Riverland will begin offering a one-year medical assistant diploma program as well and a 17-credit phlebotomy technician certificate at its Albert Lea campus starting Friday. The development of this program was sponsored by a federal Bridges to Health Care grant.

Medical assistants are allied health professionals who assist physicians in the ambulatory care setting and perform a variety of clinical, laboratory and administrative tasks. The specific duties vary by location, specialty and size of the medical practice, and may include answering telephones, updating and filing patient medical records, scheduling appointments, and patient billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical and laboratory duties may include gathering complete medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures, drawing blood, and removing sutures.

A phlebotomy technician obtains patient blood specimens by venipuncture or microtechniques, and aids in the collection and transportation of other laboratory specimens, along with patient data entry. The phlebotomist also draws blood for transfusions, donations and research.

“Riverland continues to increase our offerings of quality, affordable and innovative allied health programs,” said Danyel Helgeson, Riverland’s interim associate dean of allied health. “Offering a medical assistant diploma and phlebotomy technician certificate provides an essential link to serving the workforce and health care needs of the regional communities.”

For more information about the medical assistant diploma program and the phlebotomy technician certificate, contact Melissa Smith at 507-438-9524 or email melissa.smith@riverland.edu