LOUISVILLE – Sullivan University is launching an online Medical Assistant program that will help healthcare providers and facilities cope with the industry’s continuing worker shortage.
The 12-month program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the largest programmatic accreditor of the health sciences profession.
Students can take the majority of courses online along with a one-week boot camp that will be offered at one or more of the Sullivan campuses in Louisville and Lexington and the Louisa Learning Center in Eastern Kentucky. The hybrid delivery model allows students with other obligations outside of school to complete their coursework on a schedule that best suits their needs.
“We are giving students from across the country access to a program that Medical Assistant Advice has selected as the number one medical assisting program in the State of Kentucky,” said Sullivan Medical Assistant Program Director Jill Ferrari. “The week-long on campus boot camp will give students who have progressed as a cohort the chance to practice their skills under the observation and leadership of an instructor. The combination of course flexibility and in-person skills observation and training will provide the best preparation possible for students prior to beginning their clinical rotation in a doctor’s office.”
The job prospects for graduates of the program are strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the job outlook for medical assistants will rise 18 percent, much faster than average, between 2020 and 2030.
“These updated programs are designed to prepare our graduates to meet this demand,” Ferrari said. “The healthcare industry is booming in our country, but graduates are in short supply. Sullivan’s model of year-round career preparation gives students the skills they need to succeed within a timeframe that is shorter than other similar programs.”
Medical assistants are front line care providers in doctors’ offices. Clinical responsibilities may include preparing patients for examination by gathering pertinent information, explaining procedures, taking and recording vital signs, assisting physicians during exams and sending tests to labs for analysis.
Administrative responsibilities may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, performing tasks associated with electronic medical records, coding information for insurance companies, and restocking supplies.
“Students enrolling in this program should be passionate about assisting others in need,” Ferrari said. “They will need strong written and verbal communication skills, good customer service skills, and a high level of professionalism.”
Sullivan’s accredited program also provides a pathway to certification, a requirement of employment by many healthcare providers.
Sullivan has modified its medical assisting programs, which include a diploma and an associate degree. The updated diploma, which is accredited, gives students a quicker path to employment. The associate degree offers greater course scheduling flexibility with students being able to bring in more transfer credit if they’ve taken classes elsewhere.
About Sullivan University
Sullivan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Sullivan University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The University offers numerous certificates, diplomas, and degrees in career-orientated programs, ranging from business, pharmacy, human resources, I.T. and cybersecurity, supply-chain management, culinary and baking and pastry arts, hospitality studies, conflict management, nursing, allied health sciences and HVAC-R. Sullivan University has campuses in Louisville and Lexington, an extension in Fort Knox on the U.S. Army Post and a Learning Center in Louisa. Sullivan University also has many programs available partially or wholly online. For more information, visit www.sullivan.edu.
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