FAQ with Medical Assistant Program Executive Director
Date: August 24, 2022
FAQ with Lisa Dianda, MA, BA, RMA, CCMA-AC, Executive Director of Medical Assistant Program, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Question: What do you expect within the medical industry in the next four or five years?
Lisa Dianda: Economic and employment experts within the healthcare industry forecast unprecedented growth for the profession. I get non-stop requests from employers looking for externs and medical assistants to hire. Medical Assistants have a unique place in the patient chain of care due to the breadth of the front and back-office curriculum. No other medical professional has this flexibility.
Question: How has the Medical Assistant field changed in the past decade?
Lisa Dianda: In the last decade, certification became more critical due to a new requirement by the Social Security Administration (SSA) stipulating that only ‘certified’ professionals could input and edit treatment notes within patient files.
Question: What changes do you see ahead in the field?
Lisa Dianda: Regulating the Medical Assistant field continues to be a national conversation within the healthcare community. These discussions involve defining Medical Assistants’ scope of practice, clarifying generalized skills, and acknowledging the broad scope of specialty skills that Medical Assistants can acquire when working under a physician.
Question: Why should students enroll in a Medical Assisting program?
Lisa Dianda: A Medical Assisting program is a broad curriculum and prepares graduates for various careers and additional education opportunities. The curriculum is a robust platform because students learn front-office administrative management and back-office clinical and laboratory skills. Medical Assistant students obtain a rounded foundation in medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
Compared with other healthcare professions, a Medical Assistant program is shorter and a less expensive route into the medical field than many other options. Students develop disciplines and will discover specific areas of study that inspire them and build a passion for more learning.
Question: What would you tell future Medical Assistant students?
Lisa Dianda: Every career must have a starting place. Suppose you want to explore the medical industry. In that case, a medical assistant education can be a gateway to understanding. And it’s a way to prepare for various further education opportunities inside and outside of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.
Question: Can you describe the fundamentals of the Medical Assisting profession?
Lisa Dianda: I describe Medical Assistant training as ‘back to basics.’ The fundamentals are a positive attitude, curiosity, and an ability to take orders and absorb correction. The core skills are essential because a future Medical Assistant will eventually assist doctors as they treat patients in a wide range of medical specialties. Medical Assistants complete diagnostic tests required by physicians. Medical Assistants also complete patient records and bill and process payments to keep business operations running smoothly. For their range of duties, a Medical Assistant will need compassion for people and an ability to focus and maintain accuracy in every assigned task.
Question: What is the most challenging portion of the Medical Assistant course?
Lisa Dianda: The challenges are different for every person. Some students struggle with time management as they work, take on course reading, and manage homework loads. Other students become challenged by multiple life obligations and must learn to establish priorities to maintain regular attendance.
Question: What is the most accessible portion of the Medical Assisting course?
Lisa Dianda: The easiest part of the Medical Assistant program is finding support within the program. While attending Gurnick Academy, students are provided ways to connect and build a peer network in their classrooms. I like to say being a Medical Assistant is a ‘team sport,’ both during school and later within the field. Indeed, having an education team surrounding you is an asset during academic challenges and stressful times.
Question: What does one need to succeed in this profession?
Lisa Dianda: A professional Medical Assistant should remain a constant, curious lifelong learner. Additionally, an interest in people and an appreciation for diagnostic technology will likely keep a career-minded medical professional engaged and challenged for years to come. Medicine and the opportunities within the industry are constantly expanding.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ Medical Assistant program exists to educate and graduate students ready to enter the healthcare workforce. Our program length is eight (8) months (30 approved weeks) and consists of seven (7) courses contained in three (3) modules.
Lisa Dianda, M.A., B.A., RMA, CCMA-AC Executive Director, Medical Assistant Program
