical Billing Services

Small hospitals and private practices are increasingly outsourcing their billing needs. It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to separate the health and business aspects of medicine.

Medical billing services manage claims for hundreds and even thousands of healthcare providers. A non-clinical environment, it feels more business-like than medical. Client and provider contact is typically limited to e-mail or phone calls. Instead, you’ll work with a team of professional billers, coders, accountants, and administrators.

How Do You Become a Medical Coder?

Education options for medical coders range from diploma to bachelor’s degree programs. Unlike other careers in healthcare finance, you don’t need to go to college. A vocational school program will prepare you for an entry-level job as a medical billing and coding specialist. You’ll graduate in months with a diploma that qualifies you for many of the same roles as your college-educated colleagues.

Programs are short but comprehensive and lifestyle friendly. Courses include:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Health Insurance Models
  • Coding Systems and more

Vocational students are also well-prepared for certification, the next step forward on the career path. Vocational school graduates are eligible for several nationally recognized certificates that make them more valuable job applicants. It’s among the best values in training today.

Final Thoughts

Not all healthcare heroes wear scrubs. Medical billing and coding specialists are as integral to medicine as doctors and nurses. You may not heal the sick, but you’ll ensure that those who do have the resources necessary to succeed. Healthcare is a team sport, one in which you’ll play a vital role.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

 

How Do I Prepare for a Medical Assistant Interview?

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If you have an interview for a medical assisting position, congratulations, you deserve it. But now comes the difficult part, preparing for a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer. It’s okay to be nervous. Most people are because they know what’s at stake. These tips will help you make the best possible impression.

How Do I Prepare for a Medical Assistant Interview?

A job interview does what a resume doesn’t,  it puts a human face on an otherwise dry list of qualifications. It’s a one-off opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, education, and professionalism. Here’s how to prepare:

Learn about the Employer

Turnover is costly, so employers want to hire medical assistants who are a good fit for their organizations. The right candidate is more likely to get along with coworkers and have a positive impact on the workplace.

Researching the employer’s website before the interview allows you to highlight the skills and experiences that best align with their needs and culture. Familiarizing yourself with their services, vision and values demonstrates a keener interest in the position and better prepares you to ask and answer tough interview questions.

Review the Job Description

Jobs for medical assistants are as variable as the applicants, all positions are not the same. Understanding the requirements and responsibilities allows you to clarify expectations and highlight pertinent skills.

Dress for Success

What you wear to an interview demonstrates the professionalism with which you will represent an employer. Make it count. A business casual outfit is your best bet.

Keep it simple with matching separates that are clean, pressed and understated. Photos on social media may offer clues about the dress code.

Arrive on Time

Being on time for a job interview is among the simplest ways to make a positive first impression. If you’re not familiar with the location, don’t take chances. Time the route in advance, allowing extra time for bad weather, unexpected traffic, or parking woes.

Be Prepared

Bring an extra copy of your resume, a list of professional references and letters of recommendation for the interviewer’s convenience. Know the name of the person who will be conducting the interview and be prepared to ask questions that demonstrate an interest in the organization.

Improve Your Odds with a Vocational School Diploma and Career Services

If you don’t get the job, you won’t be alone. Only one candidate will land the position. While some employers are still willing to train people with a strong work ethic and the willingness to learn, most prefer to hire trained candidates.

If you don’t have a formal education or experience as a medical assistant, a great way to ease your disappointment is to improve your odds of getting the next position you apply for by graduating from a vocational school program. Not only does a diploma give you a competitive advantage, but it also comes with perks like comprehensive career services and certification preparation.

Common Interview Questions (and Answers) for Medical Assistants

Applicants can expect a volley of questions during a medical assistant interview. Here are some of the most common and how to answer them confidently:

Question #1: “Tell me about yourself.”

“Tell me about yourself” and similar questions allow interviewers to get a sense of your background and skills. But it’s an inherently uncomfortable question that puts applicants on the spot. How you answer is seen as a reflection of how you would handle challenging inquiries from clients.

