MEDICAL ASSISTANT (MA)
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
Medical Assistant (MA)
Position Summary
A Certified CHW is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. [1]
Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties. Duties can include but are not limited to: aseptic procedures, blood withdrawal and non-intravenous injections, administering basic first aid, collecting routine laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory procedures, and performing general administrative duties. [4]
Position Summary
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
A Certified CHW is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. [1]
Medical Assistant (MA)
Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties. Duties can include but are not limited to: aseptic procedures, blood withdrawal and non-intravenous injections, administering basic first aid, collecting routine laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory procedures, and performing general administrative duties. [4]
Training and Prerequisites
-
Completion of an approved training program for CHW Certification in South Dakota (200 hours of training and 40 hours of shadowing).
-
Obtain Certification as a Community Health Work or Community Health Representative in South Dakota. [2]
- Schools offering Medical Assistant training: Globe University, National American University, Lake Area Technical Institute, Mitchell Technical Institute, and Presentation College. [5]
- High School Diploma or GED required. [4]
- Medical assistants who do not have postsecondary education certificates learn their skills through on-the-job training. It can take several months for an assistant to complete training, depending on the facility. [4]
Training and Prerequisites
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
-
Completion of an approved training program for CHW Certification in South Dakota (200 hours of training and 40 hours of shadowing).
-
Obtain Certification as a Community Health Work or Community Health Representative in South Dakota. [2]
Medical Assistant (MA)
- Schools offering Medical Assistant training: Globe University, National American University, Lake Area Technical Institute, Mitchell Technical Institute, and Presentation College. [5]
- High School Diploma or GED required. [4]
- Medical assistants who do not have postsecondary education certificates learn their skills through on-the-job training. It can take several months for an assistant to complete training, depending on the facility. [4]
Certificates/Licensure
-
CHWs and CHRs are certified through the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services. [2]
- Registered with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners or South Dakota Society of Medical Assistants for medical assistant certification. [4]
- Optional certification includes Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). [4]
Certificates/Licensure
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
-
CHWs and CHRs are certified through the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services. [2]
Medical Assistant (MA)
- Registered with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners or South Dakota Society of Medical Assistants for medical assistant certification. [4]
- Optional certification includes Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). [4]
Typical Supervisors
- CHWs are primarily supervised by a clinic manager, nursing manager, or other organizational manager.
- Supervised by physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, or nurse midwives. [4]
Typical Supervisors
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
- CHWs are primarily supervised by a clinic manager, nursing manager, or other organizational manager.
Medical Assistant (MA)
- Supervised by physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, or nurse midwives. [4]
Median Hourly Wage (National)
[3], [6]
Community Health Worker (CHW) – $24.54