Why Medical Assistant Certification Training Matters

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Have you been thinking about medical assistant training? It’s a great career move! The medical field is one of the fastest-growing areas of employment in the United States. As the population ages, it is essential that enough trained professionals are available to offer patients the compassionate care they need. Medical assistants will be a huge part of that for many years to come.
 
 Over the last decade, thousands of people from all walks of life have taken steps toward the healthcare career of their dreams. Despite the high interest, there are still countless job opportunities around the country that are currently going unfilled.
 
Places like Phoenix, AZ, Brooklyn, NY and Queens, NY are some of the hottest in the nation for medical assistant jobs. There is one challenge, of course: Ensuring that you can get your Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential.

Medical Assistant Certification: What It Is and Why You Need It

The CMA certification is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. A CMA holder has evidence that validates his or her comprehensive knowledge of what medical assistant do and how they fit into a healthcare team.
 
Employers of all sizes want to know that prospective medical assistants have the knowledge and skills they need to excel. The CMA was established as a way of verifying this and helping those who make hiring decisions to focus in on the most qualified candidates.
 
Without certification, launching a career as a medical assistant is virtually impossible. That’s especially true if you want the best-paying jobs at large medical centers with high standards.
 
The Allen School of Health Sciences offers an acclaimed CMA certification training program that will help you stand out and pursue the job you want.
 
With our training program, you have the opportunity to speed up your timeline to become a fully qualified medical assistant. It often takes years for a CMA candidate to study all of the material alone and, even after doing so, passing the test remains very difficult.
 
On the other hand, our students can complete their medical assistant training at an accelerated pace. With help from experienced instructors, they’ll have a unique opportunity to learn all of the CMA material inside and out. That significantly improves your chance of passing the first time.
 
Many people who decide to embark on a medical assistant career alone end up frustrated when they can’t pass the CMA. That leads to a lot of wasted time, effort, and money. The Allen School will put you on the fast track. Our three campuses welcome students just like you.
 
To get started, all you need to do is contact us and request more information. We look forward to meeting you!
 

African American Contributions to Healthcare and Science

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February is Black History month and there have been several important contributions to the healthcare system made by African Americans in the past several hundred years that have helped bring us to the state of the art care we have access to today. Today we look at just a few of them, but we invite you to do further research and discover more on your own.

 
  1. Charles Drew (3 June 1904 – 1 April 1950) – American physician, surgeon and medical researcher known as the inventor of the blood bank.
 
  1. Daniel Hale Williams (January 18, 1858 – August 4, 1931) – African American physician who performed the first prototype open-heart surgery.
 
  1. Ernest Everett Just (August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941) – African American biologist and author known for his work on egg fertilization and the structure of the cell.
 
  1. Marie Maynard Daly (April 16, 1921 – October 28, 2003) – The first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
 
  1. Patricia Bath (born November 4, 1942) – American ophthalmologist and inventor known for being the first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention.
 
  1. Percy Lavon Julian (April 11, 1899 – April 19, 1975) – African American researcher known for being a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.
  There are many others we could add to this list. We hope that these incredible people serve as inspirations for you as you start on your own journey into the field of healthcare. For over 57 years the Allen School has helped students take the first steps to an amazing career in healthcare and we are here to help YOU join the thousands of graduates that have gone before you and made their own contributions to health and medicine. Please visit our website at www.allenschool.edu to learn more today.

Pets In Healthcare

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February is National Love Your Pet month and today we look at the growing trend of using pet therapy in healthcare settings. From pediatric hospitals to elderly care facilities cats, dogs, and other animals are helping patients right alongside doctors and nurses. So what are some of the benefits of having a furry caregiver? Let’s take a look at the benefits the Phoenix Children’s Hospital right here in Phoenix reports from their Paws Can Heal Program.
  1. Get up, move, walk, leave their room and play.
  2. Participate in therapy (physical, occupational and speech.)
  3. Forget their discomfort or pain.
  4. Interact more with others.
  5. Improve their mood.
  6. Improve their interactions with family and staff.
  7. Do things that may be a struggle, such as eating, taking medication or waiting.
To learn more about this great program please click here. And if you think your pup may be a perfect fit to help out at PCH please contact Mary Lou Jennings at 602-933-2136.

