Diploma
Have you always wanted to work in the medical industry and help people? Due to the country's aging population and evolving trends in the health care industry, the need for skilled professionals in the medical field has never been greater. In fact, medical assisting is projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation through the year 2018.* At Thompson Institute, you could get the comprehensive training and education you need to enter this growing and rewarding field.
Becoming a medical assistant is an excellent way to get started on a new career in the health care industry. Medical assistants help physicians with routine medical exams, recording vital signs and medical histories, and explaining treatment procedures to patients and their families. Medical assistants are often called upon to help patients feel at ease and explain the health care provider's instructions.
Curriculum Focused Program
The health care industry is competitive, so you need education and training to help you stand out. That’s why our program focuses on emerging employment trends, so you can graduate with skills specific to the needs of local health care practitioners. At Thompson Institute, we offer a professional education and an innovative curriculum, with hands-on training in both administrative and clinical responsibilities, taught by faculty members who have professional experience in their fields.
Medical/Clinical Training
The program offers medical and clinical courses that can train you to assist the supervising physician with:
- Physical examinations
- Minor surgical procedures
- Administering injections
- Performing EKGs, venipuncture, and routine laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Preparing examining room instruments and equipment
- Recording vital signs
Much of your training will be conducted in our medical training labs, which are designed to look and feel like real-world health care offices with examination tables, minor surgical instruments, lab testing machines and supplies, and CPR and EKG equipment.
Medical Office Training
Because computer technology is vital in today's health care office, the program also provides instruction in administrative and computer skills that complement your medical knowledge. Coursework covers topics such as:
- Word processing
- Documenting and maintaining patient data
- Scheduling and receiving patients
- Basic accounting procedures
- Filing insurance claims
- Medical coding and billing and maintaining patients' medical records
- Preparing correspondence and transcribing medical information
Career Outcomes
Students completing the medical assistant program may seek various entry-level positions in a doctor's office, clinic, or other medical facility. Positions can include:
- Medical assistant
- Clinical laboratory aide
- Hospital donor unit assistant
- Blood bank donor unit assistant
- Front office assistant manager
- Back office laboratory assistant
Externships
Prior to graduation, you will complete an externship at a local clinic, physician’s office, health maintenance organization, or other allied health facility where you can apply the knowledge, skills, and work habits you learn in school in a real-world career setting.
Certifications
The program also is designed to help eligible students prepare for certifications. These are not required for completion of the program, but could provide you with a competitive advantage in the workplace.†
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam, sponsored by the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)