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USA Today (1/3/05) reports that average weekly salaries rose only 2% in the 12 months ended in November. That means every year since 2000, raises have been below 4%, according to Workforce Management, a business publication.
This contrasts sharply with pay raises for medical assistants. According to Emelinda Jackson, Placement Director at the Allen School, medical assistants average pay raises of 10% per year.
"The medical field is hot," says Ms. Jackson. "Right now, we're seeing salaries and benefits for medical assistants at an all-time high. And 10% yearly salary increases seem to be the norm. After just five years on the job, many medical assistants are earning 50% more than when they started. I don't know of too many occupations that can match that kind of salary growth."
The Allen School offers lifetime job placement assistance to every student . explains Ms. Jackson. "That's how we know what students are earning at different stages of their career."
A worker making $25,000 a year whose salary goes up the national average of 2% a year will be earning $27,061 in five years. But if that same worker receives a 10% pay raise every year, her salary will jump to $36,602 in five years. "That's a huge difference, and really shows the value of the medical assistant field," says Ms. Jackson.
According to salarywizard.com, the median expected salary for a medical assistant in Queens, NY is $30,726.
 | Margarita Felix saves the day, and then some. |
Relying on quick thinking, and her Allen School training, Medical Assistant Margarita Felix recently saved a patient's life.
Ms. Felix works at Callen/Lorde Health Service in Manhattan. On a recent morning, a patient came in with conjunctivitis. While doing vital signs, Ms. Felix noted that the patient had an irregular heart beat. She dug further and discovered he had a significant family history of heart disease. She brought this fact to the attention of the resident physician, who ordered an immediate EKG.
The EKG revealed a serious arrhythmia (type II second degree heart block). This is a dangerous condition that can lead to a stroke and sudden death. The patient was rushed to a cardiac specialist, where he received appropriate treatment. A traumatic and potentially fatal incident was avoided.
In a startling admission, the MD gave full credit the Ms. Felix for discovering the patient's dangerous condition.
"I never would have discovered his heart condition on a routine conjunctivitis visit. I don't think many doctors would have caught it, so certainly not many medical assistants would have uncovered it. It's a testament to both Margarita and her training that she is so thorough in every examination. She saved the day."
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Cadisha Gilliams, an All-Star student from the Allen School, started her internship at the Woodhaven Medical Center in Queens in mid-March of this year. For most people, this would simply be the happy result of successful studies. For Cadisha it was more like a personal triumph over government bureaucracy, thanks to a little — no, make that a lot — of help from friends at the Allen School.
Twenty years ago someone obtained her social security number and used it to secure a school loan in Connecticut. The identity thief took the money and never enrolled in the school. After a good deal of effort, Cadisha was able to convince the authorities that it was not she who borrowed the money. The loan was supposedly forgiven last February.
Nine months passed and Cadisha applied to the Allen School, pursuing her dream of becoming a medical assistant. She applied for financial assistance and shortly thereafter received a letter claiming she still was in default of that very same loan. She was told the only acceptable way to prove she was not responsible for payment would be to hire a handwriting expert at $200 an hour to verify that the old signature was not hers. This was something Cadisha could not afford.
Even after the school intervened in her behalf, the bureaucrats refused to budge, insisting that she repay the outstanding loan or they would not issue any other funds to her. Cadisha faced the prospect of having to pay her tuition balance from her own funds in order to graduate. But she did not have the resources to do so. When students and faculty became aware of her dilemma they banded together to give Cadisha the money needed to allow her to finish her studies. An amazed and grateful Cadisha brought those funds to Jill Luke, Director of the Allen School In Jamaica, Queens. Touched by her story and by the spontaneous outpouring of good will from the School community, Jill arranged for the school to forgive the debt and allow Cadisha to graduate. She was able to return all the money to those who had opened their hearts — and their pockets — to help her with her tuition fee.
President Robert Teich explains, "We learned about Cadisha's situation and when we heard how the students, instructors and her friends pulled together to come up with the funds that she needed to finish school we wanted to do everything we could to help. Cadisha is a top-notch student and I know that she will be a credit to the Allen School and will enhance our reputation wherever she goes."
Says Cadisha, "If it weren't for the Allen School teachers and students I wouldn't be here right now. It worked out well in the end and I'm very happy. I had faith in my classmates and the school and we found a way. I would do anything for the Allen School. It's not only a medical school — it's a family school!" |
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- In elections,
every vote counts
- With blood donations, every pint counts
- ALLEN SCHOOL STUDENTS ROCK THE BLOOD DRIVE
Schedule an appointment to visit Allen School and learn more.
For FREE friendly phone advice, call Denise at 1-800-381-1306 |
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