Medical Assistant Training
Real need for Medical Assistants–UMMC as well as at other hospitals and healthcare employers–ways to recruit medical assistants include relationships with training programs and schools, also incentives for recruiting for current employees.
Medical Assistant, transporter, technologists, RNs, sterile processing techs, wide range of needs for St Agnes–especially a need for late night shifts. Encouraging some techs to step up to an LPN, have a partnership with CCBC.
Howard Community College Medical Assistant program is about 4 months long–didatics are done online, then clinical coursework, and then internships. Created course in partnership with partners due to the need. Looking at national certifications–many require hours of paid work and delays folks from going into the workforce. Receiving hospitals have agreed to take folks. 100% of students are employed, some even before they finish the course.
Didactic is December-Feb (for example), skills is on campus at Howard Community College for about a month on Saturdays, and then an internship from Feb-March. There is an MTA shuttle available. Have to be over 18 with a high school diploma, complete medical forms, and criminal background check, covid-19 vax and English language requirement 6-8th grade. Classes are flexible online, with assignment due dates and optional meet up times if people need help.
Course is about $3000 for all three portions–work with local workforce folks, try to get people WIOA funding, have up to $2000 scholarship from the state
Folks could take their language assessment/test with UMB at the CEC
Is there a way for someone with a CNA to get the training they need to become a Medical Assistant more quickly? To get the training they don’t already have?
Are people aware? Is offered at CCBC but is a 13 month program, and transportation is a big barrier. BACH partners with CCBC on a Medical Assistant apprenticeship program–time commitment and transportation is a barrier
Howard CC alson as an ophthalmic and orthopedic tech courses that are doing very well in the workplace.
What makes a successful medical assistant? There is a customer service component, billing, a lot of office work as well as the initial triage of dealing with patients. There are strategies to encourage folks to stay even in high turnover roles–apprenticeship models, support for incumbent workers, having a career pathway. Also the salary is just under a living wage. Need to continue to provide support for low wage employees. EARN funding might be an opportunity–want people to be able to move through the pipeline and there is a good pipeline for MAs (RN, medical technologists)
There are barriers that need case management to address–there are also barriers with the CASAs testing which can be a demoralizing experience
Howard is asking for a student support fund from the Community College to support students and meet them where they are
Lisa will follow up with folks to figure out how to take advantage of what we learned
Announcements
Do need in person support at Workforce Wednesday, walk in opportunity for folks in the community to look for career support. Wednesdays from 2-5pm at the UMB Community Engagement Center
Next week we will have a conversation about outreach
UMMC having an Empower Baltimore Expungement Clinic at Shake and Bake
PATH Program actively recruiting for young adult workforce program. Looking for any models of structured incentive programs after internships?
BACH-have received funding to expand youth programming. Looking for community partners for students who are interested in careers in health care
