Helms College unveils new medical assistant training space in Macon

Helms College unveils new medical assistant training in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Helms College has unveiled new training classrooms and learning labs for its School of Health Services in Macon.

The new space includes four classrooms that also serve as skills labs for students in the medical assistant program.

Christine Furta, chief education officer at Helms College, says the program is designed to give students hands-on experience they can use in medical offices, hospitals and other health care settings.

“This is just a fully immersive learning opportunity for our students,” Furta said. “They’ll go out into the field and have 198 hour externship, as well, where they actually immersively learn how it is to be in that day to day life of a medical assistant.”

Furta says the one-year program also teaches students skills including phlebotomy, immunizations, front office work and EKGs.

Senior Campus Director Nechelle Robinson says students can choose between day and evening classes, but they must have a high school diploma or GED to enroll.

“One of the things that’s really important about this program is that we get students work ready,” Robinson said. “So we are very much focused on when a student comes in, taking them around our facilities, showing the tools, the things that they’re gonna be doing in classroom, whether it’s the hands-on portion of it, or the theory piece.”

The Macon campus currently has about 20 students in the medical assistant program.

Helms College says the new space is expected to serve about 80 students each year.