The Winter Blues

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Top 5 Reasons to Take a Winter Session Class

Winter is here and so is the cold weather. For many people the winter blues are setting in hard. Today we look at a few tips to get you over the snow and looking forward to warm sunny spring days
  1. Lighten Up – The days are short and it’s dark out early. Your body is craving some sunshine. Make sure to give it some! Open up the blinds and turn on the lights inside the house. Even 30 minutes of extra sunshine during the day can make a huge difference.
  2. Feed your cravings – A little cheating on that New Year diet can make a big difference to your mood. Carbohydrates can give you a little burst of energy that can help chase those blues away. So yes….eat that chocolate bar. Keep it in moderation of course, but a little bit of indulgence now and then can really help the winter blahs.
  3. Get Moving – Exercise can be a big help to getting you back in the warm weather groove (plus we just told you to eat a candy bar so…) Make a point to get moving for at least 30 minutes a day. Sneak out on your lunch break and get some real sun and get your blood pumping. You will notice a huge difference in your mood.
  4. Pump Up the Jams – Music can improve your mood significantly. So put on your favorite tunes while making dinner, playing with the kids, studying, and whenever else you can. Maybe even take this opportunity to be adventurous and give a new style of music a whirl, trade in your rock and roll for a little R&B or your country tunes for some jazz tunes.
  5. Nature Calls – No… not like that. We know its cold, but bundle up and go outside. Indulge your inner child and go play in the snow. Fresh air, even if its chilly will get your batteries recharged in no time. Take a walk, build a snowman, anything, just get outside and make sure its strictly for leisure, no shoveling the driveway.
  Try these tips and you may actually find yourself enjoying the winter weather. However if you find you truly cannot beat those winter blahs remember….we have a very nice campus is sunny Phoenix, Arizona and we would love to have you visit.

Hand Sanitizer or Hand Washing

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Which is Better: Hand Sanitizer or Hand Washing?

Flu season is here in full force and it’s more important than ever to keep your hands clean and germ free. So today we take a look at what method of hand cleaning is really the best to keep you healthy and germ free. Hand Sanitizer is convenient and easy to carry with you.  You can pull it out whenever you need it and you don’t need water to rinse your hands. However it’s important to remember that not all hand sanitizer is created equal. To be effective you will want a product with at least 70% alcohol content. Some of the brands that advertise as being more natural or containing aloe may not have this so be sure to read labels. Hand washing is still by far the best option for truly having clean and germ free hands. As long as it’s done correctly of course. To be effective you need to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, that’s about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself twice. Also experts say it doesn’t really matter whether you use hot or cold water to wash. To read more fun facts about the hand sanitizer/hand soap debate please click here. And if you are ready to start an exciting new career classes are enrolling now. There’s no better time to start working towards a great career in healthcare. In just nine months you may have a bright new career as a Medical Assistant. For more information please visit our website www.allenschool.edu.

Top 5 Reasons to Start Classes this Winter

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Top 5 Reasons to Take a Winter Session Class

It may be frosty outside, but our toasty warm classrooms are here to help you get started on a hot career in healthcare sooner than you think. It’s the New Year and a perfect time to start working towards a new you. Here are 5 great reasons to start classes right now.  
  1. Be finished before 2018 ends – If you start now you may be in a great new career before the holidays start and you could ring in 2019 with a whole new you.
 
  1. It’s Cold Out There – So warm yourself up learning a new skill set that could help you gain a whole new outlook on life
 
  1. The Kids are in School – So what are you waiting for? Start now and set a great example for them.
 
  1. Get a Jump on the Competition – If you start classes now you could be interviewing for a great new position when traditional schools are just starting their classes in the fall.
 
  1. 57 Years of Success – For 57 years the Allen School has been helping students just like you begin great new careers. We know what employers want, we’ve had LOTS of practice.
  So what are you waiting for? We have classes enrolling now for winter sessions. What better way to spend these dreary winter days than working towards an exciting new career. Visit our website to learn more and get started today! www.allenschool.edu

Jobs in the Healthcare Industry are Fast-Growing in 2018

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Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. As the Baby Boomer generation retires, there’ll be greater need for compassionate and well-trained healthcare experts at all levels from home healthcare aides to surgeons.

Medical assistants and nursing assistants are two bright spots in an already promising field.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that healthcare occupations are expected to grow 18% between 2016 and 2026, much faster than the average occupation throughout the country. In fact, healthcare is expected to add more jobs than any other single occupational field.

No matter where you live or plan to live, healthcare has the highest potential to offer you a job role where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others while making a salary that you can be proud of.

Naturally, metro areas like New York City and the Phoenix, Arizona area tend to add jobs at a higher rate and offer more competitive salaries. When you are looking for the best medical technical training, launching your studies at The Allen School of Health Sciences not only gets you the top training available, but inside access to job markets where you can follow your dreams.

Worried About Applying? 5 Tips to Make the Process Easier for You

No matter if you’re in Arizona local looking for healthcare training in Phoenix or someone from the Big Apple who wants the best nurse assistant training program in Queens, many students find that they are a little bit intimidated by the idea of applying for school.

If this describes you, we understand – and we are here to make things easier.

Not all nurse assistant programs are made equal, so you’ve already taken an important first step by deciding on The Allen School. Our quality programs offered at three convenient campuses has helped thousands of people launch amazing careers.

To simplify the process and get off to a great start, consider these tips:

Think About Why You Want to Be in Healthcare

Whether you’re looking for Phoenix or Queens medical training, you should always start by understanding exactly why you want to be in healthcare. Think about the kind of difference you want to make for others, the type of workplace you’ll like to be a part of, and how a fulfilling, secure job would make you feel. When you get in touch with your motivations, it is a lot easier to get through the process – each step you complete brings you that much closer to your goal.

