Medical Assisting students at STI聽are starting the year with聽renovated classrooms and laboratories, allowing them better opportunities to practice their聽skills, collaborate with fellow students, and receive one-on-one instruction.聽The renovations include: new exam tables with vital sign equipment and lap top tables; private聽curtains around all the exam tables; a receptionist area for administration duties; reference聽tables for research and collaboration; new hand-washing areas; and new cabinets and counters.
Program Director Susan Beer, a Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA), said the renovations give聽the students a realistic sense of what it is like to work in a medical office, and they also allow聽for more private instruction. In addition the upgraded facilities keep Southeastern competitive聽with other programs in the area.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 worked out really well so far. The instructors can focus on individual students鈥 needs and聽skills with much less interruption,鈥 she said.
This year, the post-secondary program has 18 full-time students, who are learning hands-on聽medical assistant skills and preparing to sit for national Certified Medical Assistant exam聽following graduation, in June. Recently, the students were learning to take each other鈥檚 apical聽(heart) pulse, with their instructors鈥 supervision. The students were able to work in groups of聽two and three, with private instruction at each station.聽鈥淚 really like the new curtains. They help block out the distractions and give us more privacy,鈥 said聽Holly Vodden, of South Easton.
The facilities also include a new classroom which the students can use for collaboration, and a聽receptionist desk at the front of the main classroom. Mrs. Beer said the reception area is set up聽to mimic a real medical office, where students can act as 鈥渇ront desk鈥 medical assistants who聽handle administrative tasks, as well as those who work in exam rooms.聽鈥淎 student can practice their administrative skills by preparing a patient chart, and the next聽student can look up patients鈥 charts, the same way it is done in doctor鈥檚 offices. It promotes聽professionalism and credibility, and it helps students to practice the soft skills so important聽when dealing with the public,鈥 she said.