Ashworth College Launches Online Community Group for Medical Office Success

Aug. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- PEACHTREE CORNERS, Georgia – More and more physicians’ practices are switching to electronic health records (EHRs) requiring the job responsibilities of today’s medical office assistant to change as well. Becoming familiar with EHR computer software and learning to analyze electronic data will soon become the norm. It’s one of the reasons why Ashworth College (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/), a leading online school, introduced a resource for those interested in issues pertaining to medical office professionals.

Ashworth recently created its Medical Office Group within its online Community as a resource for students and professionals with an interest in this highly versatile field. Currently, Ashworth offers a variety of medical and health care career diploma and undergraduate programs, including certified Medical Office Assistant.

Ashworth’s nationally accredited online medical and healthcare programs are among its most popular and the Medical Office Group currently serves more than 7,000 members (as of July 2012). The group is part of the nearly 130,000 that comprise the online Ashworth Community.

“The growing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will always be in need of support workers, particularly medical office assistants, to do both administrative and clinical duties,” said Amy Bernard, Director of Interactive Marketing for Ashworth College. “Ashworth’s Medical Office Community is a great resource for professional information and networking.”

Ashworth has been educating working adults for the past 25 years. With the launch of the Medical Office Group, Ashworth now provides a state-of-the-art online resource that shares professional content with non-students, as well as provides social networking opportunities for existing students. Group members and visitors will find:

•   A network of motivated and engaged students and professionals who are willing to encourage others by sharing personal, professional and educational insights and successes.
•   Online study groups comprised of current Ashworth students enrolled in one of its medical office career programs. Members offer assistance with lessons and provide moral support to group members.
•   Insights from practicing professionals. Subject matter experts often host live events to answer questions about starting or advancing a career in the medical and healthcare fields.

Medical office assistants work mostly in primary care, a steadily growing sector of the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants of all types will benefit from projected career growth during the 2010-20 decade, which should climb as high as 31%.  As medical practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties.

“I was hired right out of school. We had a job fair after our medical assistant certificate course and I happened to be the first one to introduce myself.  I have rotated through a few clinics and am finally in a student health clinic in a very large university for the past year and half. I love it. I am also certified through the NHA.”  Posted by R. Louis in the Medical Office Group.

About Ashworth College

Celebrating 25 years of Educating Minds and Changing Lives, leading online school Ashworth College has built a tradition of excellence by offering students worldwide an extensive range of online college degrees, online certificate programs, career training and online high school diploma options that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth offers military education as well as specialized programs for corporate partners and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Peachtree Corners, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth is parent to James Madison High School which is accredited regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED and further provides career training and vocational programs in the fields of health, business, technology, education, and skilled trades through sister schools PCDI Canada, New York Institute of Photography and Sheffield School.