Choose Your Program

Our nationally-recognized faculty offer students two healthcare programs: Nursing assistant and medical assistant. Our students consistently report that our classes are interesting, useful, and help prepare them for the job they want. The biggest first step is to decide which program you might be interested in. Our website offers plenty of information to get you started – and we are always here to answer your questions.

Find Out About Financial Aid

Financial aid is a valuable part of the enrollment process for many of our students. We know that getting the education you want means finding the right way to meet your financial needs – so you can focus on your studies and, ultimately, your career. To get started, review our list of scholarships. Doing this before you talk to an admissions representative will help you ask the right questions and make it easier for you to get a great financial aid package.

Gather Materials for Your Application Package

Even if you didn’t have a great time in high school, you can still succeed here at The Allen School. Still, it’s a good idea to gather some information, like your high school grades, which you’ll usually be expected to share as part of the application process. If you’ve been away from studies for a while, contact your high school for an official transcript of your classes and grades. If you have a GED, make copies of the documents showing the date you received it.

Get Information You Need to Succeed

Each of our programs has different requirements. Some may require a GED or other credentials, for example. That’s okay! Once you know which program you are most interested in, there is an easy way to get all the facts you need at one time. You can contact our team through the easy chat box on almost any page of our website. Or, use our contact page to drop us a line. An admissions expert will reach out to you as soon as possible for personalized help.

Allen School is dedicated to helping you make your healthcare career dreams a reality – when you graduate, our career services office will even be there to help you find a terrific job.

Get started today. We look forward to meeting you!

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

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The Allen School of Health Sciences is proud to support an important health related cause every month and we dedicate the month of January to Alzheimer’s Awareness. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a degenerative disease, which means that symptoms will get worse over time. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and as of now there is no cure. The Alzheimer’s Association has compiled a list of 10 common signs of early Alzheimer’s disease that can be an indication that someone needs to be assessed for this form of dementia. 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
  1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life
  2. Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems
  3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks, at Home or at Leisure
  4. Confusion with Time or Place
  5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial relationships
  6. New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing
  7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
  8. Decreased or Poor Judgement
  9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
  10. Changes in Mood and Personality
To read about these symptoms, as well as common age-related changes please  Click Here. While there currently is no cure for this disease there are still many ways you can help. Memory Care Centers are always in need of volunteers to help work with Alzheimer’s patients and enrich their lives. Family and friends of those caring for an Alzheimer’s patient also need volunteers and support. In addition, there are many local organizations in your area that hold fundraisers, host events, and post volunteer opportunities for those who would like to get involved. To find opportunities near you please visit ALZ.org. If you are ready to join an institution that takes learning beyond the classroom please contact us today. Classes are enrolling now for our winter terms. You can visit our website at www.allenschool.edu or give us a call directly at 877-591-8753.

3 Cheers For Career Services

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In honor of National Career Development Month, we want to take a moment and give a shout out to our incredible Career Services staff here at the Allen School. From orientation to graduation these folks are here to help YOU succeed every step of the way. Just one more way the Allen School goes the extra step to help ensure your education turns into the path to a bright future in healthcare. The Career Services team has many roles to help you find success. Here are just a few of the ways they help you out during and after your time in school:
  1. Resume Development
  2. Job Search Skills
  3. Recommendations for Professional dress and appearance
  4. Internship Placement and overview
  5. Interview Skill development
These are just a few things this awesome team can do for you. So, next team, you see one of the CS crew in the halls of campus be sure to wish them a Happy Career Development month and thank them for everything they do for you.

Common Medical Movie Mistakes

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With great knowledge comes great responsibility, and with your great knowledge you are gaining every day at the Allen School, you may find yourself cringing next time you turn on the TV and watch the latest medical drama that used to seem so awesome. In fact, you may be wondering if there’s actually anyone consulting the show that has an actual medical background at all.

Today let’s take a look at the top 5 medical errors that TV and Movie producers simply love using over and over again.

  1. Applying a tourniquet – Every minor flesh wound on TV seems to require one, but most professionals agree this is no longer best practice. In fact, it’s a skill many first aid classes no longer teach
  2. Freezing severed fingers – While keeping the missing piece cool and clean is advised, actually freezing a detached body part does far more harm than good.
  3. Giving Birth – TV makes it seem as if every birth is a near -death experience when in reality most occur without incident and only 5% of cases involve any serious complications.
  4. Declaring someone dead – It seems on TV anyone can call time of death and all it takes is a quick pulse check. In reality, though only a doctor can call a death and after far more extensive testing.
  5. CPR – Almost nothing is correct when this procedure is depicted on the big screen. Which is why we offer all of our students proper CPR accreditation

While not every day at the Allen School may seem like a scene out of a movie we are here to help YOU start a rewarding career in healthcare. So call us today or visit our website at www.allenschool.edu to get started.