Are you interested in becoming a medical assistant and want to know where you will get clinical training? You have many options, from getting on-the-job training to completing a Medical Assistant program at CyberTex. While in Texas, medical assistants are not required by state law to obtain a license or certification to practice. However, many employers prefer certification as it demonstrates greater competence and professionalism. Also, some tasks must be completed by certified medical assistants for legal reasons.
Why Complete An Educational Program and Get Certified instead of only on-the-job training?
Employers hire certified Medical Assistants because of their proven skills and knowledge. Certification signals to employers and patients that you are dedicated to maintaining high standards of care.
Where Do Medical Assistant Students Do Their Clinical Training?
You will complete your clinical training in real-world healthcare environments to gain hands-on experience and apply the skills you have learned in the classroom. This clinical training is an important part of your education, providing you with exposure to the daily operations of medical facilities and direct patient care. Plus, at the end of the Medical Assistant program at CyberTex, you will complete an externship that will give you clinical training in addition to the hundreds of hours you will spend performing tasks like drawing blood, taking vital signs, and performing other clinical tasks. Below are standard settings where Medical Assistant students may perform their clinical training:
Hospitals
You may assist patients in emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, or surgical units. You can practice patient intake, taking vital signs, and preparing patients for procedures. Hospitals offer a fast-paced environment where you will encounter many different medical cases, providing well-rounded clinical training.
Hospitals are large, dynamic environments where Medical Assistants may work in a team alongside physicians, nurses, and specialists. Working in different departments offers you exposure to different medical cases and procedures, such as emergencies, surgical prep, or complex diagnostic tests. Working at a hospital is a unique learning opportunity to handle high patient volumes and urgent care situations, assist with advanced diagnostic equipment and procedures, gain exposure to acute care, and learn how to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced setting. Hospitals offer a glimpse into the most advanced medical technologies and techniques, giving you valuable knowledge of how large-scale healthcare systems operate.
Medical Offices and Clinics
You may train in primary care or specialty clinics, such as pediatrics, cardiology, or dermatology. Tasks performed at medical offices and clinics include patient scheduling, collecting medical histories, drawing blood, administering injections, and preparing exam rooms.
Clinics and medical offices are often more routine and structured compared to hospitals. Medical Assistants in these settings focus on direct patient care and administrative responsibilities, balancing both roles. Working at a medical office or clinic is a unique learning opportunity to manage patient appointments, medical records, and insurance verification, learn specialized skills, such as administering injections, conducting routine diagnostic tests, or managing electronic health records (EHRs), and build long-term relationships with patients, particularly in family or primary care settings. Medical offices and clinics provide a smaller, more personalized environment, allowing you to see the continuity of care over time and develop close relationships with patients and staff.
Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers provide experience with walk-in patients, allowing you to handle a variety of acute illnesses and injuries. Working at an urgent care center, you will gain confidence while working under pressure, learning to prioritize and manage patient needs in a fast-paced environment.
Urgent care centers operate somewhere between a clinic’s structure and a hospital’s fast-paced environment. Medical Assistants in this setting must be quick on their feet to assist with minor injuries and illnesses while maintaining efficiency. Working at an urgent care center is a unique learning opportunity to handle walk-in patients with a wide range of conditions, from flu symptoms to fractures, learn to triage patients based on the urgency of their condition, and gain experience with immediate care tasks such as wound cleaning, splinting, or administering rapid diagnostic tests. The variety and unpredictability of patient needs make this a great environment for you to develop adaptability and quick decision-making skills.
Outpatient Care Centers
These centers may specialize in services like physical therapy, diagnostic testing, or same-day surgical procedures. You may assist in patient preparation, updating medical records, and other tasks supporting outpatient care operations.
Outpatient care centers focus on non-urgent, scheduled care, which provides you with a consistent and planned work environment. Outpatient care centers often specialize in procedures or therapies that don’t require an overnight stay. Working at an outpatient care center is a unique learning opportunity to assist with preoperative and postoperative care for minor surgeries, prepare patients for specialized diagnostic tests or physical therapy sessions, and learn about patient education, as these centers often emphasize prevention and self-care strategies. Outpatient care allows you to focus on specific procedures using keen attention to detail and thorough documentation.
Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities
Long-term care and assisted living facilities allow you to work with elderly patients or individuals with chronic conditions. You may help monitor patients’ vital signs, manage medications, and provide compassionate care to long-term residents.
In these settings, Medical Assistants work primarily with elderly patients or those with chronic illnesses. Compassion and patience are critical; many residents require ongoing care and support. Working at a long-term care and assisted living facility is a unique learning opportunity to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or respiratory disorders, help with mobility support, medication management, and routine health assessments, and build rapport and provide emotional support to residents and their families. These facilities offer a slower-paced environment than hospitals or urgent care, allowing you to develop strong interpersonal skills and gain a deeper understanding of geriatric and chronic care.
Specialty Practices
Specialty practices specialize in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, or other fields. Working here, you gain insight into specific medical conditions and the specialized procedures used to treat them.
Medical Assistants in these settings develop expertise in the unique procedures and protocols of the specialty. Working at a specialty practice is a unique learning opportunity to assist with specialized diagnostic tests, such as stress tests in cardiology or imaging in orthopedics, learn about disease-specific treatments and patient education related to the specialty, and manage care for patients with complex or chronic conditions, often requiring precise follow-up and detailed documentation. This setting allows you to specialize in one area of medicine, preparing you for roles in specialized fields after graduation.
Public Health Organizations
At a public health organization, you may participate in immunization drives, health screenings, or wellness programs, helping you gain valuable public health experience. Public health organizations focus on the importance of preventive care and community engagement.
Community-focused public health organizations allow you to engage with different types of people and address broader health concerns. Working at a public health organization is a unique learning opportunity to participate in community health initiatives such as vaccination drives or health fairs, conducting screenings for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or infectious diseases, and educating on preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices. Public health settings focus on population health and preventative measures, giving you a broader perspective on healthcare and its impact on communities.
Final Thoughts
Each setting offers a unique view into the healthcare field, with varying levels of patient interaction, medical complexity, and workflow. Whether working in the high-energy environment of a hospital or the patient-centered focus of a specialty clinic, you can gain clinical training and insights that prepare you for a lifelong career. By experiencing these different settings, you can identify which environment you are passionate about. And after graduation, CyberTex will help you find your first job as a medical assistant.
Want to Learn More?
The Medical Assistant Training Program at CyberTex Institute of Technology prepares you for the CCMA from the National Healthcare Association. The curriculum is centered around the knowledge and skills you will need when you take the CCMA exam.
At CyberTex, we take excellent care of you by providing hands-on training, practical experience, and the support it takes to get started in a medical assisting career without spending years in school. You will learn clinical and clerical skills and prepare to work in physician’s offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Contact us today to learn more about our Austin and Killeen campuses.
