Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa offers practical externship placements for students already enrolled in accredited medical assisting programs. These externships cover hands-on clinical skills such as taking vitals, phlebotomy, assisting in minor surgeries, and administrative duties like patient history collection and billing. The program is structured as part of employment training, potentially paid for by Moffitt, though exact costs aren’t explicitly listed.
Program Overview
Moffitt Cancer Center provides medical assistant externships specifically for students who are currently attending an accredited medical assisting program and require clinical hours to graduate. This externship allows you to practice clinical and administrative skills in a real healthcare environment focused on cancer treatment and care.
You’ll gain direct experience by performing essential clinical tasks such as taking blood samples (phlebotomy), gathering vital signs (like blood pressure, heart rate, temperature), and preparing examination rooms. Students may also assist medical professionals during minor surgeries and other sterile procedures, handle specimen collection, and manage medical records.
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Skills and Tasks You’ll Learn
At Moffitt Cancer Center’s externship, you’ll develop practical medical assisting skills critical for employment. These skills include:
- Phlebotomy: Drawing and handling patient blood samples.
- Vital Statistics: Measuring patient vitals like blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and weight.
- Exam Preparation: Setting up rooms for patient exams, ensuring cleanliness and readiness.
- Patient History & Consents: Accurately collecting patient medical history and obtaining necessary consents.
- Minor Surgical Procedures: Assisting medical staff during sterile and surgical procedures.
- Administrative Tasks: Managing medical records, filing, billing, and general office duties.
- Specimen Collection: Properly obtaining and handling lab samples from patients.
Training Environment and Facilities
Moffitt Cancer Center is a well-known comprehensive cancer treatment and research institution. It holds the prestigious designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), placing it among a select group nationwide recognized for groundbreaking cancer research and personalized patient care.
Externships typically occur within Moffitt’s outpatient clinics, providing exposure to a variety of patient care situations. With locations across Tampa and surrounding regions including Wesley Chapel, Ruskin, and Pembroke Pines, students can benefit from experiencing healthcare delivery across diverse settings.
Admission and Application Process
To apply, students must already be enrolled in an accredited medical assisting program. Moffitt does not offer standalone medical assistant courses; instead, they supplement your existing program with required externship hours.
To participate, you must:
- Complete Moffitt’s online education and training application.
- Choose “Medical Assistant Student” in your application selection.
- Fulfill regulatory and institutional requirements through the application process.
These steps help ensure compliance with safety standards and patient care regulations during your clinical training at Moffitt.
Cost and Financial Information
The program at Moffitt Cancer Center is described as employment training, and while exact financial details aren’t specified, it is suggested that costs are likely covered by Moffitt. Students are presumably compensated or do not have out-of-pocket expenses for their externship, but confirmation of these details would require direct inquiry with the program coordinator.
Career Opportunities and Advancement
Completing an externship at Moffitt Cancer Center is beneficial due to the center’s high reputation and specialized healthcare environment. The practical skills and professional interactions gained can significantly enhance your resume, providing valuable networking and employment opportunities upon graduation.
Externships at reputable institutions like Moffitt are advantageous for employment opportunities, as employers value practical experience at recognized healthcare facilities.
Unique Aspects of Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center stands out from other externship opportunities because of its national reputation in cancer treatment and research. Students benefit from the specialized environment, gaining experience not typically available in general medical offices.
The institution’s affiliation with the University of South Florida (USF) and partnerships with AdventHealth and Memorial Healthcare System further extend professional connections and potential opportunities.
Additional Training and Education Opportunities
Moffitt emphasizes education across multiple healthcare and research disciplines, offering training positions beyond medical assisting. Opportunities are available for medical students, residents, research trainees, visiting scholars, and graduate students, making it an intellectually stimulating environment with possibilities for future growth.
This interdisciplinary exposure can enrich your externship experience, providing insights into potential advanced career paths within healthcare or clinical research.
Who Should Consider This School
Students currently enrolled in accredited medical assisting programs who need to fulfill externship requirements should strongly consider Moffitt Cancer Center. This placement is ideal for those interested in specialized healthcare environments, particularly cancer care, and who want extensive hands-on experience at a highly reputable institution. Those seeking opportunities for networking, professional growth, and possibly funded training would benefit greatly from this externship.
Category | Details |
Cost | Not specified (training assumed to be provided as part of employment/externship) |
Duration | Not specified; aligned with required externship hours of student’s program |
Class Schedules | Varies based on placement and clinic hours |
Online Classes? | No |
Requirements | – Enrolled in an accredited MA program- Completion of Moffitt’s application- Selection of “Medical Assistant Student” role |
Address | 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612 |
Phone | (813) 745-4673 |
Website | https://www.moffitt.org/education/health-professional-education/medical-assistants/ |
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