The rules for responses include:

  • Keep it professional — concentrate on your training, experience, and work history, avoiding personal details.
  • Don’t ramble — replies should be concise.
  • Stay positive — never perseverate on your failures or speak about past employers in a negative way.
  • Don’t memorize responses — the vibes you get from the interviewer should shape your response. Canned replies may seem stiff or disingenuous.

Question #2: “What are your Strengths?”

Another tough question, asking “What are your strengths” forces applicants to self-evaluate their skills. Examples of sought-after strengths for medical assistants include:

Strong communication skills — the ability to read, write, and speak confidently is critical when engaging with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.

Team spirit — medical assistants are members of the clinical and administrative teams. Their ability to collaborate with others is a must.

Flexibility — adapting to new situations and tasks is important in a medical environment. Emergencies are the rule, not the exception.

Empathy — the ability to see things from different perspectives is a valuable skill that helps you better relate to patients and peers.

Attention to detail — medical assistants are responsible for recording health histories and doctor’s orders. Accuracy is vital.

You can stand out among applicants by:

  • Game planning role-specific responses based on the job description — if an oncology practice values emotional awareness, for example, describe your empathy.
  • Sharing relevant examples — explaining how you lowered your last company’s medical bill by reducing waste and negotiating with vendors means more than saying that you are resource-conscious.

Question #3: “Describe your work experience.”

If you’ve worked as a medical assistant, focus your response on your most relevant experience. Mention your versatility but find ways to link it to the skills the employer is seeking.

If you’re a new graduate or have neither a diploma nor experience, highlight the skills you’ve gleaned through past employment or volunteer work. Working as a cashier, for example, requires accuracy with numbers and good customer service skills.

Question #4: “What are your weaknesses?”

Employers are less interested in your weaknesses than in how you’re overcoming them. It’s an awkward question, but one that demonstrates your self-awareness. Stick to this formula for a winning response:

  • Select an honest, professionally relevant weakness, such as being uncomfortable with public speaking.
  • Offer an example of how this has created a problem in your life, like being unable to articulate ideas through group presentations.
  • Explain how you’ve learned from it and are trying to overcome the issue by, for example, taking a class that teaches practical communication skills.

Question #5: “Why do you want to work for this practice?”

Interviewers ask this question to determine if you researched the organization and thought critically about your potential role. Your answer should reflect an understanding of their mission statement and company and culture. Reasons could include that:

  • You identify with their professional values.
  • You’re interests and aptitudes seem like a good fit.
  • You’ve heard positive things about their contributions to the community.
  • The job aligns with your values and career goals.

Question #6: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Employers ask this question to:

  • Determine if the company can meet your short-term career goals.
  • Assess whether you’re over-qualified and unlikely to be satisfied in a lesser role.
  • Find out if you’re willing to improve your skills.

If you’re tempted to guess what an interviewer wants to hear, don’t. Just be honest. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a dead-end career or working for a company with unrealistic expectations. Honest answers are best, but dos and don’ts include:

Do share your aspirations — employers want to know that you’re thinking ahead. Mention how the position you’re applying for will help you meet your goals.

Don’t mention promotions — instead, talk about personal and professional growth through experience and further education. Be enthusiastic about learning.

Don’t overreach — big goals may sound ambitious, but most are unrealistic.

Do express flexibility — it’s important for employers to know that you’re open to changing and growing with them.

Question #7: “Do you have any questions?”

This question helps employers gauge the sincerity of your interest in a position by exploring topics beyond the usual Q&A. It’s also a golden opportunity to erase any lingering doubts or questions about the role. Consider it your chance to interview the company.

Some examples of questions to ask include:

Is this a new role?

New roles are typically less defined than established positions. Candidates should generally be more flexible and open to shifting job responsibilities.

What’s your favorite part about working here?

Non-specific answers are a red flag. Look for positive comments about the staff, leadership, and workplace environment.

What’s the biggest challenge in this position?

This question is a good way to assess how a company supports its team members. Challenges are only obstacles if they’re not properly managed.

What factors determine someone’s success here?

