Nine University of �鶹��ý Maui College Molokaʻi-based students earned certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certifications, marking a significant milestone in local healthcare workforce development. This achievement was made possible through free training provided by Good Jobs �鶹��ý, a statewide partnership of University of �鶹��ý Community Colleges, employers and organizations committed to creating quality job opportunities for �鶹��ý residents.

Good Jobs �鶹��ý supported participants by covering tuition, fees, books, online classes and exam fees. Onsite training was made possible through partnerships with Nā Puʻuwai (the Native Hawaiian Health Care System that serves the islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi) and Molokai General Hospital, the only hospital on the Island of Molokaʻi.

Medical assistants play a vital role in healthcare—supporting physicians by preparing exam rooms, administering vaccines, collecting lab samples and more. The students also trained in EKG, phlebotomy and injections. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is among the fastest growing professions, reflecting a national increase in healthcare needs.

Clinical training

The cohort included four students who are employees of Nā Puʻuwai—Piikea Hanaoka, Misty Kahale, Tanya Kamakeaiana and Kapua Kehano—and five students who are employees of Molokai General Hospital—John Allan Arista, Alisha Gramberg, Cindy Ledesma, Teri-Lee Phifer and Mililani Rawlins.

Participants engaged in weekly online lectures led by a UH Maui College professor while completing in-person clinical training at their job sites. This dual approach provided comprehensive education tailored to address the critical need for certified medical assistants in primary care facilities on Molokaʻi.

“This partnership has significantly enhanced the quality of care at our rural health clinic,” said MGH Director of Outpatient & Business Services Punahele Alcon. “Education investments like this improve safety, efficiency and professionalism, while strengthening our community’s healthcare capacity.”

Students from three North �鶹��ý high schools are enrolled in a yearlong medical assisting class that prepares them to sit for a national licensure exam. They started with a lab class in October at the University of �鶹��ý’s (NHERC) in Honokaʻa, where they learned how to take a patient’s temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, height and weight, along with aseptic hand washing and the use of personal protective equipment.

Woody Adrian, a senior at Laupāhoehoe Public Charter School, has known for a while that he wants to pursue a career in healthcare. “Some people in my family have medical issues and I want to help them get better,” he said. “Overall I want to help people get better and succeed in life.”

The 17 students are from Kohala, Honokaʻa and Laupāhoehoe high schools. The ability to prepare for a licensure exam and a professional career through a high school class offered during regular school hours is one thing that makes the program unique.

“It’s like early college, but it’s early career,” said Kei-Lin Cerf, the director of NHERC, which is hosting the class.

To attract enough students for a full class, the course is being offered via distance learning using Zoom technology so students from three schools can enroll. The students in the three locations watch lectures on interactive television via Zoom, and assignments are submitted online. Students convene four times for hands-on skills labs at NHERC.

If students in the class choose to continue in healthcare, the careers are there. Medical assistant is the seventh most in-demand occupation in �鶹��ý, according to Economic Modeling Specialists International. Registered nurse ranks second and nursing assistant is fourth.

Annette Carr, one of the instructors from Island CPR leading the course, points out that students could go right into medical assisting or continue their education to prepare for other healthcare positions—or do both.

“This allows for entry-level health career opportunities,” Carr said. “They might see they like it and pursue more education. That’s how I started.”

Free tuition is available to 26 �鶹��ý residents entering Kapiʻolani Community College’s through a partnership with . Recipients will gain valuable work experience at The Queen’s Medical Center, while going to school. Those who complete the 12-month program will be eligible to earn a University of �鶹��ý certificate of achievement in medical assisting.

“Man, I wish they had this paid tuition program when I was going to KCC!” said Alayna Jansson, a certified medical assistant working at The Queen Emma Clinic.

Prospective students must apply for the at Queen’s–Punchbowl, job number 123500. The deadline to apply is June 10, 2019. Queen’s will nominate candidates from the pool of job applications received. The Queen’s contact person for the program is Kim Trujillo at (808) 691-8049.

Applicants who meet Kapiʻolani CC’s admissions criteria and qualifications will enter the medical assisting program and receive free tuition. Students are responsible for their own books and student activity fees. During the year-long program that starts on August 26, 2019, they will take classes at Kapiʻolani CC and earn while they learn by working 16 hours per week at Queen’s in a modified physician practice assistant role.

“We are excited to be working with Queen’s in this new partnership that will increase the number of well trained certified medical assistants in the workforce. said Lynn Hamada, Kapiʻolani CC’s medical assisting program director. “At the end of this one-year program, students will earn college credits and a certificate of achievement, qualify to take the gold-standard national certification exam for the certified medical assistant (American Association of Medical Assistants) credential and be able to transition seamlessly into the associate in science degree program should they decide to continue their education at .”

