Oakton adds medical assistant certificate

Oakton Community College is adding a medical assistant certificate starting this fall to meet the growing demands in the health care field.

Many employers in the industry prefer credentialed medical assistants. The concentration is designed to provide an understanding of medical terminology, human anatomy and communicable disease transmission. The 44-credit hour program may be completed in two years, with students eligible to take a national certification exam. It has been approved by the Illinois Community College Board.

Dean of Science and Health Careers Ruth Williams said the college began developing the program two years ago, with help from Advocate Medical Group, Northwest Community Medical Group and Northshore Medical Group.

"These industry leaders played a vital role serving on an advisory board for the college and assisting with the curriculum development," Williams said.

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and billing and coding for insurance purposes.

Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood and administering medications as directed by a physician.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in the profession is expected to grow quickly due to an aging population, increased access to health care and advances in technology.

According to salary.com, the median annual income for medical assistants in the Chicago area is about $35,000.

Oakton is currently accepting applications for classes starting Monday, Aug. 22, at the Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road. For information, contact Julie Rosenberg, health career adviser, at (847) 635-1266 or jmrosenb@oakton.edu.