The Medical Assistant (MA) program at Henry Ford College (HFC) offers a gateway into the medical field for non-traditional students.
After having surgery in 2013, Diana Hindley, of South Lyon, was so inspired by the nurses and other medical professionals who took care of her that she decided to enroll in HFC’s MA program, which she’s been in since the fall 2014 semester. This is her second career. Previously, the 1992 Edsel Ford High School alumna worked at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn for 10 years.
“I wanted to be in the health care industry in some capacity after being inspired by the amazing care I received from the MAs, the nurses and the doctors after my surgery. It was a very positive experience, a very life-changing experience. It’s a cool thing for my family to see me going back to school,” said Hindley.
Dawn Jones, of Inkster, dropped out of high school in 2009 and earned her GED in 2011. That fall, she enrolled at HFC. Currently, she is completing an externship with an ear, nose and throat specialist in Dearborn.
“I realized that earning an education was the only way to get a better job. I want my family to be educated. I’m the first in my family to go to college,” said Jones.
Students can complete the MA program as a Certificate of Achievement requiring 36 credit hours or as an Associate in Applied Science degree requiring 67 credit hours. Students also have the option of completing both.
The MA program prepares professional multi-skilled individuals for employment in physicians’ offices, medical clinics, laboratories and other facilities – both medical and administrative – in the health care field. It emphasizes administrative and clinical skills in the classroom and the laboratory under directed practical experience in various medical facilities. Externships are arranged by program faculty utilizing many clinical agencies throughout the Metro-Detroit area.
“My MAs have instant employment. They have jobs before they even graduate because demand is so high in this field. MAs are a hot commodity in the health care industry,” said Elizabeth Hoffman, director of HFC’s MA program.
The outcomes of the MA program include the following:
Performing entry-level patient assessment and care in an ambulatory setting showing proficiency in patient safety, patient wellness and education based on the scope of practice and national standards;
Demonstrating mathematical processes when administering medication, mensuration of a patient using various methodologies and reading clinical/laboratory equipment and graphs;
Demonstrating clinical laboratory procedures, safety and emergency procedures, as well as patient preparation in the ambulatory and inpatient care setting;
Communicating effectively using verbal, non-verbal and written communication as it relates to various health care providers and businesses; and
Performing administrative duties based on scope of practice as it relates to finances, billing, insurance and effective practice management.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of MAs is expected to grow much faster than most other occupations through 2030 as the health care industry expands due to technological and scientific advances in medicine and a growing age population.
“You have to be versatile as an MA. Employment growth will be determined by the increase in the number of group practices and other health care facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly an MA who can handle both administrative and clinical duties,”
said Hoffman.
For further information about the MA program, which is part of the Health Career Education Center at HFC, contact Hoffman at 313-845-6466 or ehoffman1@hfcc.edu.
Source: HFC