Updated on 08/06/2025
Are you considering a career in healthcare and looking for a program that prepares you with the skills and knowledge needed for a rewarding career? If this sounds like you, East Ohio College’s (EOC) online Clinical Medical Assistant program might be the right program for you!
Continue reading this blog to discover how EOC’s medical assisting training program is designed to prepare you with the necessary skills to accelerate you into a rewarding healthcare career in just 18 months!
What is a Medical Assistant?
Clinical medical assistants are essential and highly valued members of the healthcare team. They play a key role in maintaining a medical office, its administrative tasks, and helping with patient care. They serve as a vital link between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring that medical practices run smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities span a wide range of duties, including managing administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining accurate patient records, handling billing and insurance processing, and greeting patients.
In addition to administrative support, medical assistants also provide direct assistance with patient care. This may include taking vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, drawing blood, administering medications under the supervision of a physician, and offering general support during clinical procedures. By performing both clerical and clinical functions, medical assistants help improve workflow, enhance patient experiences, and support high-quality healthcare delivery.
What do Medical Assistants do?
Medical assistants are trained to perform a wide range of clinical and administrative duties that are critical to the daily operations of healthcare facilities. On the clinical side, they assist with essential procedures such as taking patients’ blood samples for laboratory analysis, removing stitches after wound healing, recording vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and administering injections or immunizations as directed by a physician. They also play an important role in patient communication, often explaining test results in clear and compassionate language to ensure that patients fully understand their health status and any recommended next steps.
Beyond their clinical responsibilities, medical assistants are also deeply involved in administrative operations. They schedule appointments, coordinate follow-up visits, complete and process insurance forms, manage billing information, and input detailed patient data into electronic health record systems with accuracy and confidentiality. These behind-the-scenes tasks are essential to maintaining organized, efficient, and legally compliant healthcare environments.
By juggling both clinical and administrative responsibilities, medical assistants serve as a bridge between patients and providers. Their support helps doctors make accurate diagnoses, carry out treatment plans more effectively, and ultimately enhance the overall quality of patient care and recovery. Their multifaceted role not only improves office efficiency but also contributes to a more positive and reassuring experience for patients navigating the healthcare system.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
At EOC, our medical assisting students learn more than theory. Our programs are designed so that all coursework and lectures take place online, at your own pace, while also getting hands-on training from in-person labs and clinicals. Labs and clinicals provide hands-on experience in various essential healthcare tasks. Our students learn to take patients’ vital signs, draw blood, administer injections, and perform and interpret EKGs, making them well-prepared for success in any medical setting. Learning soft skills, such as patient interaction and effective communication with other healthcare team members, is also a part of the program.
Students are also required to complete an externship. During the externship, students observe a real-world setting and apply the skills they gained in the program while developing relationships with those in the healthcare industry.
Graduates of the Clinical Medical Assistant program will earn an associate degree and be prepared to sit for the following National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification exams:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)*
- Certified EKG/ECG Technician (CET)**
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)**
Become a Clinical Medical Assistant at EOC
So, if you’re still stumped about where to go to college and need a little help getting in the right direction, join East Ohio College’s community. We’ll help you get started and on your journey to a great career!
Request information today to speak with an admissions team member to learn more about EOC’s Clinical Medical Assistant program!
*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam. Required/Included in Tuition/Fees.
**Certification is contingent on passing the corresponding certification exam. Optional at own expense.
Certifying entities are independent and not affiliated with or connected to East Ohio College in any manner.