Managers know what makes their employees successful. Typically, it’s flexibility, compassion, time management and reliability. Whatever the answer is, it gives you one last opening to share examples of professional achievements in that realm.

Is there room for advancement here?

Training new workers is expensive, so the most valuable employees are those who plan to stay. Asking this question plants a seed in the mind of the interviewer, letting them know that their business is a part of your goals.

Do you have any concerns about hiring me for this role?

Interviews are often over before applicants can sell themselves. As intimidating as a face-to-face meeting can be for candidates, it’s equally daunting to many employers who lack interviewing skills.

Most, however, can articulate a reason why they might think you’re not a good fit for the job. Use the opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings about your experience or qualities.

Final Thoughts

First impressions determine future opportunities. Known as the “halo effect,” employers are more likely to hire and promote people with whom they had a positive initial interaction. So, despite your qualifications, interviews can open doors or close them. Preparation is the key both to getting a job and growing your career.

Medical Assistant Program

Ready to start a new career as a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact Gwinnett College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant.

Is Becoming a Massage Therapist a Good Career?

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Are you interested in becoming a massage therapist but not sure if it is a good career? Massage therapists are professionals in the healing arts. They enjoy helping clients relax and reduce pain. They use their intensive training to deliver customized treatments to clients. While many massage therapists offer standalone treatments, some work as part of holistic and integrative wellness teams. So, is becoming a massage therapist a good career?

Is Becoming a Massage Therapist a Good Career?

Is massage therapy a good career? The job outlook for massage therapists is robust. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 20% through 2031.

The increased demand for trained and licensed massage therapists is due to the increase in demand for holistic medicine. As interest in integrative medicine grows, people are increasingly seeking out noninvasive, holistic options for dealing with pain and injuries. Additionally, growing awareness about the importance of self-care for mental health has many people seeking options for unplugging from the stress of daily life. Massage therapy has been linked to lower stress levels, decreased anxiety, and reduced irritability. Ordinary people all over the country consider their massage therapists essential for wellness and relaxation.

What Does a Massage Therapist Do?

A massage therapist is a licensed professional capable of delivering both relaxation-based and therapeutic techniques. Massage therapists assess and treat the body’s joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and soft tissue. The primary job duty of a massage therapist is to apply manual pressure and stimulation. They can do this using their education focused on anatomy, physiology, reflexology, and the intricacies of recognized treatment techniques. Services offered by licensed massage therapists can be used for:

  • Improving circulation.
  • Promoting relaxation.
  • Treating injury-related pain.
  • Treating chronic pain.
  • Promoting overall health.
  • Promoting mood and mental health.

Massage therapists listen to their clients to get an understanding of what they need. Using input from each client to determine a patient’s wellness goals, you can design a custom plan that utilizes the best technique and scheduling frequency to produce results. You can also follow up with clients, help to monitor progress, and provide suggestions for supporting the musculoskeletal system.

Where Do Massage Therapists Work?

As a massage therapist, you can work in a variety of settings. You can work at spas, wellness centers, and massage offices. Some are affiliated with hospitals and care centers. It’s also possible to work for resorts and cruise brands as a massage therapist. In some cases, licensed professionals prefer to work independently because they enjoy the freedom to travel from client to client. Opportunities also exist for event-based massage work at shopping malls, festivals, corporate events, and casinos. It’s also possible to get a job working for sports teams and athletes. Professional and elite athletes are increasingly using massage therapists to help with muscle recovery to achieve enhanced performance and injury prevention. Many college and professional teams and leagues employ on-staff massage therapists.

How Does Someone Become a Massage Therapist?

Massage therapy is a tightly regulated industry. You must become a licensed professional in order to legally work in this field. The only way to earn licensing is by graduating from a massage therapy program at a vocational school. While programs require a minimum number of classroom hours to obtain a diploma or degree, a massage therapy program is an intensive experience designed to equip you to be successful. In fact, you will become an expert at the human body, reflexes, and muscle groups.

