If you’re looking to kickstart a medical assistant career in New York City, you’re in luck: officials are launching a new program to prepare young adults across the five boroughs for such futures.
The opportunity comes from the NYC Department of Small Businesses Services. SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop on Wednesday announced the new initiative, called the Medical Assistants for Modern Healthcare Delivery Training Program.
Through this program, those interested in a medical assistant career will be connected to skills training, a paid internship and help with securing a full-time job.
Officials are targeting out-of-school and out-of-work New Yorkers between 18 and 24 years old for the medical assistant career program.
“While each New Yorker’s path differs, everyone should have the opportunity to succeed,” Bishop said in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that out-of-school and out-of-work youth have access to a stable career track.”
What does a medical assistant career encompass?
Mary Ann Werner from New York is given a flu shot by Medical Assistant Klarisa Feliciano at the medical offices of Yaffe Ruden & Associates in New York. Photo: Getty Images
Medical assistants are critical to the world of health professionals. They often tackle administrative and clinical tasks in workplaces like hospitals, physician offices and other healthcare settings, taking patient information, prepare laboratory samples and help physicians and nurses with tasks like dressing wounds.
A medical assistant career marks a path into a growing industry, experts say. Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
One reason, the department gives, is the aging baby boomer population, which will increase demand for preventative medical services.
Through the city’s medical assistant career training program, New Yorkers will be prepped to take the Clinical Medical Assistant, Electrocardiogram and Phlebotomy certification exams. The fees for these exams will be covered by the program.
Program participants will have access to career workshops to improve their resumes and interview skills. After the 368-hour training course, those New Yorkers will then be connected to a 100-hour, $15-per-hour internship and after that, to a full-time career.
The program will be offered at Hostos Community College beginning this September, running through July 2019. Applications are now open through Sept. 4 for the first 25 participants. To apply, visit nyc.gov/accesstraining.
