In this article, we will learn what regulations are there for credentialing for medical assistants, the steps for the credentialing process, and the key organizations. We will also discuss the implications of medical assistants credentialing in healthcare organizations.
The healthcare industry holds tremendous importance in the lives of people. Great care and attention should be given while treating the patients and dealing with the medical illness. Doctors often need the help provided by medical assistants in various things, including evaluations, surgery, medical services, ensuring patients’ follow-up, and making medical diagnoses. Therefore, it is important to have well-skilled and highly educated medical assistants, and add positive input in providing medical care.
It has been reported that 44000 to 98000 deaths occur each year in the US due to hospital-based faults. Malpractice claims against medical assistance are also in great numbers. Considering these facts, it is recommended to hire medical assistants after complete scrutiny of whether they have adequate skills for working in hospital space or not.
What is Credentialing for Medical Assistants?
Medical credentialing is a process through which the credentials including medical qualifications, training, certifications, and licenses are verified by the issuing bodies. This proves the legitimacy of the credentials and it also determines that medical assistants are highly qualified and skilled in a to provide the best medical health care to the patient in a hospital setting.
Credentialing ensures that the medical assistants meet all the regulations set by the regulatory bodies. Hospitals also fulfill their duty to hire only credentialed assistants and this protects them from legal cases and penalties in case of any mishap.
Credentialing for Medical Assistants is Mandatory?
A few decades back, there were no such rules about credentialing the staff members before recruiting them, but amendments are made, and reforms are done in the healthcare policies. But what regulation makes credentialing for medical assistants mandatory? Both federal and state regulations have made it compulsory for all hospital settings to hire only certified medical assistants. Initially, there were some state laws launched for credentialed medical assistants and other staff members but these were state-specific laws.
Then, the Affordable Care Act (ACC) made it compulsory for all healthcare organizations in the US to make credentialing a mandatory part of the hiring process. Now all medical assistants are credentialed to meet the standards set by the ACC. By mandating credentialing, ACC has ensured patient safety and the best possible healthcare for patients.
Key Organizations for Credentialing of Medical Assistants
There are some well-known organizations that perform the credentialing of medical assistants and issue a final report deciding the future of their recruitment process. These organizations do not provide any kind of training or programs but verify the assistants’ credentials and issue a certification to showcase their expertise and skills. To understand more about the duration and steps involved, you can check out this detailed guide on the credentialing process timeline. Some of the organizations are:
- American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA): This organization offers Certified Medical Assistant (CMS) certification. It focuses on clinical and administrative skills and provides certification after complete scrutiny and verification.
- American Medical Technologists (AMT): It provides Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification after evaluation of different medical assisting techniques.
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA): This organization focuses on the clinical skills and patients’ interaction level and issues Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification.
Steps of Medical Assistant Credentialing
There are steps described below which should be followed in order to get the credentialing certification from the healthcare organizations;
1. Education and Training
Candidates must complete the accredited educational program as their graduation degree from a verified medical school, college, or vocational center. They must have good grades and have enough knowledge to sit in the professional certification exams. They have to cover the following subjects in their degree program:
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical and Administrative Procedures
- Medicine and Surgery
- Pharmacology
- Medical Law and Ethics
2. Certified Exam
After passing the graduation degree, medical assistants should have certification of their expertise from accredited organizations. They need to learn all the education, clinical skills, administrative skills, and communication skills to pass the certification exam. These exams evaluate a person’s knowledge and skill level. After getting the certification, they are eligible to practice as medical assistants in healthcare organizations.
3. Continuous Education
The medical field is an evolving field and new techniques and treatment plans come into the market day after day. Medical assistants should remain updated with these advancements. Therefore, they should enroll in various training programs. Workshops, seminars, and symposiums to get new knowledge. They should keep certificates for these additional educational programs to produce them before the credentialing committee.
4. Licensure and registration
There are a few steps that should be followed before getting the licensure to practice from accredited organizations which can help a lot in the final credentialing by the hospital in which candidates apply for jobs.
Candidates must fill out the application form, attach all necessary documents, and submit the application to the credentialing committee. They undergo an evaluation process, know the status of given credentials, and issue a final conclusion report. Candidates must remain in touch with the process to clear the objections raised by the committee. A final decision on issuing licensure is given by the committee and candidates are registered in the healthcare sector as medical assistants.
Implications of Medical Assistant Credentialing
1. Patient safety
The first and foremost priority of the healthcare organization should be the safety of patients. Credentialing has reduced the number of medical errors in hospitals. Patients are getting quality care by hiring only professional and skilled medical assistants who are in charge of the patients even more than the doctors themselves. All thanks to the medical assistant credentialing policies and regulations issued by the federal and state authorities.
2. Professional standards
Credentialing has not only improved the status of patients but it has also made medical assistants more skilled and competent. Due to these standards and policies, medical assistants work hard to adhere to the requirements set by regulatory authorities. This enhances the quality of patient care in the hospital.
3. Legal protection
Credentialing protects medical assistants and their employers from legal cases and penalties in case of any irregularity in the patient care plan. They can prove that their medical assistants have adequate skills and education to perform all tasks reducing the risk of malpractice claims.
4. Increased job opportunities
Medical assistants having certification are superior to their competitors and they have maximum chances of getting recruited in the hospital. Their effective portfolio and educational qualifications help them to get higher job prospects and a handsome salary package.
The Average Salary of Certified Medical Assistants
Certified medical assistants earn as much as double that of non-certified medical assistants. On average, a medical assistant earns up to $42000 per annum. You can earn up to $56480 annually if you are among the top 10% of medical assistants in the US.
Salaries of medical assistants differ depending on the workspace area, experience level, educational standards, and area of expertise. You can earn more if you pursue your education and training considering all the above-mentioned factors.
The salary of the medical assistant is also different at different workplaces. You need to make the best choice when applying for jobs in different sectors. Details of salaries in different settings are:
| Hospitals | $45,760 |
| Doctor’s clinic | $42,200 |
| Outpatient care centers | $50,250 |
Conclusion
Credentialing for medical assistants is crucial as it is of severe importance in enhancing patients’ safety, job opportunities, and professional behavior. It also protects hospitals from legal compensation. Credentialing is a process in which all the credentials of medical assistants are verified from the primary source to check legitimacy.
Licensure and registration as a medical assistant are granted to the candidates, and they can enjoy the privileges of practicing in medical care centers. The Affordable Care Act, a federal regulation, and state regulations have made it compulsory for all medical assistants to get credentialed before getting a job.
There are many organizations that provide certifications to candidates based on their expertise and skills as medical assistants. A few famous organizations are AAMA, AMT, and NHA. Steps involved in credentialing are completion of medical assistant education, training, and getting certification from accredited institutes. Then, a license is issued to practice in hospitals. Medical assistants earn a handsome amount of money and one should follow all steps efficiently in order to pursue his career as a medical assistant.