NEW PROGRAMS, EQUIPMENT AND MORE FOR FALL Medical Assistant Program Eastern Iowa Community Colleges prides itself on providing a multitude of opportunities for students, whether that be new in-demand programs, classroom technology or transfer agreements. This fall, we’re excited to be adding even more to our offerings in all three areas.
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Scott Community College’s new Medical Assistant Program provides students both flexibility and hands-on learning with its hybrid model. The first group of students started taking classes last August and graduated in May. “I have a son who is 18-months-old and I started the program to better myself and provide for him,” student Lacie Lerch said. Being able to learn the fundamentals online at home and then take evenings classes in the lab has been beneficial, especially since the class time is used mostly for practical application. “It’s fun, the teacher is great, we do a lot of hands-on procedures. I’m looking forward to helping people,” Lerch said. “There is a great need for medical assistants,” Program Coordinator Barb Diveley-Wiedenmann said. “I think what’s driving it is there is such a need for nurses, so they’re splitting out the basic nursing duties and having medical assistants do those and the nurses are doing the higher complexity types of tests.” With a median annual of salary of $15 to $16 dollars an hour, the nine-month program is a great option for students looking to enter the medical field or for certified nursing assistants interested in furthering their education. “There are a lot of options where students can work,” Diveley-Wiedenmann said. “They can work in traditional clinics, retirement centers, insurance companies, ambulance services and more. Because they have basic knowledge they can branch out into a lot of different healthcare careers.” Find out if this is the right career path for you at eicc.edu/medicalassistant