After successfully graduating from a program, you must pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Completing a degree or diploma program isn’t just a requirement. The reality is that a massage therapy program is necessary to pass the state board exams. These thorough exams will cover all of the technical, ethical, and hygienic requirements that massage therapists must be familiar with before they can begin seeing clients.

What Do You Learn During a Massage Therapy Program?

A massage therapy diploma program consists of a well-planned sequence of courses designed to help you grow in skill and expertise. While these programs are intensive, they are designed to help you learn at a reasonable pace, digest the course materials being covered, and learn how to apply your “book” knowledge in practical settings. Each course prepares you for the next phase of information and training.

A massage therapy school curriculum covers scientific and technical information, manual skills, and mastery of the business knowledge needed to successfully work as a massage therapist. You are led by instructors with real-world experience in a variety of settings. Of course, the highlight of any massage therapy program is the intensive training that you receive in respected massage therapy techniques. You will learn how to administer forms of massage therapy that have been developed around the world. The list of key topics covered during in-class program coursework includes:

  • Swedish Massage.
  • Deep Tissue Massage.
  • Neuromuscular Therapy.
  • Chair Massage.
  • Sports Massage.
  • Anatomy and Physiology.
  • Business and Success Techniques.

Training in these areas will help equip you to walk into employment situations with the skills employers are looking for. In addition, you will be empowered to help your clients discover approaches to healing and wellness that allow them to enjoy health, comfort, and vitality. In fact, you will have the ability to use your in-depth training to help clients discover healing solutions based on their symptoms, health backgrounds, and other core diagnostic factors.

What Happens After Graduation From Massage Therapy School?

Graduation day is an exciting day because you will know that you are about to walk into a career with limitless potential. There is also a sense of excitement in the air because you have chosen a profession that offers rare levels of satisfaction, personal freedom, and room for growth.

Upon graduation, you are qualified to begin applying to entry-level positions at spa franchises, and medical centers. Many students discover that they have a specific preference that they’d like to pick as a specialty. Choosing a specialty can be a great way to enjoy a niche career with a steady roster of repeat clients. Clinical massage, medical massage, sports massage, and prenatal massage are just some of the specialties that you can pivot toward while building a career. Of course, being a generalist can be a great way to enjoy a career that’s full of variety.

Who Can Become a Massage Therapist?

This occupation is open to anyone willing to put in the time and work needed to graduate from a massage therapy program. Many people come to this career after spending years working in corporate settings, education, and other fields. They are drawn to the healing arts because they are seeking a career that gives them a sense of purpose and connection. They also like the fact that a diploma or degree provides access to a sustainable career in a growing field. Also, many people know from a young age that they don’t want work in an office. They crave the satisfaction of a career with many different options for growth.

There’s no need to have a specific background to enroll in a vocational program. No prerequisite courses are required before enrolling.

How Does Someone Begin a Massage Therapy Career?

A career in this expanding field begins with a diploma or degree from a massage therapy program. A great way to start the journey is by enrolling in a massage therapy program offered by Gwinnett College. While the decision to become a massage therapist requires dedication, you will have the guidance and support of your instructors throughout the educational journeys.

Interested in learning more about starting a massage therapy career? Upon graduation, Massage Therapy Program students will receive diplomas and be qualified to seek entry-level positions as clinical, medical, or deep tissue massage therapists in wellness clinics and centers, spa environments including resorts and franchises, and self-employment.

Gwinnett College also offers a degree program in Massage & Spa Management for students attending the Lilburn, GA campus. The Associate of Science Degree in Massage and Spa Operations is designed to provide you with the additional knowledge and practical skills to transition into positions of leadership within the spa environment or to better function as a proprietor of your own massage business. The program includes core curriculum courses specific to the practice of massage as well as courses to be used in the administration of a practice.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a massage therapist today.

Is Medical Assisting Harder than Nursing?

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Compassionate people are naturally drawn to the medical field. However, not all healthcare jobs are created equal. Some are more physically demanding than others while advanced roles take longer to train for.

Which career you pursue should reflect your interest, aptitudes, and professional aspirations. Nursing and medical assisting are two examples of similar fields with different rewards.

Why Does Someone Get into the Healthcare Industry?

