Two of American National University’s newest campuses, South Bend and Fort Wayne, recently received notice of programmatic accreditation for their medical assisting programs. This prestigious designation comes on top of the college’s existing institutional accreditation and is a solid endorsement of the quality and rigor of the medical assisting curriculum. Additionally, graduates of an accredited medical assisting program are allowed to sit for one of several certification exams – a valuable credential.
[img]“The programmatic accreditation process adds an additional mark of quality for select programs, particularly those requiring highly specialized skills like medical assisting,” says Rhonda Epps, regional director of health care education for American National University’s Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio campuses. “In addition, the ability to earn the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential gives our graduates a valuable edge in the job market.”
“When you go to a school that’s accredited, and you get out into the work field, they can see that you actually did something,” said medical assisting student John Sikorsky, an Army veteran who is enrolled in the medical assisting program at the $$South Bend Campus.
“It was a good learning experience,” said Renee Neldon, director of healthcare education at the $$South Bend Campus. A veteran of more than 30 years in health care, Renee was impressed by the depth and thoroughness of the accreditation process; describing it as more rigorous than many hospital evaluations she had been a part of.
Most American National University and American National University graduates pursue the Registered Medical Assistant certification offered through American Medical Technologists. Founded in 1939, AMT is one of the foremost certification agencies for allied health professionals. Registered Medical Assistants are prepared for a variety of jobs in the healthcare field.
“I’m more interested in the phlebotomy side of it, so I can be a certified phlebotomist,” said Amber Dunwoodie, referring to the process of drawing blood specimens for laboratory testing. Amber, also an Army veteran, is a medical assisting student at the $$Fort Wayne Campus. Already working as a caregiver for local seniors, Amber enrolled in the medical assisting program to advance in her career. “I look forward to a steady job, a decent paycheck, and being able to support my family,” she added.
While hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude are requirements for that steady job and decent paycheck, an education from a respected and fully accredited program is a big boost – and now graduates of the South Bend and Fort Wayne medical assisting programs will join those of 27 additional ANU and American National University locations in that elite company.
A-Medical assisting student John Sikorski checks a recent graduate‘s blood pressure under the watchful eye of Renee Neldon, director of healthcare education.
B-Graduate and U.S. Army veteran Amber Dunwoodie, is a medical assisting student at the $$Fort Wayne Campus who is looking forward to a career in phlebotomy.
