BCMS and SAC:
A Win/Win Collaborative
(An architectural rendering of the proposed new Clinical Building at San Antonio College.)
Many publications have identified the severe shortage of Allied Health professionals, especially Medical Assistants. According to JoAnne Santa Cruz, Director of Staffing Services for Bexar County Medical Society, they are experiencing a shortage of qualified medical assisting personnel to place in member practices. The responsibility to curb this crisis belongs to everyone; health care administrators, healthcare providers, educators and staffing agencies.
The Medical Assisting Program in the Allied Health Department of San Anto-nio College is proud and excited to participate in the Bexar County Medical Society/San Antonio College Mentorship Program. The collaboration between these two high caliber organizations will have a positive impact on the cornerstones of health care: access, quality, safety and affordability. The students in our program are prepared to take on the challenge. They will be utilized as Allied Health professionals in both an unpaid student capacity to meet accreditation requirements, and as paid, temporary employees.
To participate in the Mentorship Program, our student externs must meet the same BCMS qualifications as all other experienced applicants. Through participation in this program physicians will have confidence in the knowledge that the San Antonio College Medical Assisting extern is competent and proficient in a wide variety of clinical and administrative procedures.
Prior to the externship, our students must successfully meet the didactic and competency standards mandated by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Prior to completing the program, students must demonstrate at least 72 hands-on competencies, both clinical and administrative, with 100% accuracy, and pass each course with a grade of “C” or better. Students are taught the elements of each procedure as well as the rationale behind each step. Clinical competencies are performed on other members of the class, providing each student with “real world” experience prior to externship. Scenarios are utilized to simulate clinical activities, patient flow, assisting the physician and documentation. Two semesters of participating in these scenarios prepare our students to rapidly transition from classroom to clinic. In return, the participating clinic must provide access to meaningful learning opportunities.
Bexar County Medical Society’s awareness of the reputation of the Medical Assisting students from San Antonio College provided the vision for the Mentorship Program. This confirms the commitment to excellence shared by Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio College and the Alamo Com-munity College District (ACCD).
For more information about how your practice can take advantage of this exciting new partnership, please contact JoAnne Santa Cruz at 301-4362.
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