LWC partners with Fletcher for inaugural Clinical Medical Assistant Program

BATON ROUGE – Through a partnership with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), Fletcher Technical Community College will begin coursework for its inaugural Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) program on Monday, August 5.

The CMA program will be designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings, performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office.

An informational session will be on July 10, at 5 p.m at Fletcher Technical Community College, BP Integrated Production Building, Room No. 107, 224 Weatherford Drive, Shriever, La.

“The LWC is very excited about this program, as it not only provides a worthwhile, practical career pathway for many Louisiana residents, but also poises these individuals for careers in the high-demand, high-wage healthcare industrial sector,” said LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie. “The CMA program meets the needs of job and career seekers, healthcare sector employers, and Louisiana’s residents who appreciate good, quality medical care.”

The program is the product of the Region 3 – Lafourche, Assumption and Terrebonne (LAT) Healthcare Sector Partnership, launched in March 2018, with the LWC, area employers and community organizations.

“Fletcher Technical Community College is honored to be able to participate in this inaugural offering of the CMA program,” said Fletcher Technical Community College Chancellor Kristine Strickland. “Fletcher’s continued commitment to training our community for high-wage, high-demand jobs is unwavering. We know this program will provide many people with an opportunity to pursue a new career and we are proud to be a partner in this effort.”

Classes will begin August 5. Coursework will involve 140 hours of online instruction; three-days of in-classroom laboratories; and 160 clinical externship hours.

Students who complete this comprehensive course would be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), national certification examination. In addition to facilitating entry-level clinical medical assisting related positions, this course is ideal for students interested in pursuing a future formal Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Nursing (LPN) or a Nursing (RN) program.

The purpose of this program is to prepare students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

• Clinical responsibilities of the medical office – assisting the physician with patient related care.

• Preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing.

• HIPAA, patient confidentiality, legal aspects of healthcare and regulatory patient care issues.

• Recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressure, and other patient care items related to the physician office visit.

• Review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology related items.

• Laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and the proper techniques required to collect specimens for laboratory analysis.

• Cardiology and the proper placement of leads when taking a 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG).

Clinical Medical Assistants should have or be pursuing a high-school diploma or HiSET.

Fletcher Technical Community College is located at 407 Highway 311, Schriever, La. 70395.

For more information about this program, please call (985) 448-7938 or email Workforcesolutions@fletcher.edu.

About the Louisiana Workforce Commission

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is an agency of state government that administers programs designed to enhance workforce growth and provide family-sustaining jobs for Louisiana residents. The commission monitors employment, administers unemployment compensation and tax funds, provides training resources for employers and employees and oversees worker compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.

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