Medical Assistant Program Ranked Top 3 in St. Louis

The East Central College Medical Assisting Program is one of the top 3 programs in the St. Louis area.

That’s according to Medical Assistant Advice, a website that serves medical assistant students and professionals, which published its ranking during National Medical Assistant Week, Oct. 18-23.

Nancy Mitchell, Director of Nursing and Dean of Health Science, said she and her department are thrilled for this Medical Assistant (MDA) program recognition.

“ECC has a rich history in partnering with our local healthcare entities to provide outstanding graduates in the field of Medical Assisting,” she said.

Medical Assistant Advice examined graduation rates, tuition costs, retention rates and number of students enrolled in the program to help determine the rankings. Another factor was MedicalAssistantAdvice.com editorial staff ratings.

Program Start

According to Mitchell, there was a need for medical assistants in the communities served by ECC, so the college began offering courses leading to degrees.

“In the fall of 2013, ECC began offering a certificate or degree option for Medical Assisting to help fulfill that need in our community,” she added. “Over the last several years, our graduates have gone on to have successful careers in and around our service region.”

The MDA program is designed to train students to meet the needs of an ever-expanding allied health field. The Union campus and Rolla site offer a complete associate degree and a certificate option.

The main campus offers a traditional day program and the Rolla site offers an evening option to meet the needs of all students.

Medical Assistants directly influence public health through tasks include bookkeeping, coordinating appointments, patient interaction, coding paper and electronic health files. Medical Assistants may also take patient vital signs and help with injections, examinations and lab test preparations under a doctor’s supervision.

The success of the program was highlighted earlier this year when there was a 100 percent pass rate for the first-time test takers who began in the MDA program at ECC in 2019. On average ECC students scored 552 compared to the national average was 477.

“Their success is due in part to the excellent educational curriculum delivered by seasoned Medical Assistant educators, along with their dedication to be exceptional healthcare providers,” Mitchell said.

“Medical Assistants play a vital role in the healthcare team to directly influence the public health and well-being of our communities.”

To learn more about the MDA program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/allied-health/, or contact Mitchell at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu.