What is a Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA)?  A Clinical Medical Assistant is a medical support professional that performs a variety of tasks to assist physicians in providing patient care, while ensuring that clinics and hospitals run smoothly and efficiently.  While CMAs working in smaller practices may be required to perform some administrative tasks, those working in larger medical facilities focus mainly on providing support services directly related to patient care.  Here at the Academy, we offer both Clinical and Administrative programs that can be combined.

Clinical Medical Assistants are more often found at the physician’s side working in close contact with patients.  Typically, Medical Assistants prep rooms and prepare patients for examinations, while helping manage medical supply inventories.  CMAs may also assist nurses and physicians providing direct patient care by taking medical histories, charting vitals, and assisting in examinations and procedures.  Some even perform more advanced tasks under the supervision of a physician such as cleaning and dressing wounds, removing sutures, collecting blood and other specimens as well as administering medication.

Characteristics of a successful Clinical Medical Assistant:  Excellent communicator, ability to multitask, organized, ability to handle stress and think clearly on the fly.  One must be compassionate while still maintaining a professional distance.  This job often involves working with people who are sometimes frustrated, anxious, tired, sick and possibly even dying.

All courses offered locally at Adult Education Centers in Michigan.  Externships are suggested, please ask your career advisor for more details or assistance in obtaining an externship.