Engel finished CCMA to enhance skills

by Laura Phagan, HSH

After working for Hot Springs Health for five years, Mackenzie Engel was ready for a challenge and decided earning a certificate to enhance her skills was the best way to do it. Her only setback was the distance to a local college to earn that certificate while also being a full-time employee and a mom. So, when the offer to complete the clinical medical assistant certification through the National Healthcareer Association, Engel made the easy decision to enroll.

Since its inception, the NHA has awarded more than one million certificates to healthcare professionals. These certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, which, according to its website, helps ensure that those earning the certificate have the acquired skills and knowledge that are meaningful to potential employers. This was the perfect opportunity to broaden Engel’s medical assistant skills.

“I felt inspired throughout the process knowing that I was the first person to be enrolled in the program once they were able to launch it,” Engel said.

Engel had a team to help her through the process, making enrolling in the program easy. HSH employees Sheila Lutz and Lindsay Simpson worked with Engle to navigate the NHA website and receive the required materials to complete the course. Engel started the program in September, completing the course in about four months.

“I was able to complete the training modules and take the practice tests that were included in the learning materials,” Engel said. “The nice thing about this program is that I was able to work on the study material at my own pace.”

This was important to Engel, with a busy lifestyle as a mom and a full-time employee.

“I did not feel rushed to complete things and could take my time with the learning process,” she said. However, Engel said self-discipline and focus were a must to study and complete the program, which included detailed information for the modules and quizzes.

Having the working experience that I did was greatly beneficial in helping me successfully complete the process,” she said.

Now with the certification complete, she says the knowledge she gained from the program has enhanced her skills. In addition, Engel says she feels more comfortable and confident in her role at HSH. The program through NHA understands how critical medical assistants are to a healthcare team and this program focuses on the patient experience. According to the NHA website the program allows MAs to complete a variety of tasks such as taking patient vital signs, assisting providers with exams and procedures, administering injections or medication, performing an EKG, phlebotomy and other essential laboratory procedures, checking patients in and out upon arrival and departure, and more.

Engel believes what she gained from the program is going to have lasting benefits to HSH and will help more medical assistants be more well-rounded, sharing that the program opened the door for her to learn how to give immunizations to children and how to do Foley catheter insertions that will “help me better assist my co-workers and peers,” Engel said.

An online training program like the one she completed through NHA, “also allows for employees to further themselves in their careers while not having to stress about traveling to outside facilities to gain the certification,” she said.

Engel said that having Lutz and Simpson there to guide her was instrumental throughout the whole process, supporting her from start to finish.

“They sat with me as we walked through the registration process and made sure I was set up for success,” Engel said. “While working on the course and learning materials, they would both check in with me to see how things were coming along, if I needed anything, and how I felt the program was going. They never once made me feel rushed.”

When it was time to complete the course with the final exam, Engel said Lutz did a wonderful job working with her schedule to take the final exam.

“The day of exam they both showed so much kindness and support, which made me feel much more confident going into the test,” Engel said. “I am very thankful to both ladies for working with me to ensure the success in this new opportunity not only for myself, but the employees who will be able to enroll in the program in the future.”

Hot Springs Health encourages staff to continue their education through certifications, degrees, or continuing education opportunities.

“We are proud of Mackenzie’s dedication and hard work,” CEO Scott Alwin said. “We congratulate her on completing the certification. This is an incredible achievement.