Medical assistants in demand

Medical assistants work with physicians in private medical offices and clinics, and hospital outpatient clinics. They assist with patient care, routine lab and diagnostic tests, and administrative and business procedures.

“There is a growing need for medical assistants and physician practice assistants in the community,” said Jason Chang, COO of The Queen’s Health Systems. “Queen’s is committed to developing the talent and providing the financial assistance, training and experience to help them succeed.”

Kapiʻolani CC’s Health Apprenticeship Director Sally Pestana added, “KCC has a long and strong collaboration history with Queen’s in over a dozen healthcare education programs. We are looking forward to this new partnership for our medical assisting program that will provide highly skilled new medical assistants for Queen’s healthcare teams.”

Jansson graduated from the Kapiʻolani CC medical assisting program in 2016. “Being a part of the program is like having a full-time job,” she said. “It was a lot of hard work—reading, studying, medical terminology—but it was an amazing experience. It takes quite a bit of dedication, but that’s important because you’re going to be taking care of people someday.”

The is now offering a medical assistant training program using a new hybrid format of online, in-person and live video conferencing sections. The program is open to community members who want to further their interests in healthcare fields while increasing their chances of obtaining a job at a local healthcare facility.

The medical assistant course, offered through the UH Hilo North �鶹��ý Education and Research Center in Honokaʻa, covers a broad range of skills including coding, computer skills, blood draws, electrocardiography, basic injections, pharmacology work, therapeutic communications, healthcare records and first aid CPR training.

“The way to guarantee enrollment and personal advancement is by listening to what employers like Hāmākua-Kohala Health are asking for, and then collaboratively creating programs and courses like these that are meeting employers’ skill demands,” said Christine Hijirida, special projects coordinator in the non-credit course.

For the in-class portion, enrolled students go to the outreach center for four days to receive hands-on training. The courses focus on taking vitals (blood pressure, weight and temperature), drawing blood, vaccinations and injections, using hygiene and personal protective equipment in the work space and conducting electrocardiograms used in determining heart rates and rhythms. Students also learn administrative nursing skills.

The program was specifically designed to fill in the skills gap that employers have identified in the local labor market.

To learn more about the medical assistant training program .

–Written by Leah Sherwood, a graduate student in the tropical conservation biology and environmental science program at UH Hilo.

The demand for medical assistants in �鶹��ý is growing and effort to meet that demand has garnered national recognition and respect. According to the University of �鶹��ý Community Colleges’ �鶹��ý Industry Sectors website, medical assisting jobs are projected to rise to 3,500 in 2027 from 3,169 in 2017. The newly accredited at Kauaʻi Community College will help to fill those jobs.

Victoria Mathis, who holds a doctorate of nursing science from University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa and is a certified advanced practice registered nurse, has been the program’s coordinator since its founding six years ago.

“I realized that there was a shift in healthcare. There are hardly any nurses [in the clinic] now, they’re all medical assistants,” said Mathis. “We’re not producing them on island, and trying to get people to move here is impossible. So I created the program because there was a massive community need to have trained medical assistants on Kauaʻi.”

During their final semester, medical assisting students work at Kauaʻi Medical Clinic, where they are responsible for assisting physicians and handling office work. They are often interviewed by the clinic and frequently hired on the spot.

“The Monday after graduation for the last two years, they’ve had jobs. And I’m expecting something similar this year,” said Mathis.

The program received initial accreditation from the in January 2018. Accreditation allows Kauaʻi CC students to sit for the certified medical assistant exam. In addition, by the end of this semester, they will be able to earn a certificate of achievement from Kauaʻi CC.

“Accreditation is like a seal of approval,” said Kauaʻi CC Director of Institutional Effectiveness Valerie Barko. “It means that the program offers a quality education that meets the standards of the occupation. For medical assisting, it also means that graduates are eligible to sit for the certified medical assistant exam offered through the certifying board of the . Only graduates from an accredited program are eligible to take this exam. Certification provides many benefits such as expanded employment opportunities and higher salaries.”

Chancellor Helen Cox said, “We are very excited about having our medical assisting program nationally accredited. This speaks to the quality of the program and assures students that they are getting relevant education for the workplace. This program offers a wonderful opportunity for students who desire to work in the health field who want an alternative to completing the nursing program.”

In 2016, graduation and employer satisfaction rates for Kauaʻi CC’s medical assisting program students were 100 percent, and that number is expected to hold for the classes of 2017 and 2018.