Maine Medical Assistant Programs

New graduates celebrate with their families at their nursing commencement ceremony.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Maine and Medical Assistant Programs in Maine

In learning how to become a medical assistant in Maine, you need to know a bit about their duties. Many medical assistants find work in a doctor's office. Others find work in hospitals and other medical facilities. A medical assistant performs administrative and basic patient care duties. Some medical assistants specialize in administration while others specialize in clinical duties. It depends on their training and what the physician or medical facility requires from them. In some smaller medical offices, these medical assistants can perform both clinical and administrative duties.

Both the administrative and the clinical medical assistant are important in today's medical world. An administrative medical assistant handles office operations for the medical facility. They register new patients, verify health insurance, collect and process payments, keep medical records, schedules appointments, and follow up on patient calls. On the other side of the coin, a clinical medical assistant will work with the physician and in the clinical setting. They will setup and organize exam rooms, take vital signs, sterilize medical instruments, dispose of contaminated supplies, and assist with many medical procedures. Now you need to learn how to become a medical assistant in Maine.

The first step into this profession is to find medical assistant programs in Maine. There are actually seven locations in Maine which offer a certified medical assistant program. One example of this is the program offered at Kennebec Valley Community College. This 64 hour program is taken over four semesters for full-time students. Students take a wide range of courses designed to prepare them for working in various medical facilities. The courses can include anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, clinical procedures, clinical lab, insurance coding, clinical theory, pharmacology, and health insurance processing. All students in the program complete clinical and medical office practicum before graduation. The other six programs available in Maine offer similar curricula.

Upon completion of Medical Assistant Programs in Maine, students are ready to take the certification exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. With their certification in hand, most assistants find work in various medical facilities like doctor's offices, hospitals, laboratories, outpatient facilities, family planning centers, and in medical care programs. Many people find being a medical assistant is rewarding work. However, some use it as a starting step to becoming a nurse or other medical professional. Getting information on these programs is the first step in becoming a medical assistant. You can get started right now.