Healthcare careers have personal and practical benefits. Motivations are as unique as people are and include:

Helping Others

People feel best about their work when they know it has an impact, we all want to make the world a better place. If you’re a people person, a healthcare career allows you to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Accessible Training

It takes years to train for jobs in some fields, time that some people just don’t have. But you can break into the healthcare industry with a diploma or an associate degree.

Job Security

The medical sector is among the fastest-growing fields nationwide. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13 percent increase in demand for healthcare workers through 2031. During a time in which technology is making some careers obsolete, nurses and medical assistants have a secure and stable future.

Personal Fulfillment

A fulfilling job improves our emotional well-being. We get a deep sense of satisfaction by having a purpose. Surveys consistently show that workers feel more engaged, motivated, and productive when their career reflects their values. The medical field is a good fit for people who are passionate about health and science.

Opportunities for Advancement

Starting at the bottom of a new field is never easy, it takes time to climb the career ladder. However, nowhere is that simpler than in the healthcare industry. Advancement is within anyone’s reach through continuing education and experience. Opportunities are plentiful.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants manage the flow of patients through healthcare offices by performing a broad range of clinical and administrative tasks.

The job includes:

Scheduling

Proper scheduling minimizes wait times and ensures the efficient use of practice or facility resources, including staff. Medical assistants work with the front office team to support the needs of both patients and healthcare providers by keeping the schedule running smoothly so that the workload is manageable.

Rooming Patients

Medical assistants prepare patients for exams or procedures by verifying their identity, confirming their medical history, taking their vital signs, and making them comfortable while they wait for the clinician. The goal is to maximize the provider’s time by managing tasks that don’t require advanced skills.

Performing Diagnostic Tests

Medical assistants can perform a surprisingly broad variety of diagnostic tests, saving patients a trip to the hospital. Examples include electrocardiograms, urinalysis, pregnancy tests and blood glucose testing.

Drawing Blood

Phlebotomy is among medical assistants’ most valuable skills. Medical assistants draw, process, ship and sometimes test samples when equipment is available.

Billing and Coding

Medical assistants have a primarily clinical role, but they’re also trained to perform administrative duties. While billing specialists manage most claims and invoicing, medical assistants are responsible for entering patient data into the clinical record, an integral part of billing. In small clinics and doctor’s offices, they may also assist with preparing insurance claims, tracking payments, and inventory management.

Office Communication

Medical assistants act as liaisons, engaging with patients on the clinical team’s behalf. From triaging urgent care requests to reviewing lab results, they manage office communication and client outreach through letter, e-mail, and phone.

Is Medical Assisting Harder than Nursing?

Medical assisting and nursing are challenging careers in their own ways. Which is harder depends on your strengths, passions, and career goals. The jobs are similar, but there are key differences, such as:

Training Requirements

Nurses need more education than medical assistants. It takes a year to become a practical nurse, and two years to become an entry-level registered nurse. However, full-time students can become medical assistants in months, rather than years. It’s an ideal career choice for working adults who need a quick transition from the classroom to the field.

Nurses also need a license to practice. Graduates must pass the NCLEX exam before they can work. Medical assistants are work-ready upon completing a vocational school program. Certification is recommended but not required.

Work Setting

Medical assistants and nurses work in many of the same places, hospitals, clinics, and private practices. However, their roles are different, and so are their working environments.

Most medical assistants work for doctors. Most nurses are employed by healthcare facilities. The pace in offices is brisk but predictable. Visits are by appointment, so time management is important but less challenging than in an acute care facility. And while emergencies occur, they’re relatively rare.

Nurses work in fast-paced settings in which crises are the rule, not the exception. And because most nursing tasks, such as medication administration, are time-sensitive, there’s limited flexibility in when they’re performed. Neither approach is harder than the other, but which you’ll prefer depends on whether you prefer consistency or variety.

Responsibilities

In general, nurses perform primarily clinical tasks while medical assistants engage in both clinical and administrative activities. Nurses provide direct patient care. Medical assistants play an equivalent but supporting role, preparing patients to receive treatment.

