GREENFIELD — When it comes to the team you see at routine doctor’s visits, one of the key players is known as a Certified Medical Assistant — or CMA — who checks patients in and out, takes vitals, administers injections and assists with procedures, among other things.
There’s been an increasing need for CMAs in recent years, which prompted Hancock Regional Hospital to ramp up its efforts to train and recruit candidates to do the job.
On Feb. 3, the hospital launched its first on-site CMA course in partnership with Vincennes University.
Out of the 14 students who started the course, all but one finished, and 11 of them have passed the certification exam so far.
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“Four have already secured jobs as medical assistants and the other nine are doing their externships. Many of the externs will most likely be placed into permanent jobs when they complete at least 80 externship hours,” said Patricia Driggers, education program coordinator for Hancock Physician Network.
Of the 13 that completed the program, four were Hancock Physician Network employees, four were Hancock Regional Hospital associates and five were external candidates.
“We’re definitely happy with the results we’ve gotten,” said Brian Muckerheide, chief operating officer of Hancock Physician Network.
The hospital had been struggling to find qualified CMAs, he said, in part due to the tightening labor pool and the increased need for health services.
He and fellow hospital leaders spent a year exploring whether to teach an in-house course, but eventually opted to partner with Vincennes University, which manages the course that takes place at the hospital.
CMAs are more essential than ever, since federal requirements tend to make patient visits more in-depth each year, Muckerheide said.
“Due to changing national health standards, it’s taking more time for doctors to see patients. In order to help address that issue, we’ve tried to provide additional staff for them,” he said.
Plus, a lot of CMAs and licensed practical nurses are continuing their education to become registered nurses, which creates the need for more CMAs, he added.
Without a local course, CMA students previously had to drive to Indianapolis or Anderson to find the closest class. By offering the course in Greenfield, hospital officials are hopeful graduates will opt to find employment within the Hancock Health system.
Kendall Littleton wants to do just that.
“Taking the class was an amazing experience,” said Littleton, who is now completing her externship at Gateway Immediate Care in Mt. Comfort. When she’s done, she hopes to find work within Hancock Physician Network.
She enjoyed the opportunity to take the CMA course at the local hospital versus a college campus “because it was close to home, and being at the hospital actually made me less nervous than being in a campus class,” she said.
“My instructors were both knowledgeable and super helpful. They not only taught the material but spent time to make sure we understood what we were learning.”
Hannah Richardson also reports having a positive experience in the CMA course. She found out about the program through her employer, Hancock Physician Network, where she first came on board as a medical receptionist.
“Working the front office (as a receptionist) was very overwhelming at first, but after a few months I realized I wanted more,” she said.
Although somewhat intimidated at first to take the class, she now has no regrets.
“I felt so much support not only by my (co-workers) but also by the instructor and the others that put so much effort into putting the class together. They genuinely wanted us all to succeed,” said Richardson, who is now finishing up her externship hours at the Knightstown Health Care Center.
Muckerheide said Hancock Health promotes the program internally as well as externally. “We offer to cover the cost for our internal candidates in order to help to improve their situation. We try to do everything we can to provide more education and to keep and attract qualified candidates here,” he said.
Ashley Cook, a CMA at Hancock Internal Medicine in McCordsville, encourages potential students to consider taking the leap to become a CMA.
“I love being able to help people and have formed bonds not only with my co-workers over the years but also with my patients. It has been very rewarding,” said Cook, who has been a CMA for more than 14 years.
She loves the fact the local hospital has offered its first course on-site, especially since other regional CMA certification programs have shut down in recent years.
“We need more nurses and CMAs, and it is great we can now do this program in our community,” she said.
The initial course took place from 6 to 9 p.m., three to four days a week, except for when classes were moved online for a time due to COVID-19.
Plans are now underway for how and when to offer the next class, Muckerheide said, probably at the start of next year.
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Hancock Regional Hospital offered its first on-site Certified Medical Assistant course at the Greenfield hospital earlier this year.
The course was part of the Vincennes University/Condensed Curriculum International program. Enrollees are required to complete 140 hours of classroom instruction and an 80-hour externship.
Hancock Health also provided an additional 84 hours of training to cover material beyond what was required as part of the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program, which includes pharmacological, billing and coding information.
Students completing the course earn the CCMA accreditation through the National Healthcareer Association.
According to AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that the demand for medical assistants will increase 23% from 2014 to 2024.
The online resource offers a list of reasons why medical assistants should become certified, including better marketability and higher pay.
More information about Hancock Health’s program is available by calling 317-468-6295.
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