If you like interacting with people, being distracted by clerical duties may seem harder and less gratifying than nursing. However, if you have interests in both health and business, dabbling in a wider range of tasks than nurses are trained for could be a better fit.

Professional Growth

Nursing offers more opportunities for advancement than medical assisting, but there’s a catch. You may need another degree. Practical nurses with diplomas, for example, need at least an associate degree for most supervisory positions.

A registered nurse with an associate’s degree needs a bachelor’s for most leadership posts and a master’s to be a nursing instructor. And because most nursing education doesn’t include training in medical coding or accounting, getting a purely administrative position may be challenging.

Medical assistants may need additional education to get a promotion, but the road is less complex. Adding to your credentials through specialty certifications gives you an edge without needing a degree.

Getting an advanced phlebotomy certificate, for example, can earn you a supervisory role in a hematology practice, while coursework in accounting or human relations could qualify you to become a practice manager.

Work-Life Balance

Most medical assistants work a regular weekday schedule with evenings, weekends, and holidays off. Mandatory overtime and holiday hours are rare.

Conversely, nurses can’t punch out just because their shift is over. In an emergency, it’s all hands-on deck. Overtime requests are common, and new grads may have to work the night shift for a while before getting a premium day slot. For people who need to work evenings or weekends, however, there’s never a shortage of job openings.

What Does a Nurse Do?

Nurses play a critical role in the delivery of clinical care. Their many responsibilities include:

Assessing and Monitoring Patient Needs

In facility settings, nurses assess patients to identify physical, emotional, and social needs related to medical conditions and treatments. As the doctor’s eyes and ears, they monitor vital signs and changes in health status.

Care Planning

Nurses are autonomous professionals. They create, evaluate, and adjust individualized plans of care for each patient to ensure that their nursing needs are met.

Patient Advocacy

A nurse’s most fundamental obligation is to advocate for their patients, protecting their rights as individuals. As part of an interdisciplinary team, they work closely with physicians, pharmacists, therapists and other medical professionals to ensure that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care, even if they can’t speak for themselves.

Administering Medications and Treatments

Nurses administer physician-prescribed medications and treatments, from tube feedings to wound care, observing for adverse reactions and responses to therapy.

Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

While assisting with ADLs, eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming is often delegated to paraprofessional staff, nurses retain the ultimate responsibility for patient safety and nursing outcomes. Direct care is the foundation of nursing practice.

Patient Education

Nurses are health educators, helping patients to better understand their diagnoses and treatment needs. Knowledge empowers people to help themselves, improving long-term health outcomes.

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant or Nurse?

Becoming a medical assistant is as simple as enrolling in a vocational school program. Admission criteria are selective but usually not strict.

Full-time students graduate with a diploma in under a year. The comprehensive curriculum prepares you for optional certification.

Nursing requires more education. Practical nursing programs take at least a year to complete. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to sit for the licensing exam.

Admission into nursing programs is more academically stringent than it is for medical assistant programs. Not because the work is harder, but because there are fewer slots available than there are applicants.

Final Thoughts

Nursing and medical assisting are both rewarding careers with secure futures. But there’s no one-size-fits-all choice. Consider your strengths, preferences and ambitions when deciding which path is right for you.

Medical Assistant Program

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

LPN Program

The Practical Nursing diploma program provides the didactic and skills training needed to take the NCLEX-PN examination.* LPN courses create employment opportunities that include entry-level practical nursing positions.

Contact Gwinnett College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant or nurse.

Can I Do Medical Billing and Coding without a Degree?

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Are you interested in the medical industry but don’t want to manage patient care? Consider becoming a medical billing and coding specialist? Careers in the healthcare industry offer flexible schedules, job security, and the satisfaction of helping others. The healthcare system requires many administrative professionals who can support doctors and nurses. While these roles do not have clinical contact with patients, they enable hospitals and providers to deliver excellent care.

Medical billing and coding specialists are experts on the revenue cycle, documentation standards, and compliance regulations that keep the healthcare system functioning. They provide an essential layer of quality control and accountability that helps ensure efficiency and patient safety.

While a degree is not required to become a medical billing and coding specialist, obtaining a degree is an excellent way to maximize your earning potential and become a leader in the industry. The requirements for a degree take longer to complete and require more challenging coursework than certificate and diploma programs. As a result, a degree opens the door to better opportunities and broader career options.

What Does a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Do?

Medical billers and coders generate invoices for rendered healthcare services using a standardized alphanumeric coding system. They must read charts and medical records to accurately determine the services performed, assess payment eligibility, and submit bills to insurance companies for reimbursement.

Medical billing and coding specialists are required to collaborate with doctors and nurses to obtain clarification on medical records, leverage reference materials to research procedure codes, and complete follow-up tasks to secure payment for delayed or denied claims.

This work requires high-level attention to detail, critical thinking, and organizational skills. Successful medical billing and coding specialists need solid foundational knowledge of billing and coding best practices and the soft skills to work with multiple partners.

How Do You Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

Billing and coding is a highly structured discipline governed by federal regulations and industry-wide standards. These formal processes ensure consistency across the healthcare system to persevere patient safety and privacy. Learning to be a medical billing and coding specialist requires formal training because the information is detailed and specific.

A great way to become a medical billing and coding specialist is by attending a vocational school. Medical bills are subject to strict formatting standards and deadlines. As a result, employers only hire trained professionals who understand the job duties. The role is too critical to the ongoing success of healthcare facilities to teach people to code on the job.

What Can I Do in Medical Billing and Coding with a Degree?

While vocational schools offer a variety of programs that enable you to enter the workforce, obtaining a degree provides you with the best return on your investment. The advantages of completing your degree through a vocational school include:

Higher Level Study, Deeper Understanding

While all billing and coding programs teach you the fundamentals of successful coding and health information management, degree programs cover topics in more detail. You will take advanced-level medical anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology courses. This higher-scope coursework will make it easier for you to work alongside doctors and other medical professionals.

Plus, advanced science courses will help you read and interpret a broader range of medical records, giving you the confidence to take on the most challenging roles during your career.

Competitive Advantage

When applying for positions, degree holders often receive preference over candidates with certificates or diplomas. A commitment to your education and the challenging level of your coursework tells prospective employers you are committed to the field and possess an advanced understanding of the profession.

Applicants with degrees may be eligible for positions with a broader range of employers, including government agencies, specialty medical practices, and insurance companies.

While the job market for billing and coding should remain strong based on the needs of our healthcare system, holding a degree will help you stand out from your peers. Many top employers have minimum education requirements for their applicants. As a degree holder, your blend of vocational training and academic achievement will make you a highly sought-after  candidate.

Advanced Skills Development

Beyond making you an effective and skilled billing and coding specialist, the degree coursework makes you a well-rounded student. Covering in-depth topics and delving into theory challenges you to think critically and creatively.

The work required to succeed will help develop your communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. As a result, you’ll strengthen the attributes needed to be an effective collaborator and leader. This soft skills development will fuel your career growth, boost your self-confidence, and enrich your life.

Your coursework will also make you a better researcher and investigator. Beyond teaching advanced coding competencies, your studies will sharpen the skills needed to research new codes and untangle complex cases. This versatility will make you a valuable addition to your medical team and enable you to work on policy and procedure projects.

Promotional Opportunities

Once you’ve entered the workforce, your degree will help you thrive in your role. Comprehensive training will lower the on-the-job learning curve because you’ll understand the tasks and expectations. Your degree will make it easier to obtain promotions as you gain experience and learn about how your employer functions.

Career Advancement

Beyond promotions, obtaining your degree is a great pathway into supervisory roles and management. Hospital systems and other large employers have large teams who handle various aspects of medical record management, billing, and coding. They need leaders who understand billing and coding and how it fits into the facility’s overall mission.

A degree tells employers about your dedication to the field. Your achievement indicates that you understand how to code and have advanced training in the principles and underlying theory that guides the profession. Your degree will help you rise through your career, securing roles with higher challenges and leadership responsibility.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.